Tackling Food Insecurity

Fostering empathy amongst our students and helping them develop compassion and responsibility towards one another and our local community, are an integral part of CIS' learning programme.

Recently, a group of grade 11 students created a Food Bank Committee to raise awareness on the issue of 'food insecurity in Singapore' - not knowing where your next meal comes from. According to a 2019 UN report, 4.1% of Singaporean's experience food insecurity to a severe extent. The issue affects a diverse variety of people, from large families with low incomes to senior citizens.

The Food Bank Committee was set by grade 11 students Sheetal and Anusha. Its key objective is to raise funds for a food donation box to be set up at school so that students can contribute towards the worthwhile cause managed by the Singapore Food Bank.

"The Singapore Food Bank is one of many charities that have taken on the challenge to eradicate food insecurity," explained Sheetal. "They receive donations of surplus foods (safe to consume) from packaged food retailers, distributors and manufacturers. Through this process, not only do they support Singapore's overlooked food-insecure population but also raise awareness of their situation."

The decision to set up the committee was inspired after several visits Sheetal and Anusha made to the Singapore Food Bank's warehouse. Here they observed first hand the valuable work the organisation does, and also volunteered to help them organise their large reserves for donations.

"While working closely with the Food Bank, we have become more conscious about our attitude towards food and nutrition, and are learning not to take it for granted," said Sheetal. " Some easy habits to implement in your daily life include controlling your food portions whenever possible and pre-planning meals at home to ensure minimum wastage. Packaged foods that you do not intend to use, and are still safe to consume, can be donated to organisations such as the Food Bank. These are habits that we hope to introduce to our school community, by sharing the Food Bank's mission."

To learn more about CIS' community service programme contact their Admissions team on 67343 8088 or visit https://www.cis.edu.sg/learning/service-and-leadership

Ask the Dentist: Covid-19

Q: Is it safe to visit the dentist during COVID-19?

A: Singapore’s government has implemented a series of circuit breaker (aka enhanced safe distancing) measures to encourage everyone to stay home as much as possible to prevent further local transmission.

During this period of time, dental clinics are open as we are providing essential services. However, the focus of dental practitioners is to provide urgent/emergency dental treatment. This means that dental treatment that require immediate or timely attention to:

• relieve severe pain, risk of infection
  
• prevent significant deterioration of the patient’s oral/general health.

All other elective dental procedures should be rescheduled to a later time.

If you are feeling any discomfort/pain or experiencing any bleeding/swelling, do contact your respective dental clinics for an appointment as soon as possible. A dental specialist / dentist will be able to attend to your needs.

To ensure the safety and well-being of our patients and team members, we conduct the following: 

• thorough screening measures to ensure all patients/visitors who enter are well
• put on full personal protection equipment for the management of viral spread from aerosol generating procedures
• carry out high standards of disinfection as each patient enters the clinic and after each dental procedure
• implement adequate physical distancing between each patient in the waiting area.

Dr Steven Soo is a Dental Specialist in Prosthodontics with Specialist Dental Group®. He was formerly a Clinical Lecturer at the Eastman Dental Institute and Clinical Teacher at the GKT Dental Institute, both of which are affiliated with the University of London. Dr Soo has a special interest in prosthetic and implant restorative dentistry.
www.specialistdentalgroup.com | (65) 6733 7883

Specialist Dental Group® is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services.

FitBit: Optimizing Your Participation in Online Fitness Classes

As fitness classes become popular online in the current Covid-19 situation, here is a short guide on "Optimizing your participation in online fitness classes."

Popular media channels include Zoom video and Instagram IG live video. Whilst doing these classes from home, especially for mat work classes, do you find yourself tilting your neck to look at your device at times, to check that you are doing the movement correctly?

You may wish to ensure these tiny steps are taken to improve your proprioception, to fully enjoy your workout.

A. Use a big screen if possible. E.g. computer vs small mobile phone screen.
B. If you are standing, try to avoid putting the mobile phone on the floor and displaying yourself on video. The image appearing on video may not be too appropriate as the camera is pointing upwards from your feet!
C. Loyalty pays off here, in the sense that, if you stick with the instructors you are familiar with, you will tend to be able to maximize his/ her verbal cues and continue
the movement without having to keep tilting your neck to awkward positions to look at the video.

Enjoy the freedom and smorgasbord of classes brought to you online. Stay safe.

Sweet Potato Empanadas

 

Makes 12

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow/brown onion, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 sweet potatoes, grated
• 1 cup canned lentils
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked/sweet paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon milk
• Puff Pastry sheets
• Sesame seeds

Here’s What to Do:

1. Pre-heat oven to 200°C.
2. Heat oil in a frying pan on medium heat. Sauté the onion until golden, approx. 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook for a further minute.
3. Add sweet potatoes, lentils and seasonings. Cook for about 15 minutes, until sweet potato is cooked.
4. To make empanadas, use cookie cutter to cut circles of pastry, add 1 tablespoon of sweet potato mixture, fold over and seal with egg wash.
5. Repeat with remaining filling and pastry.
6. Arrange empanadas on parchment lined baking sheets. Brush tops with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
7. Bake until golden brown, rotating sheets halfway through, approx 30-40 minutes.

Cook’s Notes:

• Empanadas are a baked or fried Central/Latin American savoury pastry. They’re also popular in the Philippines too! 
• Alternative fillings: cheese & onion, minced beef & potato, sun dried tomato & goats cheese, chicken & mushroom, black beans & corn, Nutella & banana, pumpkin & spinach.