We all have experienced the difficulties of sticking to a strict healthy diet. Sometimes the cravings get the better of us or we just lack discipline.
This year, 9 – 15 October 2022 will be celebrated as Nutrition Week in South Africa.
South Africa commemorates National Nutrition Week every October to encourage South Africans to make healthy choices towards improved nutrition, each year with a themed campaign.
With the soaring costs of the monthly food basket, many South African households are forced to make changes to their well-established eating patterns. Given the country’s high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, which are impacted by diet, it is vital that the current high cost of food doesn’t become a barrier to healthy eating.
During October an alliance of South African health organisations collaborated with the Department of Health and the Department of Basic Education to address barriers to healthy eating and promote the National Nutrition Week 2022 theme ‘Make healthy food choices easier’.
Easy ways to make healthier choices for meals:
- Plan your meals
- Avoid skipping meals
- Choose starchy foods that are less refined and higher in fiber
- Add more fruits and vegetables
- Add protein rich food to avoid getting hungry between meals
- Rethink your drink – choose water
- Choose your portion wisely
- Use foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt sparingly
