Save our future Save the rice!

Save our future Save the rice!

Observations Some pupils dispose rice which they cannot finish. We hoped that pupils would be able to tell the canteen vendors how much rice they want so as to reduce food waste (one of the 3Rs).

Proposed solution We hoped to come up with a standardized way of scooping rice so that pupils can tell the canteen vendors how much rice they wish to eat. This is to reduce wastage of rice. Action data collection The environmental club members measure the amount of rice disposed by P1 and P4 environmental club members during the breaks. This data is to be compared with the rice waste after the project to see if the project works!

Collection of Data (29/7 to 31/7) Pupils are told to dispose the left-over rice, into the bins.

Data from 29/7 to 31/7 Amount of rice waste collected(g) 29/7 860 30/7 1150 31/7 760

Actions Target: To reduce wastage by 20% -A talk to the Pr.1 and Pr. 4 pupils on the scarcity of rice and introduce the new way of ordering rice -Measure the rice disposed from 27/8 to 28/8

Actions After buying several bowls, we arrived at a suitable size. 3 canteen vendors were given 1 bowl each to scoop rice. Samples of rice scoops that we have bought

Contents of the talk -Video that shows the growing process of the rice plants

Contents of the talk Plastic rice scare in Asia (China and Indonesia) A stall-owner had suspected something was amiss when her customers suffered an upset stomach in Indonesia. One lab test showed traces of the synthetic plastic polymer, which is used to make bottles and pipes. If Indonesia is unable to produce enough rice to feed its 250 million-strong population, the impact is that Singapore might not be able to import rice. Hence there is scarcity of rice.

Contents of the talk Eat healthily!

How much is enough? Fruits and vegetables: Recommendations Age No. of servings in a day 3 6 years old 1 serving fruit and 1 serving vegetables 7 18 years old 2 servings fruits and 2 servings vegetables Source: www.hpb.gov.sg 2 + 2!!!

Source: www.hpb.gov.sg My Healthy Plate

Sample of poster displayed at the canteen Remember to tell the stall owner the amount of rice you wish to eat before ordering. Small portion (1 scoop) Big portion (2 scoops)

Sample of poster displayed at the canteen How to order your portion of rice When you think a small portion of rice is enough, Hi Auntie, can I have one scoop of rice with meat and vegetables?

Sample of poster displayed at the canteen How to order your portion of rice When you think you are very hungry, Hi Auntie, can I have two scoops of rice with meat and vegetables?

P4 Environmental Club helpers Duties: - remind the pupils to ORDER the rice - dispose the left over rice, meat and vegetables into the right bin -weigh the left over rice, meat and vegetables

Data from 27/8 to 28/8 Amount of rice waste collected(g) 29/8 recess 860 29/8 lunch 1150 30/8 recess 760 Amount of rice waste collected(g) 29/7 470 30/7 610 31/7 710 Generally, there was a more than 30% decrease on the first 2 days.

Impacts of the project. Pupils have been taught a way on how to tell stall owners how much rice they wish to eat. Pupils are more aware that they should consume food from other categories (eg. proteins and vitamins), instead of more rice (carbonhydrates) to keep a trim and fit body. Interviews can be conducted with P2 to P6 pupils to gauge the amount of rice they wish to eat, before introducing to them the way of ordering.

Plans for next year Other than paying for the costs of the weighing scales, bowls and scoops, our corporate partner, RAM SMAG Lifting Technologies Pte Ltd can help us source for suitable bowls, rice scoops or even rice mould with handles. If possible, they can sponsor some healthy eating wall stickers at the canteen to remind pupils on what to eat. The project (way of ordering rice) would be rolled out to the whole school in 2016.

Thank you for your attention. Remember to Save our future Save the rice!