Buk bilong Pikinini launches a Nutrition Education Program with Trukai

Anne-Sophie Hermann, BbP Founder and Vice Chair (standing) with Bronwyn Wright, CEO of the Sir Brain Bell Foundation, David Mead SBBF Ambassador and Leanne Resson, EO for BbP talking to parents and students.

SBBF Ambassador, David Mead, reads Tru & Kai to the students

Buk bilong Pikinini (BbP) and the Sir Brian Bell Foundation have today launched a Nutrition Education program for parents.

To celebrate Literacy Week 2024, BbP has launched a nutrition guide and awareness session for parents together with the Sir Brian Bell Foundation and David Mead, former Kumuls Captain and PNG Health and Education Advocate at Evedahana Primary School in Port Moresby.

David Mead read the superhero picture book “Tru & Kai unlock the secret powers of superfoods” to children at BbP’s Evedahana Library Learning Centre, sponsored by the Sir Brian Bell Foundation. David Mead said: “If you need to be at the top of your game as an athlete or as a student you need to eat lots of fruit, vegetables, rice, fish, seeds and nuts. These superfoods will provide you with the energy you need to learn and grow.”

A student and parent taking part in a blind taste testing game of various fruits and vegetables

The reading was followed by a blindfold “fruit tasting” activity – with children feeding their mums who had to guess what fruit they were eating. The fruit included kiwi, dragon fruit, melon, grape and lemon. The children greatly enjoyed feeding their parents and testing their tasting knowledge.

This by an awareness session with BbP’s Founder and Vice-Chair Anne-Sophie Hermann and Executive Officer Leanne Resson who shared: “Feeding children foods that will sustain them for their learning and growth is important. Parents should focus on fruit, vegetables, vitamin-enriched rice such as Trukai rice, eggs, nuts/seeds and fish and avoid ultra-processed food such as lollies, cookies, chips and soda. We call those “sometimes foods” and are encouraging parents to only feed the children these from time to time as they are not foods suitable for learning and growing bodies.”

Leanne Resson, Executive Officer of BbP, talking to about the parents Nutrition Guide.

All parents, who have children enrolled at BbP’s Library Learning Centres will be receiving a ‘Parent’s Guide to Child Nutrition – eating to learn!’ booklet, which contains information about the types of foods they should be feeding their children, hand hygiene as well as information about the types of deficiencies children may face if they consume too many ultra-processed foods (UTF). International research suggests that consuming a diet with a high number of UTFs is associated with a long list of diseases such as diabetes, cancer and obesity. BbP is grateful to Moore printing for printing the booklets for the parents.

The BbP nutrition program resources have been developed specifically for PNG children and the PNG context. They seek to focus on the importance of eating locally produced and grown fruits, vegetables, protein and grains found at markets and gardens to ensure children are eating a balanced diet for well-being and learning. Picture book Superhero characters Tru and Kai are seeking to spend their powers helping friends, teachers and members of the community to improve their health and well-being and inspire children to eat for their own super powers.

Mothers with their copies of the Parents Nutrition Guide.

A BbP parent at 9 mile Evadahana Primary School library learning centre with her copy of the Parents Nutrition Booklet.

BbP thanks the Sir Brian Bell Foundation, David Mead, Brian Bell Group, Trukai, CPL/CPL Foundation, the AHC JF and Deputy Joanne Laundes, Ilimo/9 Mile Farm, SVS Mart, Sanitarium, Moore printing, BSP, Colgate-Palmolive, Zucci Mode, the Sourcing Company, Panamex, Zenag eggs, Supreme group, Waterfront food world, Dolly RD Tuna, Theodist and of course our Literacy Week sponsor ExxonMobil PNG for your support for our nutrition program launch and activities.

Buk bilong Pikinini’s published books are available for purchase from Theodist and directly from Buk bilong Pikinini’s office and webshop: https://bukbilongpikinini.charity/

Leanne Resson, second from left, Bronwyn Wright, third from left, David Mead, fifth from left and Anne-Sophie Hermann, right and Brian Bell amazing support squad team members.