Alpro tackles child malnutrition with Alpro Eats Programme

Alpro Pharmacy, Malaysia’s largest prescription pharmacy chain, is set to address child malnutrition through its innovative Alpro Eats Programme.

Launched with the aim to improve children’s eating habits and school canteen menus, the programme starts with schools in Negeri Sembilan.

Addressing malnutrition in Malaysian schools

The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022 revealed that 1 in 5 Malaysian children are malnourished, with 6% facing overweight issues.

Dr. Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, Director-General of Health at the Ministry of Health (MOH), emphasised the urgent need for collaborative solutions to combat this issue.

Recognising the crucial role of nutrition in a child’s development, Alpro’s comprehensive Alpro Eats programme focuses on three key pillars:

1. Nutrition Canteen Guide: Alpro’s expert dietitians and nutritionists visit school canteens, evaluate menus, and provide guidance to enhance the nutritional value of the meals. They work closely with canteen vendors and school staff to offer healthy and delicious options for students.
2. Healthy Diet School Talks: Led by Alpro’s team of over 350 nutritionists and dietitians, these interactive talks educate students on the importance of healthy eating. Students learn about nutrient-rich choices and portion control using the Ministry of Health’s #sukusukuseparuh rule.
3. My Healthy Growth Journey: Building on the success of the Healthy Diet School Talks, this initiative pairs Alpro’s nutritionists and dietitians with primary students from the programme. These mentors monitor the students’ growth every six months and provide personalised nutrition plans, fostering healthy habits and development beyond the school setting.

The Impact of Alpro Eats

At the core of this initiative is the “Alpro Eats: A Nutritionist-Guided Canteen” e-book, which outlines the programme’s comprehensive Five-Step Guide to promote healthy eating habits and revamp school canteen menus.

In its first phase, the programme reached over 10,000 students, teachers, and parents across 20 schools in Seremban. “This e-book chronicles Alpro Eats’ remarkable journey,” said Dt Jayne Luah, Chief Dietitian at Alpro Pharmacy.

“The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with more schools requesting to join the initiative. Seeing student enthusiasm and school commitment is heartwarming.

We believe every child deserves healthy food, and Alpro Eats is our commitment to a healthier future, one bite at a time.”

Robiah bt Kasim, a headmistress from Sekolah Kebangsaan Ampangan, Seremban, praised the initiative, stating, “We are impressed by the combined approach of education and practical implementation of the programme.

Empowering students and staff through healthy eating habits and canteen guidelines is crucial. I look forward to future collaborations.”

The launch of the Alpro Eats e-book was attended by distinguished guests, including the Penolong Pengarah from Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Sembilan, the President of Persatuan Guru Besar SJKC Malaysia Cawangan Negeri Sembilan, and the President of Kesatuan Kebangsaan Guru-Guru Besar Malaysia.

Their presence underscored a shared mission to empower the future generation with healthy eating habits.

Readers can explore the programme’s development and execution, discover key steps to creating a healthier school canteen, explore sample healthy menus, and gain valuable insights through testimonials from educators and parents.