The University House Foyer was abuzz on Thursday 11 February when first year Nutrition, Family and Consumer Studies (NFCS) students from the Faculty of Education organised a special event to highlight healthy alternative sweeteners to sugar.
The students creatively paired the upcoming St Valentine’s day with their goal to talk about healthy eating in their stand called Bee My Honey. A carefully laid out display included cups of teaspoons of sugar paired with some commonly consumed foods and beverages, jars of different sweeteners and dried fruit, as well as a selection of home-made (by the students themselves) sponges, scones, balls and other items sweetened using honey, dried fruit or other natural sweeteners.
Students, faculty and university staff who dropped by the stand, not only got to taste the foods, but were also invited to participate in a number of competitions amongst which they had to identify the sweetener used in 3 different cakes, or answer some questions about sugars, sweeteners and health based on information they could find in a leaflet produced and distributed by the NFCS students.
Visitors’ curiosity was clearly aroused and the students took time to answer the many questions asked, sharing their food and nutrition knowledge and practising their communication skills. Nobody left the stand empty-handed and a little bee told us that some people even came back for a second helping. Plans are already underway for another health and consumer education event in the community later in spring, this time by the 4th year NFCS student group.
For more info contact Dr Suzanne Piscopo.
View more photos from the event.