National Nutrition Week (NNW) runs from 9 to 15 October and Dr Mariska Lilly from the Applied Microbial and Health Biotechnology Institute and member of the National Nutrition Society of South Africa, said this year’s theme is: Eat more vegetables and fruit every day.
NNW is an initiative of the national Department of Health to improve the nutrition knowledge and nutrition intake behaviour of South African people.
According to The Nutrition Society of South Africa: Western Cape Branch, students should eat more fruits and vegetables every day because fruit and vegetables contain important nutrients that prevent malnutrition and diseases like constipation, cancer, high cholesterol and diabetes.
It states that research has shown that most South Africans do not eat five fruits and vegetables every day and consume too many ultra-processed foods like chips, chocolates, biscuits and sweets. By eating these ultra-processed foods instead of fruit and vegetables as snacks students are at an increased risk of becoming sick.
Planning meals and snacks can help students to reach their veg and fruit targets. Here’s what it could look like:
- Breakfast: Add a banana or a small handful of raisins to cereal, pap, oats or yoghurt.
- Snack: Grab a handful of baby tomatoes or chop up a carrot.
- Lunch: Add 1 cup (about 1 cupped hand) of salad ingredients to your sandwich or wrap or mix in last night’s leftover veggies or cooked spinach to pap or rice.
- Snack: Grab an apple or any fruit instead of ultra-processed chips/chocolates.
- Dinner: Aim for half a plate of veggies or be sure to add frozen or grated vegetables to stews, pasta dishes or other mixed meals.
For more information go to www.nutritionweek.co.za
