Teacher Emy Alfaro, from Belize, shares her remarks about implementing a healthy plan in her school
Paulo Beraldo
The teacher Emy Alfaro, from Benque Viejo, Cayo, in Belize, has no doubts when it comes to educating the children about what they eat every day. “It is essential to give visibility to eating habits, obesity, hunger, and other aspects of Food and Nutrition while educating children and their families”, says the teacher from the Hills of Promise Primary School, which has more than 350 students currently enrolled. Emy believes that what children consume triggers and influences their learning process and their health in the future.
She took part in the 2022 online course ‘Food and Nutrition for Teachers Towards a Sustainable School Feeding Programme’, developed in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) — in the framework of the Mesoamerica Hunger Free AMEXCID-FAO programme— and with the support of the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation Programme.
The training involved activities related to the methodology, in order to achieve a shift of paradigms and mindsets. The commitment of the teachers allowed the facilitators to introduce basic concepts of Food and Nutrition Education. Together, they discussed the viability of implementing adequate and effective activities on this matter among their students and the school communities. Many teachers got involved in the design of a new work plan for them to replicate the same knowledge to other teachers back home. This is Emy’s case.
Her school is starting to implement a health plan which resulted after this training, gathering teachers, parents, and students. On November 1, 2022, they plan to begin with this process in which students will only be sold and allowed to consume healthy and locally grown snacks/fruits/vegetables for four days per week.
“They will then be given a free day in which they can pick any snack which will not necessarily be healthy, but these snacks will also be selected so that they are not too unhealthy. For example sodas, sugary drinks, spicy chips, sugary snacks, etc. will not be sold and allowed on this day”, explains.According to Emy, this process is planned for a cycle that is approximately ten weeks. If students adapt well, it is intended to become part of the school’s policy. “We will monitor the process and develop alternatives for what might not work”.
You talked to the parents about the human right to food and the importance of consuming locally produced and culturally adequate food. How do you see the importance of raising awareness among the parents of the kids and in the whole school community regarding healthy eating habits?
Here in Belize, both parents work early in the morning, whether they go out to work or they work from home. Because of this, most of the time, children are at school and spend some time by themselves at home. Most parents return later in the evening and sometimes only spend dinner time with their families. Because of this culture, we have developed the habit of preparing fast foods which consist of mostly processed foods that are easy and cheap to access and easy to prepare as well.
Most parents do not have time to educate themselves about the human right to food and the importance of consuming locally produced and culturally adequate food. That is why the few minutes that they take to come to school for PTA meetings (Parents’ meetings), should be wisely used to inform them about the importance of healthy eating for their families. Once parents are aware that what they are feeding their families, especially the young children, is not good, and make a change, our community can become a healthier place.
How do you evaluate the benefits of activities such as the Virtual Training on Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) for Teachers – Towards a Sustainable School Feeding Programme?
I applaud the Ministry of Education along with all the other organizations who came together to deliver this training. Many teachers from all over Belize and teaching different grades came together and learned valuable information.
It was very wise to start educating teachers on food and nutrition education since very young children are placed under our care. This training taught us content and concepts, and also, taught us methods that can be applied and practiced at any school to improve Food and Nutrition.
This training made us reflect on our eating habits and make a compromise with us, our families, our students, and their families, to start making a change toward a healthier community.
How was the reaction of the kids when you started with your colleagues this change in habits? How is this process working day to day?
At first, students were a little reluctant to this change. Many of them enjoy eating unhealthy snacks which will soon not be allowed in school. And some of them labelled me as the one who initiated this process since I was the one to promote it with their parents. So, they would come to me and ask why I was promoting this change. I answered with facts and statistics about obesity, overweight, and other illnesses related to unhealthy eating. My answers would surprise most of them and they would compromise to start making healthy choices when picking and eating their snacks.
As time progresses, students are starting to replace these unhealthy products with fruits and homemade healthy snacks which can be purchased at the school’s kitchen or some of them even bring these healthy snacks from home.
In your view, what is the importance of an education that also gives importance and visibility to eating habits, obesity, hunger, etc?
For me, what children consume triggers and influences their learning process. Over the past years, I have had situations in which children are not receiving the proper foods that their bodies need and some are malnourished and simply cannot concentrate during instruction time. Most of these children would feel sleepy regardless of the types of activities presented to them and they would not perform well.
Other children would consume junk foods and sweets before coming into class and they are very hyperactive and cannot concentrate during instruction time. What’s worse with these students is that they also distract other students who really have the intention of receiving a good education.
So in my view, it is crucial to give importance and visibility to eating habits, obesity, hunger, and other aspects of Food and Nutrition while educating children and their families.
