TMU College of Nutrition Partners with Taipei Xinyi Elementary School to Promote Healthy Lifestyles

From February to May 2023, the TMU College of Nutrition collaborated with Taipei Municipal Xinyi Elementary School to implement a program aimed at addressing the issue of overweight and obese pupils. The initiative focused on enhancing students’ understanding of healthy eating habits while also contributing to their physical well-being.

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Dietitians from the University Social Responsibility (USR) team at the TMU College of Nutrition partnered with professional nurses from the health center at Taipei Municipal Xinyi Elementary School to design a 3-month course. Their objective was to educate pupils about disease prevention and healthcare, starting at a young age, by providing nutrition knowledge. They used a systematical teaching approach and interactive activities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals 3 (SDGs 3), which focuses on “ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.”

The program’s core content is in line with Taiwan’s Health Promotion Administration’s “My Plate” program. It introduces the concept of six food categories and emphasizes portion control for commonly consumed foods.

To address SDGs 12, which pertains to “ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns,” the USR team organized a hands-on activity called “A Shot in the Dark— Green Smoothie”, taking pupils to supermarkets to teach them how to read nutrition facts labels. This aimed to promote the importance of consuming vegetable and fruit. Additionally, the team advocates for sustainable dining practices, such as eco-friendly farming, low-carbon vegetables, and locally-sourced products.

The USR team aims to extend food education beyond the campus to reach families and markets. Consequently, the course incorporated hands-on activities in the hope that positive feedback from students would influence parents and further raise parental awareness.