A new awareness campaign this year expanded the standard March Nutrition Month to a life-long campaign concept! It consisted of 5 projects: a food demonstration, Chopped, Tupperware, Nutrition & Mind Detox, and Smoothies. Of course everyone wants to encourage healthy eating habits, but we realized for true success we need to involve our whole community, not just students. The campaign began with the children but spread throughout the community not only educating the children but further strengthening the community bonds throughout.
First, March 18 there was a huge table set up in the student lounge, to display healthy andunusual options many were not aware of: dried figs, passion fruit, dragon fruit, papayas, mangos, hummus and peppers/celery/carrots, longans…etc. Students were able to take a variety of options to try, were given health guides, and were able to ask questions.
Shortly after, on May 29th, there was a Chopped Competition as seen on the Food Network where students and seniors formed teams to compete against each other with secret ingredients to form a healthy, creative, tasty and unique lunch that they can recreate at home or bring to school. Each team opened their baskets to reveal all the same ingredients inside and had a total of 30 minutes to create their meals, and judges sampled. They were judged on using all their ingredients, creativity, taste and teamwork. The senior community members were able to assist our students in preparation techniques, cooking and preparation ideas, and nutritional factors.
Tupperware was also invited to do a demonstration the same day and all the proceeds from sales went to the home economics department which is in dire need of funding.
Following the amazing Chopped competition the campaign pressed on and on May 27 a Nutritional Consultant and Mind Detox specialist was brought in who performed a culinary workshop for over 50 staff members. Afterward staff worked on quick and easy recipes and routines to incorporate in their daily lives in order to reduce the stressors that they face.
Finally on June 3rd the last event held in the form of a smoothie demonstration highlighting the importance of healthy morning meals by distributing over 400+ smoothies and over 200+ recipe cards for students and staff.
The campaign itself has been such a huge success. Thanks to their efforts enrollment in the home economics is higher than it has ever been! Thanks to partners: Catherine Lambert the CLSC Nurse who was the most involved partner throughout, Sandra Powers - Nutritional and Mind Detox Specialist, Lise Beaupre from Tupperware, 6 senior women from the community who want to return for more activities, Dora Prokosh: a retiree from Centennial, Arianne Wright: Family & Life Skill Department Coordinator, and Adonis: Food Retailer, and a few returning partners who assisted: Animator/Parent Annie Beauregard, Valerie Forde and Steven Carroll.
