The Hamlet of Baker Lake is teaming up with a host of other agencies for a special nutrition presentation at the community hall this evening.
The gathering will happen between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and features food sampling, information on nutritious choices, food-related games and prizes.
For the event, the hamlet is partnering with the Government of Nunavut, Public Health, Community Health, the Abluqta Food Bank, the Baker Lake Prenatal Nutrition program along with some involvement with the Early Years Childhood program and the Oral Health program.
Each entity will have its own table at the event featuring various items that support their program. There will also be a quiz at each table for a prize and the event will also have random draws for door prizes.
Hamlet wellness co-ordinator Karen Yip said the presentation is to highlight the advantages of solid nutrition in regards to the Jordan's Principle (JP) funding the hamlet is receiving.
Yip said the hamlet thought it would be a good idea to help people to maximize the benefit of the program to encourage people to buy healthy, nutritious food, which is what the program is intended to do.
“We also want people to know what healthy, nutritious food might be and, also, ways that they can utilize ingredients to save money while they make good food for their kids,” said Yip.
“We're hoping for a really good turnout. The JP program has 781 kids registered here in Baker Lake at the end of October. Those are all the kids who are benefitting from the program and we would hope that parents and guardians will come and they're welcome to bring their kids.
“We're going to have the indoor playground open with supervision for the kids, so the parents can attend the event.
“There's also going to be prize draws specifically for kids at the presentation.”
Yip said the presenters are hoping to share information that can help parents make more informed choices and, maybe, even taste food they haven't tried before.
She said the presenters also hope to inspire the parents and guardians to try cooking at home more, and to experiment with different food and food combinations. They will also be providing recipes for healthy, nutritious meals at the gathering.
“Another thing that we feel is important to present is that we're going to have some information about what people can do with any extra money they might have as a result of the program. This is directed at their own money they may have saved from the program. Money from the Jordan's Principle program, itself, can only be used for specified food and health items. Nothing more.
“Seeing as this is an influx of new money, maybe people might have some money that they're able to put away for their kids, or do something with it besides shopping for more groceries.
“Now, people may not, but we're hoping we'll be able to help people, so that they don't have to buy expensive almost pre-made items, which they aren't supposed to be buying with money from the Jordan's Principle program to begin with. We want to encourage people to be able to save money and make more nutritious meals at the same time.
“They don't have to be buying frozen pizzas and similar items. And the money that they save from the influx of JP monies, they could be using to invest in their kids' future, such as opening a savings account for their kids, or, maybe, investing in an RESP (registered education savings plan). There are opportunities here and we want to help them recognize that and maximize their potential so the kids get the very most that they can from this program.”
