Nurturing our Future- Accessibility, Availability and Affordability Healthy Food For All

“Nutrition Services continues to encourage Bermudians to focus on healthy eating habits that are sustainable for themselves and the environment,” said Minister of Health, Kim Wilson, JP, MP. “March is Nutrition Month in Bermuda, and the focus will be on educating our community about what steps they can take to live healthier lifestyles.”

During Nutrition Month, residents are encouraged to consider the benefits of growing their own food, shopping and eating in season, rethink the healthy plate to become more plant-based focused, and eat less meat.

Bermuda has celebrated Nutrition Week since forming the Bermuda Dietitians Association in the 1980s. However, Nutrition Month, which has been celebrated worldwide since 1980, has only been observed in Bermuda since 2006.

Cymone Hollis BSc, RDN, Public Health Nutritionist for the Ministry of Health, said: “Our theme this year is ‘Nurturing our Future- Accessibility, Availability and Affordability Healthy Food For All’. I encourage everyone to make sustainable healthy lifestyle choices.

“Scientific evidence indicates significant links to various chronic diseases due to poor lifestyle choices. In Bermuda we are seeing the impact this has on our country and we intend to provide the knowledge needed to assist everyone to make the healthy choice the easy choice. 

“We will spend the month of March highlighting sustainable nutrition and healthy eating behaviours. This topic is quite relevant in today’s atmosphere, given grocery prices are increasing and many are asking how they can afford to eat, nevertheless eat healthily.”

In celebration of Bermuda Dietitians Day, March 8, Nutrition Services will host a lively panel discussion on Nurturing Our Future, with a panel of local Registered Dietitians from various specialties. The panelists include, Natalie Bean, RDN, Private Practice, Alesha Johnson, RDN, Clinical, Allison Outerbridge, RDN, Clinical,Sinead Salandy, RDN, Private Practice and Cymone Hollis, RDN, Public Health. They will discuss sustainable nutrition and how accessible, available and affordable healthy food can impact everyone.  This panel discussion will be on the Department of Health Bermuda FaceBook page on March 8 at 5:30 pm.

The public is invited to be part of the discussion by submitting your questions no later than March 7 by emailing nutrition@gov.bm or calling 747-6468.

Also, during Nutrition Month, residents are encouraged to participate in the 2023 "Let’s Grow Together”, the Bermuda Parish Garden Competition, by creating a garden, submitting photos for judging and becoming eligible to win prizes.

The competition, a partnership between the Department of Health, the Department of Parks and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, is open to all gardening skill levels. The categories are School Garden, Community Garden, Non-Traditional Garden, Small Garden and Large Garden.

The garden competition runs from March 21 to May 23, 2023. An email with a link to upload a photo and instructions will be sent to participants. Registration for the competition is March 1 – 20, on forms.gov.bm/gardencompetition.

For additional details, email nutrition@gov.bm or call 278-6469.