Pretoria - Choose your portion with caution, is the message from education and health bodies as the country marks National Nutrition Week.
The Department of Basic Education, in conjunction with Nestlé South Africa, launched their campaign at Molefe Mooke Primary School in Dilopye Village, Hammanskraal.
The Department said the theme fitted their priority of boosting quality learning and teaching through improving and maintaining pupil’s health and well-being.
“Unfortunately many children eat too little of certain food groups like fruit and vegetables, and prefer the cereal or starch or meat groups, which is normally prepared by adding fat. Eating too much of these groups can lead to becoming overweight, which is associated with lifestyle diseases like diabetes and hypertension,” said Gugu Ndebele, deputy director general: social mobilisation and support services.
The rise in obesity rates has been paralleled by increases in the portion size of many foods and the prevalence of eating out – the South African Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys showed that almost half of adults eat outside the home, with more than one in four people doing so weekly.
The department is hoping to change this and handed over nutrition education learning and teaching support material to teachers and pupils.
The department and Nestlé will host regular workshops for teachers to share best methods of teaching about good nutrition practices.
National Nutrition Week started on Wednesday and ends on Monday. With an increase in obesity, especially in woman and preschool children, this year’s theme is “Eat less – Choose Your Portion with Caution”, creating awareness and educating communities about the importance of eating healthily by choosing a variety of foods in the recommended amounts.
“The link between fast food intake, a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain is well established. Fast foods and convenience meals are generally high in energy (kilojoules) fat, salt and sugar, and the portions are often larger than they should be,” said Anika Barnard, registered dietitian at the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
“Limit unhealthy takeaway meals and deep-fried foods to no more than once a month,” recommends Barnard.
For more information visit: www.heartfoundation.co.za or www.nutritionweek.co.za
HEALTHY TIPS
* Serve the correct portions of food onto individual plates, instead of putting serving dishes on the table.
* Use smaller plates and serving utensils.
* Use smaller glasses to limit beverage consumption at a time.
* Drink water.
* Your body may only experience feeling “full” some time after eating a meal. So eat slowly, chew properly and pay attention to your body’s internal cues to avoid overeating.
* Do not eat in front of the TV as this may distract you from body cues, thereby leading to overeating.
* Encourage children to take a lunch box and healthy snacks to school and avoid buying snacks that are high in sugar, fat and salt. - Pretoria News