ADM Belize Mills Secondary School Nutrition Quiz winners
We’ve reported so far in this newscast on numerous crime-related incidents, but there’s one positive story tonight involving the state of food and nutrition in Belize. A Western School walked away today with ADM Belize Mills Secondary School Nutrition Quiz. Eight schools took part and today’s first, second and third place schools will now form a national team that will represent Belize in the regional competition to be held in the Caribbean. News Five’s Andrea Polanco reports.
Dr. Peter Allen, C.E.O., Ministry of Health
Peter Allen
“Diabetes, Hypertension, certain types of cancer, chronic disease then are the biggest causes of disease and death in our society and they all have a strong lifestyle component especially nutrition.”
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
That is the reality for Belize, and one of the driving factors behind the annual ADM Belize Mills Secondary School National Nutrition Quiz Competition, a title that Sacred Heart College walked away with today in front of over two hundred students at the Queen’s Room of the Princess Hotel.
Matthew Morris
“When we were first beginning the competition we were way last and we were just like God what gonna happen? This round three came and we had a very good round we got all three points we got 45 points we shot up to the top and like come on, yes we can do this, we can do this.”
Omar Hernandez
Andrea Polanco
“The girls from San Pedro they were very impressive as well?”
Omar Hernandez
“I think they were very strong opponents, they did their work, and they studied. At first I thought they were going to win, sincerely. However, I put my faith in God and I had trusted in myself and my team and had confidence that we would win, nonetheless I think San Pedro did good in the competition and congratulate them for second place.”
For the winning team, the boys of San Ignacio triumphed over the girls of San Pedro, and the feeling was one of sheer happiness.
Matthew Morris
Matthew Morris
“We thought we were gonna win in round four but now tie-breaker and get one more chance yuh know and the feeling was just heart, my heart was just palpitating, yuh know it was just extra ordinary. And when we finally realize we won and to hear our name called was like ‘you did it, you accomplished something’ it’s just great.”
Robin Daly
“It was full of intensity, it was packed right through, the students were very excited, they were ummm to me I would say it was a nerve wracking competition today because we had a tie so we had to break that tie, we had some queries umm we I think everybody really tried hard.”
But to get where they are today, it took months of studying and hard work:
Omar Hernandez
“The studying for this competition started since October when my teacher approached me and asked me if I wanted to participate.”
Matthew Morris
“It was just hard work you know lotta times we stay after school and we study together we do group study and on top of that we have work in 3 Science class we have some of the most work in school as a third former.”
Robyn Daly
The competition has also taught the participants many important things.
Robyn Daly
“The questions they are, they vary across different categories, there is health, there’s chronic disease, there is just nutrition assessment, questions about BMI, questions about the Caribbean Countries and the foods that are in those countries, so preparing for this quiz the students need to know a lot and learn a lot so we’re hoping that they can use this knowledge, as they go on in their education.”
Elvis Avila
Elvis Avila
“Before I used to lotta junk food but then personal stuff, I used to drink a lot of coke and stuff but now I’m trying to live a healthy life and applying everything that I learnt here.”
Matthew Morris
“When they asked me to do it, I said okay let’s go let’s do it and put Sacred Heart on the map again. It’s not only the prizes but knowing you’re doing something to benefit the country you’re learning about Belize’s nutrition and that you’re trying to educate people.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
The winning school received a trophy while the students each got laptops and cash prizes.
