Silang, Cavite (July 15–16, 2024) — IIRR, in partnership with Helen Keller International, conducted a Canteen Menu Enhancement Training with canteen managers and staff from Upli, Maguyam, and Malinta Elementary Schools. The training is part of the Fueling Bright Futures: Revolutionizing School Nutrition for a Malnutrition-Free Philippines project, which seeks to improve the school food environment and empower children to make healthier food choices.
The two-day training focused on enhancing the nutritional quality of school canteen offerings while increasing the awareness of canteen staff on the Department of Education’s Order No. 13, s. 2017, which outlines guidelines for healthy food and beverage choices in schools. Through interactive activities and hands-on exercises, participants learned about key nutrition issues affecting school-aged children, including undernutrition, overnutrition, food poverty, and the importance of dietary diversity.
Canteen managers were also introduced to practical tools such as the “Healthy Food Plate” and techniques for reading nutrition labels. These activities helped staff better understand the critical role of school canteens in promoting good nutrition and overall child development.
Participants appreciated the engaging format of the training, citing how it made complex nutrition concepts easier to grasp and apply in daily food preparation.
The Fueling Bright Futures project, funded by Helen Keller International and implemented by IIRR, runs from March 2024 to February 2025. It actively engages school canteen managers, Gulayan sa Paaralan Program (GPP) coordinators, and teachers to increase access to and availability of nutritious, locally sourced foods in public elementary schools.
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