New initiative in elementary schools to promote healthy eating
- The San Juan Daily Star
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
By THE STAR STAFF
MMM Multihealth, an organization dedicated to the comprehensive well-being and preventative health of the entire family, announced Monday the launch of an educational initiative aimed at promoting healthy nutritional habits among elementary school students in the island’s public school system.
The program is part of a collaborative agreement between MMM Multihealth and the Puerto Rico Department of Education (DE) to strengthen health and prevention education and will continue through the next school semester.
As part of the program, recognized nutritionist Olga Sinigaglia, MHSN, LND, CLE, will offer interactive nutrition workshops for groups of up to 40 students per session, with the potential to reach multiple elementary school groups per day depending on the location. The activities will include presentations and educational exercises to promote positive eating habits from an early age.
The initiative aligns with the Department of Education’s curriculum guidelines and with Law 89 on Physical Education, Recreation, and Sports.
“We firmly believe in the power of health education to transform communities,” said Solange De Lahongrais, president of MMM Multihealth. “This collaboration with the Department of Education allows us to reach thousands of families through their children, promoting healthier lifestyles from childhood.”
Education Secretary Eliezer Ramos Parés noted that “[o]ne of our core principles is to continue conveying the message of the importance of optimal nutrition for the development of each of our students.”
“We recognize that a student’s academic success depends on many factors, including maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet,” he said. “Therefore , these talks being offered in schools by the MMM Multihealth group are invaluable to us, and we appreciate their joining the Health Program to reinforce nutrition education for our children and youth.”
The proposal will impact elementary schools in all educational regions of the island, including Enrique de Jesús Borras School in Arecibo, Dr. Ramón E. Betances School in Cayey and Juan Antonio Corretjer School in San Juan, among others.