CFNI awards Caribbean schools for food and nutrition promotion

By VonDez Phipps
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE third annual Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI) Competitions culminated with an awards d inner yesterday (Nov. 26) at the St. Kitts Marriott, to acknowledge the various winners coming from secondary schools across the region.

Students receiving prizes displayed outstanding competence in the Caribbean Schools Food and Nutrition Quiz Competition and the Caribbean Nutrition Promotion Competition, both geared toward educating the general public on proper nutrition and food security in the region.

In the Food and Nutrition Quiz Competition, Belize’s San Pedro High, Orange Walk Technical and Sacred Heart College walked away with the first place award after proving to be the most knowledgeable group of students in relation to food and nutrition.

Jennings High, Antigua Girls’ High and All Saints High made Antigua-Barbuda proud with their second place prize while the Bahamas claimed third prize with its two participating schools, Old Bight High and Queen’s College.

Jamaica’s ‘Mile Gully Income Generation Programme’ placed first in the keenly contested Nutrition Promotion Competition. Trinidad placed second with its ‘Move to Health – Community Walking Clubs Initiative” while ‘Christ Church Foundation School –

Building a Health Foundation’ from Barbados placed third in the entire region. Tyla Peterson of Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary, St. Lucia, was acknowledged as the individual champion after months of fierce competition and rigorous training.

CFNI Nutritionist Paula Trotter explained that the competition serves to provide visibility to efforts throughout the region for improving food and nutrition amidst the numerous crises that threaten food security in the Caribbean. She added that the competition allows for sharing of information to be documented and circulated in order to benefit participating countries.

“What we are trying to inculcate in the students is an appreciation for nutrition and food security for individual health and for national development.

We are also learning what the Caribbean has to offer and focussing on Caribbean foods and dishes unique to particular countries. Through the experience gained, students not only learn in a theoretical point of view but also learn how they can apply what they have learned in their respective areas and improve their own dietary habits.

“What impressed the judges about the initial entries was the range of varying approaches being used both by government and non-government agencies. It was evident that through the channels, people are not just sticking to the traditional means, but are challenging themselves to be creative and are trying to meet people in different places to disseminate information with a concentration on the risks that expose us to these chronic diseases.”

Trotter noted that a large number of the projects targeted the youth as she stressed that prevention of chronic diseases has to start with the young. She further stated that it has been a fairly contested competition and indicated that every year the students bring new ideas, increased willingness and a remarkable zeal to work.