Alpro Pharmacy’s Alpro Eats Programme Takes on National Malnutrition Challenges

Kuala Lumpur, 13 June 2024 – Alpro Pharmacy, Malaysia’s largest prescription pharmacy chain, is poised to tackle malnutrition challenges among children with its new Alpro Eats Programme. In addition to promoting healthier eating habits among children in Malaysia, targets to improve canteen menus in all schools beginning with Negeri Sembilan.

Alpro Pharmacy launching Alpro EATS initiative, a comprehensive programme aimed at enhancing

nutritional support for the children in Malaysia.

According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022, a staggering 1 in 5 children in Malaysia is malnourished, with 6.0% facing overweight issues. Dr. Muhammad Radzi Abu Hassan, Director-General of Health at the Ministry of Health (MOH), underscores the critical need for collaborative efforts to address this nationwide problem. 

Recognising the impact of proper nutrition on a child's development, the comprehensive Alpro Eats programme focuses on three key pillars:

• Nutrition Canteen Guide: Alpro's expert dietitians and nutritionists visit school canteens, evaluating menus and providing guidance to improve the nutritional value of the offered meals. They collaborate with canteen vendors and school staff to create healthy and delicious options for students.

• 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 explore topics like nutrient-rich choices and portion control using the Ministry of Health's #sukusukuseparuh rule.
• My Healthy Growth Journey: Building on the success of Healthy Diet School Talks, they launch this initiative. Alpro's dedicated Nutritionists and Dietitians (N&Ds) become mentors for primary students from the program. N&Ds monitor their growth every six months and provide personalised nutrition plans, fostering healthy habits and development beyond the school setting.

At the heart of this initiative is the "Alpro Eats: A Nutritionist-Guided Canteen" e-book, which contains the programme's comprehensive Five-Step Guide to promote healthy eating habits and reinventing school canteen menus.

The first phase of the programme recorded a reach of over 10,000 students, teachers, and parents across 20 schools around Seremban. "This e-book chronicles Alpro Eats' remarkable journey," says Dt Jayne Luah, Chief Dietitian at Alpro Pharmacy. "The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with more schools requesting to join the initiative, and witnessing 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."

Launching the Alpro Eats journey and its impact, the program's e-book offers a treasure trove of resources. This comprehensive resource was introduced at a launch event 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 our shared mission, to empower the future generation with healthy eating habits. Readers can explore the program'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.

Pn Robiah bt Kasim, a headmistress from Sekolah Kebangsaan Ampangan, Seremban, highlights, "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."