McDonald’s story book promotes healthy eating

MANILA, Philippines - Ronald McDonald House Charities, the charity arm of multinational fastfood giant Mcdonald’s, has launched the 34th story book in their Bright Minds Read (BMR) book kit of story books they have produced for donation to public elementary schools.

The “Go!” color story big book was a product of a partnership with the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) and local story book publisher Adarna House, RMHC’s long-time partner in their BMR campaign to promote reading among public school children.

The story book tells the story of a boy named Jack and his exciting adventures. Jack, just like other kids, would trade chips and sweets over healthy food any day. In this new story book, Jack slowly realizes the importance of eating right and of being physically active. It was written by Becky Bravo and illustrated by Vanessa Tamayo. 

“We are pleased to have a new book in the BMR Kit as it is another exciting material that will help kids especially Grade 1 public school students learn and love reading. With the expertise of Adarna House in story-telling and FNRI’s guidance on the food-related information, we hope to promote children’s well-being through this book. Kids will surely relate to and learn from Jack’s story,” Marie Asistio Angeles, RMHC executive director said.

The RMHC has so far distributed some 5,400 copies of the 33 story books, 28 of which are in Filipino, in their BMR Kit program.

TRMHC started their BMR program in 2004.

Angeles said they will distribute some 1,150 copies of the “Go!” story book in the Ilocos region, Western Visayas, and Southeastern Mindanao this 2014.

Of the 1,150, 150 will be distributed in public multigrade schools in provinces hit by natural disasters last year such as Bohol, Cebu, Leyte and Ormic.

Dr, Mario Capanzana, DOST-FNRI director, said they welcomed the partnership with RMHC to promote healthy eating habits among young school children.

He said that healthy eating promotion was vital considering their 2008 data gathered that a large percentage of Filipinos are deficient in energy because of malnutrition.

“We as generator of of information are glad to partner with other groups to promote our advocacies,” Capanzana said in official launch ceremonies at the McDonald’s store in Greenbelt 1, Makati City, that was attended by George Yang, the founding chairman and majority owner of McDonald’s Philippines.