Mastering delivery of nutrition skills
Master of Sport, Exercise and Health student Olivia Malamatenios (Ngāpuhi) always aimed to work in health promotion and inspire healthier lifestyles.
Recently she took on a newly created role as a nutritionist facilitator with BBM Motivation/Just Move charitable health trust.
Founded by motivational speaker and fitness trainer Dave “Brown Buttabean” Letele, BBM is a community health and social service provider delivering free fitness, nutrition, and social navigation services for Auckland communities.
Olivia has developed and will oversee the set-up of nutrition education programmes and the launch of a Manukau-based Community Kitchen where groups, ranging from adults to children, can learn to cook and prepare healthy, affordable meals in the programmes. She is also creating and leading nutrition workshops to inspire and guide people on how to enhance their wellbeing and financial capability.
“I aim to bring nutrition programmes into the community with a focus on food literacy skills. The programmes will work towards improving people’s confidence with cooking, increase their food and nutrition knowledge, and incorporate social-cultural aspects to focus on improving long-term dietary behaviours.”
Olivia will use the knowledge gained from her master's dissertation, developing a food classification system based on levels of food processing and quality, to inform BBM’s nutrition programmes, and to create recipes for the BBM app and online services.
"My knowledge around promoting physical activity and health will also be applied to encourage and influence lifestyle change on a community-based level, while providing a supportive and inclusive environment for all in the community at BBM.”
Olivia will work with Māori and Pacific communities to improve overall mental and physical health conditions and increase awareness around food literacy and food choices.
“Knowledge gained from key papers such as Hauora Māori development will help to achieve health equity among all and work within kaupapa Māori. Learning about the different noncommunicable diseases and the appropriate ways to address these conditions through diet and exercise is knowledge that will also help me in this new role.”