When we become adults, the words “healthy” and “nutritional” finally start making more sense to us as our metabolism starts to decline and the pounds start adding up. However, as a child, it just doesn’t seem that important. Don’t you remember craving all the sinful delights that held absolutely NO healthy or nutritional values? We are talking such ‘delicacies’ as “choco bananas” (chocolate covered frozen bananas), chips, biscuits, sweets, ideals and pops – just to name a few. Remember gagging at the veggies our poor harassed mothers tried to make us eat? Tsk, tsk!
Yes, we were taught about healthy eating – but for some reason, the concept just never really seemed to sink in. Well, last week Friday at the San Pedro Roman Catholic School, Health and Family Life Education teacher, Kenny Witzil took his students through an entire event promoting healthy eating. The event took some preparation. After teaching the kids about the value of eating from all the main food groups and combing the proper portions of meats, legumes, vegetables and fruits – the kids were tasked to come up with their own meals showcasing a healthy, nutritional balanced meal comprised of all the main food groups.
The presentations were held on Friday March 1st and saw parents joining students to add that final touch to the healthy cuisine. In the end, there was a buffet of healthy food options. Some students decided to combine fried fish with white rice and a green salad; others created healthy vegetable pasta with a side of garlic bread – while others provided colorfully decorated fruit plates and vegetable options.
The event was well attended by enthusiastic parents who were excited to showcase what their children had prepared. It is the hope of Teacher Witzil that the event will serve to educate and create awareness about proper nutrition in both students and parents through a fun and motivational way. The overall goal of course, is to achieve positive behavior changes with the practice of nutritionally enhanced diet and lifestyle. Other students visiting the various displays had the opportunity to sample their classmates’ creations, sneaking bites of fruit, meat, vegetables and sipping on fresh juice.
According to Teacher Witzilthe event is educational while providing a bonding opportunity for parents and students. “It is very important to eat foods that are healthy because in the entire country there are lots of students that are suffering from a lot of conditions due to not eating healthy. So our presentation today is basically having the kids educate others, while sharing a bonding experience with their parents.” According to Witzil, the activity is done yearly to promote healthy eating and healthy lifestyles.
