Community Nutritious Meal

Inuujaq School held a community nutritious meal/breakfast on the morning of March 21.  The school was promoting healthy living & eating.  Unfortunately, the cost of living is high in Nunavut and healthy food prices are marked up at grocery stores.  It’s also like that down south, but it’s much more noticeable up here due to the remoteness of Nunavut communities.  Although, I find that argument hard to believe considering companies that make junk food can sell their products at a lower price.  Well, relatively low; a can of pop/soda in Arctic Bay costs around $2.75.  The price increases to $6 or more when the sealift supply runs out in the spring.

The food was ordered through the Taqqut Co-op store.  The menu consisted of various fruits, vegetables, cheese, juice boxes, tea, and coffee.  Staff came to school at 7:30am to prepare the food and set up the gym.  We also had the assistance of a visiting superintendent.  The fruits & vegetable were washed & dried before being cut.  The food was divided and brought to the gym on trays.  I made sure the gym was ready.  Foldout chairs lined the walls, and long tables & a sound system were set at the front. 

The food trays were placed on the tables.  Staff began dividing the food when paper plates & gloves arrived.  It’s better to prepare plates ahead of time because the audience doesn’t have to wait.  Juice boxes, tea, and coffee were setup on a separate table.  Everything was mostly ready when the first school bell rang, but several staff members stayed in the gym to finish preparing plates.

The assembly began at 9:30am with a brief welcome speech from the acting principal.  An Elder then blessed the food.  Staff distributed plates & juice boxes to students, parents, guardians, and Elders.  The prepared food was delicious.  The noise level in the gym dropped several decibels because everyone was eating.  I waited until everyone was served before taking a plate.

The community meal was done at 10:15am.  School Administration thanked staff for preparing everything, and students & everyone who attended.  Everyone was encouraged to make healthy food choices and to cut down the number of sweets they consume.  Teachers were instructed to lead their students back to class.  High school students stayed behind to help with the cleanup of the gym.  Leftover food was offered to parents & guardians to take home.