Youth advocates champion healthy eating in schools

oung health advocates in Barbados are redoubling their efforts aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles among local students. The Heart & Stroke Foundation, in collaboration with the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, has launched an innovative initiative, the Cool School Nutrition Tour, to capitalise on the commitment of the island’s youth to enhance the well-being of the Barbadian  society.

Through this initiative, the organisers intend to provide easy-to-digest health facts and educational sessions to students in several primary and secondary school around the island, while supporting the school nutrition policy, which was implemented in 2023.

“The response has been phenomenal,” Michron Robinson, youth health advocacy officer at the Heart & Stroke Foundation and the Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition, told Barbados TODAY on the observance of International Youth Day. “Students have been very receptive, especially within the primary school environment, to the information that we bring regarding the school nutrition policy. When we started the tour there were some students who were asking why can’t they use sweet drinks within the schools, or have access to fried chicken or chips, but the more we shared information about the fact that we are literally eating and drinking ourselves to death, students became more receptive to information.”

While the tour aims to educate pupils about the dangers of unhealthy eating habits, Robinson admitted that changing mindsets is challenging. However, she remained optimistic that education was the key to breaking these habits.

Chad Forde, the president of the Medical Students Association at the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, expressed similar sentiments, while emphasising the link between healthy eating and academic performance.

“Healthy eating and adherence to the school nutrition policy would play a pivotal role in ensuring that students are physically and mentally prepared to achieve their best both in and outside of the classroom,” Forde said. “It would provide enhancement for academic performances, supports growth and development, boost energy, and also improves moods and behaviour. These things are substantial in ensuring that our students and children have a healthier future.”

The initiative aligns with the International Youth Day 2024 theme, From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development. It promotes the role of digital technology in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030.

Robinson highlighted the importance of youth involvement in policy implementation. “We’re engaging with policymakers to ensure solid implementation of the school nutrition policy,” she said. “Our digital advocacy efforts are crucial in educating youth and charting a healthier future.”

The advocates called for increased support from teachers and parents to encourage healthier eating habits among young people. They said this collaborative effort would nurture better students, leaders, and athletes, ultimately contributing to a healthier nation.

shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb