The National Healthy Start Feeding Programme stands as a beacon of our efforts to provide nutritious meals to students. With an efficient cost of just $3 per student per meal, the programme has already been successfully implemented in over 18 schools.
Its primary goal is to ensure that every student receives the essential nutrition necessary to foster mental alertness and readiness to learn. Beyond mere sustenance, this initiative actively promotes healthy eating habits among young children, addressing Belize’s health challenges related to non-communicable diseases. Through careful monitoring of portion sizes and reduction of sugar intake, the programme aims to combat hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition, thereby contributing to the overall well-being of Belizean youth.
Looking ahead, there are plans to establish flourishing school gardens, which not only align with the programme’s health objectives but also hold the potential to further reduce costs and our carbon footprint. This forward-thinking approach underscores the program’s commitment to sustainability and its dedication to ensuring a bright and healthy future for the nation’s children.