First Wealth is Health Back in Beirut

First Wealth is Health

No one was happier to take up her student’s suggestion than Samia Boulad last year. The Head of the Art Department was thrilled when Sarah Siblini, currently an IB2 student, proposed an idea and volunteered her time to help work on this year’s Art Calendar. Boulad promptly took her suggestion to the Art Department who immediately gave consent. “I was very pleased because it’s a student product and it’s good to give responsibilities to students and let them take initiatives,” said Boulad. Soon after, Sarah prepared a proposal on healthy eating and organic foods and included many delicious recipes. The Art Department set to work. For the past year, the entire student body in both schools worked to produce designs based on a “healthy” theme. The best art work from each grade level was then chosen and included in the calendar. A recipe or nutritional guideline was featured on the accompanying page (some were supplied by the students and some by Boulad and Sarah.) Finally, the “First Wealth is Health” calendars rolled off the printers to the delight of many parents who are trying to set their children on a healthy diet pattern. “We already got a lot of great feedback,” said Boulad. “Parents have really responded. Everyone really seems to like it.” It’s hard not to like. In an era where worldwide efforts to promote healthy eating is becoming widespread – including IC infirmary initiatives to launch several ‘healthy days’ on campus last year – the calendar seems to have hit a happy chord. By pure coincidence, the cafeteria launched their ‘healthy’ food section this year – including a special diet counter for calorie conscious individuals. “It all worked out better than planned,” said Boulad. “Even the recipes are written in all three languages to cater to all.” The idea to start an IC calendar came about in 1991 during a meeting of the Activities Committee and has since become a yearly event. A new theme is usually chosen every year.

Back in Beirut

James and Samia Sullivan on their annual trip to Lebanon and of course – as always - their first stop is IC.