Children crowned nutrition champions

Bermuda Dietitians Association (BDA), in partnership with Argus, yesterday announced the winners of the inaugural ‘School Nutrition Champions’ competition. 

BDA designed the competition as part of its Nutrition Month activities to help inform children and their families about healthy eating and increase public awareness of Bermuda’s daily dietary and physical exercise guidelines.

The competition challenged children to develop a promotional piece of work — such as a poster, photograph, song, poem or music video — to promote to the public at least five healthy statements from the Eat Well Bermuda daily dietary guidelines.

These guidelines include choosing lean meat, fish, poultry and eggs prepared with little or no fat; limiting foods with added salt and sugar, and enjoying a variety of foods with plenty of different colours. 

The guidelines and Eat Well Plate illustration can be found in full at: www.eatwellbermuda.org. 

First Place in the P1-3 age group poster competition went to the P1 and P2 students at Dalton E. Tucker School: Mikael Augustus, El’Zariyah Bailey, Lakai Drummond, Jamar Franklin, Johnnarin Harris, Dylan Ingham, S’Niyah Lightbourne, Sokiera Mosley-Lee, Alina Trew-Perez, Ke Ari Tucker, ShawnTroy Chaney, Ethan Clarke, Kanye Ford, Aaron Harris, Kameron McNeil, Zyon Ray, Lexxs Steede, Ava Stowe, Zane Thompson and S K Yatindar. In the P4-6 age group Cree Dunn from Harrington Sound Primary School scooped the top prize. 

For their lively video entry, the P4 class at Prospect Primary School also won a prize: Csvanni Brown, Malsha Amarsinghe, Xylience Smith, Armani Brandy, Alayasia Swan, Angelina Chandrasekaran, Shirley Wilkinson, Alziae Burgess, Ande Simons, Qusaee Daniels, Timaris Thomas, Te’Shon Wales-Smith, Tahzii Flood, Khamanie Pitt-Nisbitt, A’vari Raynor-Hall, Dante Scraders, Wyniko Showers. 

In addition, the public voted Malsha Amarasinghe from Prospect Primary School as the winner of the Argus People’s Choice Award. 

Tony Ward, president of Bermuda Dietitians Association, said in a press release: “I would like to congratulate the first-ever ‘School Nutrition Champions’ and thank everyone who took part and made the competition a success. 

“The standard of entries was very high and all of the entries succeeded in promoting the Eat Well Bermuda guidelines in a creative and engaging way. I would also like to thank Argus and The Supermart for their support.”

Alison Hill, chief executive officer, the Argus Group, said: “We were delighted to support Bermuda Dietitians Association with the launch of this new competition. ‘School Nutrition Champions’, which is about promoting healthy lifestyle
choices to children and the community at large and this is also the goal of the Argus Wellness Programme.

“Coupled with regular exercise, the Eat Well Bermuda guidelines make it easy for people to get on the right track towards feeling and looking healthier.”

The Minister of Health and Seniors, Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, said: “I wish to thank both Argus and the Bermuda Dietitians Association for organizing this competition, which has proven to be an innovative way of creating public awareness of Bermuda’s daily dietary guidelines and of the importance of healthy eating habits.  

“We all need to be aware of how what we eat impacts our health, and the daily dietary guidelines are an essential tool in increasing awareness.”

All of the competition entries can be viewed at www.eatwellbermuda.org/eatwellgallery.