Nutrition Month Fair attracts 400 participants

The Nutrition Month Fair held at Koblerville Sports Complex yesterday morning gathered over 400 community members who took part in activities geared toward healthier living in the CNMI.

The fair started at 8am and ended at 12noon. According to Northern Marianas College Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service program officer Pat Coleman, there were participants who arrived as early as 7am yesterday.

On behalf of the Nutrition Month committee, Coleman thanked the families who showed interest in learning more about healthier living in the Commonwealth. She said she and the committee were overwhelmed by the cooperation of the community.

“Turnout was very good,” she said.

The committee will also provide prizes for the most represented school during the fair. The winner for this special prize was not available as of press time.

Coleman said whichever school wins the participation award would get special packages in line with good fitness and mental health.

Some of the participating groups in yesterday’s fair were: the Motheread/Fatheread Program, Community Guidance Center Tobacco Prevention Office, NMC-CREES 4H Youth Program, MCH Dental Clinic, HIV/STD Program, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs’ Nutrition Assistance Program, Family Violence Task Force, Bureau of Environmental Health, CNMI Head Start Program, Ayuda Network, and Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition.

The Nutrition Month Committee also held several activities for the visitors and guests such as group exercises and fat analysis.

The CNMI Nutrition Month was declared early this month to promote continuing education on good nutrition practices in the CNMI.

In a proclamation signing, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, together with the Lt. Gov. Timothy Villagomez, asked the community to participate in this month’s celebration of healthier living.

Fitial said that good nutrition and physical activity are key components of a healthy lifestyle.

“Diet and physical activity are important in the prevention of chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay, osteoporosis, and some forms of cancer,” he said, adding that good nutrition practices and their impact would be the prime subject in this month’s celebration.

NMC-CREES, in cooperation with the Department of Public Health Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, the Public School System Food and Nutrition Service, Ayuda Network, Inc. and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Child Care Licensing Program and the Nutrition Assistance Program have been providing several nutrition education campaigns such as cooking demonstrations, nutrition education and physical activity workshops.

School and college presentations and other activities to further educate the CNMI community are also included in this month’s celebration for good nutrition.

Through the Nutrition Month, Coleman said the public would once again be reminded of their responsibility to their body in preventing diseases such as diabetes, heart and lifestyle related diseases.