The Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA) Primary Care Nutrition Unit and Food Services Department hosted sessions at the Mason Hall and Scarborough Health Centres on December 17th and 18th respectively to teach people how to eat healthier this holiday season.

The “Xmas Healthy Eating Initiative” was held as a way to keep healthy eating top-of-mind among Tobago’s residents.

Healthy eating not only facilitates the positive well-being of individuals but it minimizes the chances of chronic disease.

“Even though we know what we have to do to remain or become healthy, we don’t always do it on a continuous basis. We all recognize that healthy eating can be very challenging for many persons, especially during the Christmas festivities, so the Nutrition Unit, in collaboration with the TRHA Food Services Department, conducted live food demonstrations to show clients how they can adopt healthy techniques when preparing meals,” Head of the Nutrition Unit Joanne Cruickshank said.

“By employing this approach as part of disease prevention and management, we hope that clients will be encouraged to modify their dietary habits and that these sessions will facilitate long-term behavioural change which will reduce the risk of health complications and related mortality.”

Attendees observed food preparation techniques and enjoyed a food and drink tasting at the end of the sessions.