Magazine May/Jun 2019

H e al SUBCOMMITTEE

COMMITTEE FEATURE

With such a wholesome name, it’s no wonder our newly formed HEAL Subcommittee (HEAL) focuses on Members’ health and wellness. Short for Healthy Eating & Allergies, HEAL is the brainchild of GC Member and Social & Dining (S&D) Committee Chair Nasir Kausar. Why was HEAL formed? The S&D Committee touches on healthy food options at most meetings, but due to the sheer volume of new ideas, menu and event discussions that go on, it was tough to ensure enough attention is dedicated to this topic. Monica Pitrelli, who chairs HEAL, and Nasir are aware that healthy food is very important to many Members, and felt it was time to form a subcommittee solely dedicated to this cause. The subject can inevitably get a little dicey – how one Member defines “healthy food” can be completely different from another Member. Hence, after much discussion, HEAL has decided on its strategy for the coming months. HEAL does not just support one definition of “healthy”, and does not plan to overhaul the entire menu and system. Instead, HEAL aims to provide more options, rather than less options, to suit what Members currently want and need. So don’t worry – your favorite Club burger isn’t going anywhere! What are HEAL’s goals and objectives? HEAL aims to be a bridge between Members and management regarding Club food options related to health, special diets and allergies, and the go-to place where Members can send suggestions and follow up on those suggestions (even if the answer isn't what they hoped for). HEAL will vet ideas - from Members as well as the Subcommittee’s - and turn great ones into meaningful change. HEAL also wants to elevate health consciousness and allergy awareness among the staff. Each member of the subcommittee has a background in food or wellness – either professionally (we have a nutritionist and two doctors in our ranks) or personally (from keto enthusiasts to those with serious dietary allergies). The Subcommittee is a nice cross-section of The Club across ages, genders and interests. What can Members look forward to? HEAL’s first task is to survey The Club to find out how many Members adhere to a special diet due to lifestyle choices or medical reasons. Are you gluten-intolerant? Avoiding carbs to lose weight? Have a child with a serious egg allergy? If so, let us know. There is power in numbers, and once HEAL has an understanding of who is eating what, the Subcommittee can sharpen their focus. If Members are perfectly happy with the status quo, please also let HEAL know. Those opinions are valuable, too. After the survey, HEAL will begin looking into creating Club-wide food labels, ingredient lists, menu additions, staff education reducing and eliminating the use of plastic and much more. If Members have any ideas or suggestions, don't be shy! Email HEAL at info@amclub.org.sg with “Suggestions to HEAL” as the subject line. Chair: Monica Pitrelli Members: Nasir Kausar, Veesheen Yuen, Riyana Rupani, Liz Wirtz, Sujata Sheth, Caitlin Fry, Tessa Pang, Matthew Dearth & Brian Schwenker

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