Why Nutrition

Why Nutrition?

School nutrition facilitates a child’s ability to learn and supports their promise of reaching the full potential as adults. Less than 50% of children who start school in Grade 1 in South Africa make it through Grade 12. Poor education drives the high unemployment rate, which is between 40% and 70% for those who have not completed high school.

Hunger, poverty and lack of access to effective education means that millions of caregivers are unable to provide for their children’s healthy development and education. Around 12 million children in South Africa live below the poverty line, and 4.4 million households in South Africa do not have frequent, reliable access to food.

A guaranteed meal served at school incentivizes impoverished caregivers to send their children to school. It enables children to develop, grow and learn in a safe and stimulating environment, and prepares them to receive a formal education. When a child stays in school, their ability to generate future income and build a livelihood is increased. Through interactions with teachers, fellow-students and food preparers, the child also stays connected, cared for and involved.

See references 2

Where we work

33%

of SA children under 6 live below the food poverty line

80%

of the poorest children have no access to educare

90%

of children in the poorest schools present as school unready in Grade One

50%

of children who start Grade One never finish school

Nutritional Deficiencies

Malnutrition means more than stunting, wasting or being underweight. It can mean obesity and micronutrient (such as vitamin and mineral) deficiencies as well.

Increasingly we are seeing food high in sugars, processed carbohydrates and fats, but low in micro-nutrients, becoming more affordable and available. The consumption of these ‘globalised’ foods among the poor is resulting in overweight and obesity occurring alongside stunting. Micronutrient deficiencies can occur in children who are not necessarily hungry, but whose diets are of low nutrient quality, or which lack dietary diversity. This is often referred to as a ‘hidden hunger’ and can have serious impacts on education and health by reducing children’s learning ability, impairing development, and reducing immunity.

Our programme is designed to offer a school meal high in protein and fortified with micronutrients to combat all aspects of malnutrition.

What's Included in the Lunchbox?

We provide a rotating menu of nutritionally fortified foods that are delicious and familiar to the children. Each meal provides the child with a wide range of macro and micro-nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Biryani

Protein, Fibre, Folate, Magnesium, Zinc, Iron, B5, Carotenes, Vit A, K & C

Gravy Mix

Dehydrated Vegetables, Fibre, Iron, Retinol, Vit B2

Maize Meal

Riboflavin, Folate, Thiamine

Peanut Butter

Protein, Monounsaturated Fats, Vit B3, Arginine, Vit E, Magnesium, Iron, Resveratrol, Antioxidants

Porridge

Carbohydrates, Fibre, Manganese, Selenium

Rice & Lentils

Protein, Fibre, Folate, Magnesium, Iron, Amino Acids, Vitamin B5

Samp & Beans

Complex carbohydrates, Protein, Zinc, Iron

Soya Mince

Protein, Isoflavones, Phytate, Phytosterols, Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Vegetables

Schools are required to source locally available fresh vegetables to add to the menu three times weekly, providing additional vitamins, minerals, fibre, and carotenes

Vitamilk & Vitadrink

Protein, Potassium, Folic Acid, Zinc, Iron

Why Nutrition?

33%

80%

90%

50%

Nutritional Deficiencies

What's Included in the Lunchbox?

Biryani

Gravy Mix

Maize Meal

Peanut Butter

Porridge

Rice & Lentils

Samp & Beans

Soya Mince

Vegetables

Vitamilk & Vitadrink

Weekly Lunch Menu 2019

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Our menu has been externally reviewed by the Nutrition Information Centre at the University of Stellenbosch.

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