Published: 2:12 pm January 25, 2024 | Updated: 2:12 pm January 25, 2024
Students introduced a 5-day healthy meal plan to families of A. Mabini Elementary School students
FEU High School’s Academic Affairs Office – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) strand in coordination with Community Engagement and Extension Services (CEES) and its partner Apolinario Mabini Elementary School in Manila recently introduced Adopt-a-FaMEALy, an initiative that aims to educate families on the importance of a healthy diet by introducing a balanced and affordable meal plan.
Acting as Nutrition Enthusiasts, Grade 12 STEM strand students were assigned to various families and elementary students. With their learnings and insights gained from their General Biology subject, they prepared and presented nutritious meal plans and healthy recipes. The students also engaged in meaningful discussions with the family recipients on enhancing digestive health, such as calorie management and portion control for their overall well-being. Students also provided them with one-week worth of food supplies based on the prepared meal plan.
“Participating in this outreach program to promote health and healthy eating habits was both fulfilling and exciting. During the meal plan’s planning phase, I could already visualize the positive outcomes. As a Health Allied Associate, I firmly believe that there is always a silver lining, and in this case, it has been embodied by the Grade 12 students. Taking such an initiative is a significant step towards ensuring not only the physical well-being but also the overall development of the minds and spirits of the students at Apolinario Mabini Elementary School,” Grade 12 STEM student and Health Allied Association (HAA) President Henry Ileto shared.
Through the efforts and collaboration of the General Biology faculty members and FEU High School CEES, they developed and created this performance task with its official partner community, Apolinario Mabini Elementary School. The school’s student profiles were endorsed by the partner community to the FEU High School Grade 12 STEM students.
The students then assessed all profiles which include vital health details such as their basal metabolic rate (BMR) and current health status. They then created a 5-day meal plan infographic based on the data and considered their nutritional needs, preferences, availability of food items, and budget considerations. This comprehensive meal plan encompassed all three main meals of the day – breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Afterwards, the students consulted their proposed meal plans to Dr. Samantha Laureano, a Nutritionist and Dietician and an FEU High School Alumna.
“Many factors were considered before choosing the food included in the meal plan. Age, height, gender, and their BMI were some factors considered to get the beneficiary’s exact calorie intake in a day. Understanding these helps us further impart the importance of having a balanced diet that meets the macronutrient needs of the body to the families,” Grade 12 STEM student and STEM Society’s Executives, Finance and Logistics officer Mary Eugielle Capitle expressed.
While this initiative gave students the opportunity to introduce diverse food groups and classifications to foster the enhancement and sustainability of a healthy lifestyle, some realized the impact of this to our societal issues on poverty, health, and food security. Their active involvement positively promoted social responsibility which contributed to the community’s overall well-being in the realm of health.
“This significant experience was fulfilling as it offered a concrete opportunity to impact the family’s welfare positively. It also holds considerable importance for me as a medical aspirant since it offers practical experience utilizing scientific information to enhance health outcomes and improve my comprehension of the social factors that influence health and the general welfare,” Grade 12 STEM student Jeorcel Corpuz shared.
For more information, please visit feuhighschool.edu.ph
