Grace Kennedy Spearheads Sports Nutrition in Jamaica
Dr. Heather Little-White, Food and Nutrition Consultant, gave a presentation entitled "The Synergistic Link between Food Marketing and Sports Nutrition: The Grace Kennedy Experience" at a press conference held in January. This was done in light of Grace's nutrition sponsorship for Olympics London 2012.
She began by highlighting Grace Kennedy's involvement in nutrition via Grace Kitchens for the last 28 years. The mantra - "Good Nutrition is Grace's Goal" was developed when Grace Kitchens launched its nutrition education and breakfast feeding programmes in schools across Jamaica. Grace has demonstrated their advocacy of sports nutrition by supporting entities such as the Jamaica Junior Track and Field Programme in 2000, and prior to that, the Premier League Football in 1995, and the 'Reggae Boyz' in 1998, helping them to qualify for the World Cup.
It was stated that Grace Foods has operationalized the theoretical framework of sports nutrition by application of a principle developed at Cornell University - the T.A.P. Principle which means Theory + Application = Performance. To maximize the nutrition of Grace Foods, there is a deliberate effort to include locally grown foods in feeding players and athletes. As a result, collaboration with local farmers and food suppliers is a primary focus currently.
In preparing for the Track and Field season ahead, Grace Foods continues their mandate as title sponsors of Boys and Girls Championships, using the opportunity to deliver sports nutrition education to schools across Jamaica. Additionally, "Grace Foods' support to the JAAA for Jamaica's Track and Field team for London Olympics 2012 can only redound to better mental and physical preparedness of our national team to enhance their performance to bring joy to Jamaicans at home and abroad."