Healthy meals in school for children

Twenty residents from Hannah Town were trained in the preparation of meals for children in basic schools in the area, as part of the programme 'Healthy Meals for Young Children'.

Participants representing both genders included cooks and teachers from selected basic schools in the community.

The programme supports the national early childhood education thrust to improve the quality of meals provided to children at the early childhood level. Healthy Meals for Young Children is the brainchild of food and nutrition consultant and community development specialist, Dr Heather Little-White, and works through the members of parliament constituency fund (CDF) and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC).

Downtown redevelopment programme

The skills-training programme in Hannah Town is part of the downtown redevelopment programme and also covered Denham Town as well as Central Kingston. A joint graduation for the groups is to take place in March.

Programme content covered food-related areas such as table setting, etiquette and social graces, food sanitation, budgeting and practical lessons in preparing breakfast ideas, protein foods, starchy accompaniments, snacks, preparation of vegetables and beverages. The recipes used were nutritionally sound, economical and easy to prepare.

Social worker, Michelle Bennett, said of the programme, "The participants have been empowered and I know that training will make a difference in the lives of the children, and we hope that it will continue for other schools in the area".

The programme moves to East Central St James, targeting the communities of Windsor Lodge, Industry, Somerton and Dumfries.