World Food Day celebrated

on 30 & 31 October 2021 

 at Good Shepherd Centre, Singapore

Food has symbolic meaning all around the world and is more than just for survival. With food we make friends, celebrate milestones, and count our blessings. Food has always been an important part of the human story. However, it is a real paradox that at least two billion people around the world do not have access to healthy food, yet on the other hand, almost two billion people are overweight or obese.

Our Actions, Our Future!

This year in October, we commemorate World Food Day with the theme “Our actions are our future” together with the residents in Good Shepherd Centre, through a series of interactive slides and activities. During one of the discussions where residents share about what food choices they usually make for their three meals, it was interesting to hear that many of them like local delights such as Wanton Mee, Chicken Rice and Roti Prata. It was also heartening that two young girls shared that they enjoy eating healthy food including brown rice, vegetables, and soup-based food.

Sustainable Pizza

The residents were then engaged in a hands-on activity – “The Sustainable Pizza” that encourages them to reflect on how they could make good food choices that have a positive impact on the environment as well as on themselves. During the activity, residents get to create their one-of-a-kind pizza with their own choices of ingredients out of clay. The women and children had a lot of fun making their pizza as they were given free rein to add all their favorite ingredients. One of the most unique combination was pumpkin chips on a pizza!

Economical Choices & Non Wastage

When residents gathered to share about their masterpiece, many shared that they imagined getting most of their ingredients for their pizza from local sellers such as NTUC and Sheng Siong Supermarket as these are more economical choices. Some of them also intentionally made mini pizzas in order to reduce food wastages. It was an enriching session for most as they were able to see that making a difference in the food system begins with ordinary consumers like ourselves, and the daily choices we make about the food we buy, how they are packaged, and how much is wasted.

Support Local Brands & Healthier Choices

At the end of the session, the women and mothers were motivated to be more mindful and intentional when shopping for food items in the supermarket, such as supporting local brands and making healthier choices. The children were also enthusiastic about learning new knowledge about having nutritious food. Through this session, it has also inspired some of the residents to forge deeper friendship over food as a few of them have found out that they all enjoy eating sushi and decided to have a sushi making session in the near future!

Contributed by:

Cheryl Ang

Social Worker

Good Shepherd Centre

Singapore