By Geryl Ogilvy
KUCHING, Oct 31: Some 40 underprivileged children from four charity homes here enjoyed a fun-filled but educational evening learning about healthy diets courtesy of Ayam Brand.
The nationwide tour “Ayam Brand Healthy Kids Food Festival”, as part of the company’s annual corporate social responsibility programme to educate the young on nutritious diets to combat obesity, saw the children engaged in workshop sessions and games, as they learned how to make informed food choices.
Ayam Brand general manager for East Malaysia and Brunei, Stanley Wang, said this year’s campaign aims to empower children to make their own food choices through engaging and interactive activities.
This would help them identify the main food groups, understand portion size and make more informed food choices on how nutritious food can positively shape their bodies.
“Do you know that Malaysia is named as one of the Asean countries with the highest prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents? There was also a survey, which concluded that over 50 per cent of Malaysians are overweight.
“With food it is always a matter of balance. Obesity can be linked to eating habits that are learned from young, with overweight children often becoming overweight or obese adults,” he said at the charity campaign here today.
The Sarawak-leg of the Ayam Brand corporate social responsibility campaign this year benefited the Salvation Army Boys’ Home, Rumah Kanak-kanak Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah, Kuching, Pertubuhan Ibu Bapa Kanak-kanak Keperluan Istimewa Sarawak(Pibakat) and Lembaga Kebajikan Anak-Anak Yatim Sarawak (Peryatim).
Each home also received products from Ayam Brand including sardines, mackerel, tuna and coconut milk products sufficient for two months of daily meals for all the children under their care.
Now in its 11th year, the community care programme has reached over 20,000 people from 482 charity organisations, providing them with about 1.4 million healthy and convenient meals, Wang said.
The Healthy Kids Food Festival saw children involved in the learning process through games and play developed by the food company. Among the sessions included the “Yay or Nay” workshop, where kids learned to identify and differentiate between healthy and unhealthy food choices.
There is also a “crossword” booth, as well as the “Healthy Plate” station, where children work together to determine the quantity of different food groups in a balanced diet.
They also get to make their own healthy “nasi lemak tuna” at the DIY booth, where they will learn the correct portions of items for a healthy diet.
Among the items used for the nasi lemak included Omega-3 rich foods such as sardines, mackerel and tuna including the brand’s coconut milk, topped with boiled eggs, fresh cucumber, groundnuts and anchovies.
“Many Malaysians make food choices without considering the long-term effects on their health. Parents need to lead by example and help kids understand and make a habit of nutritious, balanced diets from childhood,” Wang said.
He added that Ayam Brand products, which are without preservatives or added MSG, are much appreciated as they are a healthy, fast and convenient addition to people’s daily diet. — DayakDaily
