A NUTRITIONIST from New York has been learning about the nutritional standards of school dinners in the Isle of Man.
Liz Metzger met with Chris Wilson, the Department of Education's school's catering manager, yesterday (Monday).
She is the leader of a team of four medical professionals who are visiting the Island as part of a trip sponsored by Rotary International under the Group Study Exchange Scheme (GSE).
Chris spoke to Liz about the challenges involved in providing healthy but varied and appealing meals to the Island's 3,000 primary school pupils.
He said: "It was a great pleasure meeting Liz and exchanging ideas about two quite different meal services. Although the health problems associated with poor diets are common across both sides of the Atlantic it was encouraging to hear to how similar the approaches to redressing the issues are."
The visiting professionals are in the North West of England for four weeks and will be in the Island until Thursday.
Rob Clynes, who is part of the team organising the visit on behalf of the five Rotary clubs in the Island, explained: "The programme provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits in paired countries.
"For four to six weeks team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas.
"As the team leader Liz is further on in her career than the others but her professional interests overlap with healthcare and education so meeting Chris was part of the bigger picture that we are showing to the group.
"Liz hopes to learn about the healthcare system in the UK and Isle of Man and share it with the professional teams she works with in New York."
Liz, who graduated in nutrition and has worked as a nutritional educator at a women, infants and children's programme in Cortland, New York and as county nutrition educator, said: "Over the years, my family and I have hosted three Rotary exchange students and were enriched by the experience.
"Since I missed out on this as a youth, being the Group Study Exchange team leader is giving me an opportunity to learn more about life and culture in England and the Isle of Man where I will hopefully have a chance to visit libraries, learn about the healthcare system and make many new friends."
