DIU Blog

Beyond the Classroom: Empowering Young Minds through Nutrition Education

In this blog post titled “Beyond the Classroom: Empowering Young Minds through Nutritional Education,” the writer highlights a community outreach activity undertaken by the final-year students (201 batch) of the Department of Nutrition and Food Engineering, Daffodil International University. The students visited several primary schools in Birulia, Savar area to disseminate nutritional knowledge among primary school-going children, aiming to create awareness about the importance of nutrition and promote healthy habits through interactive and engaging methods such as role-play, poster presentations, quizzes and games. The students effectively transported the significance of a balanced diet and essential nutrients. They also emphasized the importance of physical activity and distributed informational materials to the children, ensuring that the knowledge reached the wider community. The initiative showcases the students’ obligation to their social responsibility and serves as an inspiration for others to engage in similar activities.

Introduction:

Instilling healthy eating habits in young people is crucial at a time when fast food restaurants and processed snacks rule the food landscape. The Department of Nutrition and Food Engineering at Daffodil International University’s final-year students recently undertook a community outreach project as part of their coursework in recognition of this. These committed students set out to educate school-aged youngsters about nutrition by visiting numerous primary schools in Birulia, Savar. These students accepted their social obligation to improve the health and welfare of the next generation by accepting this noble responsibility.

Promoting Nutritional Awareness:

The main goal of this effort was to increase young children’s knowledge of the value of nutrition and its benefits to their physical and mental well-being. The students hoped to develop healthy habits that would serve them throughout their lives by interacting with youngsters at an early age.The students used interactive and engaging techniques to draw the children’s interest throughout their trips to various primary schools. They used interesting teaching methods like role-playing, poster presentations, quizzes, and game sessions to transmit nutritional knowledge. They successfully communicated the significance of a balanced diet and the significance of taking critical nutrients by making learning enjoyable.

Empowering the Young Minds:

These young pupils, who were approaching adulthood themselves, served as role models for
elementary school students. They discussed their personal problems, triumphs, and experiences with leading healthy lives. By doing this, they encouraged young minds to make
thoughtful decisions regarding food choices and to establish healthy habits like including fruits, veggies, and whole grains in their meals.The visiting students also emphasised the value of exercise, physical activity, and personal hygiene. They planned sporting events and held brief fitness classes to convey the idea thatleading a balanced lifestyle requires engaging in both regular exercise and a wholesome diet.

Beyond the Classroom:

This community outreach project had an effect outside of the four walls of the classroom. In
order to ensure that the information obtained reached a wider population, the visiting students gave educational leaflets and flyers to the kids. With this strategy, students were encouraged to work together to help young children develop good behaviors.

Conclusion:

The initiative taken by the Department of Nutrition and Food Engineering, DIU’s final-year students to disseminate nutritional knowledge among primary school children is a praiseworthy example of community outreach and social responsibility. By committing their time and efforts to educate young minds about the importance of nutrition, they are sowing the seeds of a healthier future. The students successfully instilled a sense of responsibility and passion in the kids through their participatory and engaging approach, pushing them to make informed decisions about their eating habits. These students have created the groundwork for healthy lifestyles, helping not just the kids themselves but also their families and communities, by educating the next generation with this essential knowledge.

As we see the fruitful results of such endeavours, we are reminded of the significant influence
that a small number of fervent people may have on society. The Department of Nutrition and
Food Engineering, DIU firmly believe that the social responsibility demonstrated by its students inspires others to get involved in community service projects, resulting in the development of a future generation that is healthier and more informed.

#NutritionalEducation #CommunityOutreach #HealthyHabits #SocialResponsibility #ChildHealth #NutritionAwareness #PrimarySchools #RoleModels #BalancedDiet #PhysicalActivity #HealthEducation #DIU #EmpoweringYoungMinds #HealthyLifestyle #FruitfulResults

Writer’s biography: Md. Nawal Sarwer, Lecturer Department of Nutrition and Food Engineering, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University involved in teaching since January 2022. Nawal completed his B.Sc. in Nutrition and Food Engineering and MPH in Public Health Nutrition from Daffodil International University.