4 students to compete in Caribbean Regional Nutritional Quiz
There’s other news to report tonight and on Wednesday four Belizeans go head to head with the top students from the region in the Caribbean Regional Nutrition Quiz. They represent the top three schools that participated in the national ADM Belize Mills Secondary School Nutrition Quiz Competition held in March of this year. The quiz competitions aim to improve the image of food and nutrition in the region as well as promoting healthy lifestyles among the students and their communities.
The four that will be representing Belize are Pedro Garcia and Gaby Miranda of San Pedro High, Edgardo Serrut of Sacred Heart College and Santiago Hernandez of Orange Walk Technical High have been preparing for the past month. They have been assisted by Nutritionist and registered dietician Sandra Collins. We met them today in the midst of their preparation.
Santiago Hernandez, Orange Walk Technical School
“I feel proud. More than anything I feel very proud that I’ve reach so far. And with the support of everyone I think we’ll do a good job.”
Sandra Collins, Registered Dietician & Nutritionist
“Wednesday and Thursday we will be competing with the regional schools from I think fourteen to sixteen countries in the Caribbean. This will take place at the University of the West Indies Distance Education Center. It’s teleconference. The quiz tomorrow is going to be three rounds and the last two schools that win will go to the fourth round which is out of the country.”
Pedro Garcia, San Pedro High
“I feel very confident that we will make it. We are hoping to have an individual champion here and also so we can say ‘big up Belize’ so that we may go far even to the final round. I think that we can make it.”
Marleni Cuellar
“What have you applied into you life now, based on what you learned?”
Edgardo Serrut, Sacred Heart College
“Well I try to eat more healthy now and at home I always try to make sure I’m helping my father in the kitchen. My father is the one cooks most of the time. so I just help him and I try to give advice on what you should eat, my sister so that we have a long life.”
Sandra Collins, Registered Dietician & Nutritionist
“I think we’ll do our best. They’re smart and I haven’t work with them long enough to really assess all that they know. Right now we’re getting everything in and I’m quizzing them and trying to support them the all ways I can.”
Marleni Cuellar
“So this is the crunch time?”
Sandra Collins
“Yes.”
The regional Nutrition Quiz is organized by the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute, a branch of PAHO/WHO. Last year Belize placed second in the region in the final round of the competition that was held in St Lucia.
