Learners across the country have returned to school for term 3 and the sentiment of good nutrition being a foundation for effective learning remains ever critical.
When children are well-nourished, they are more focused, energised, and ready to absorb knowledge.
Many parents embark on the nutrition journey by stocking up on brain foods like nuts, fruit and vegetables, and even consider vitamin supplements. However, to ensure the maximum possible benefit from the nutritious foods we consume, we must create the right conditions inside the gut to ensure nutrients are readily absorbed to be utilised by the brain and body.
Optimal nutrition to support health and learning begins with in the gut.
South Africa’s leading yoghurt manufacturer, Danone, with over 100 years of expertise in producing fermented products that promote healthy gut bacteria, understands the central role of the gut in supporting nutrient digestion and absorption, influencing overall health and the Gut-Brain connection.
Empowering learners through education on healthy eating and gut health, Danone has embarked on a School Nutrition Roadshow reaching 24 000 learners and has developed an educational story book for children in Grades 1 to 3.
The story book was written by experienced writers who aligned it to the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). This book takes the reader on an engaging journey, tracing the path of yoghurt from farm to spoon, to health, by understanding how yoghurt was first made and why eating two tubs (200 g) every day promotes daily health.
The Danone School Nutrition Roadshow commenced today in Boksburg, marking the launch of the book with representatives from the National Department of Education in attendance. The roadshow will subsequently extend its outreach to schools located in Centurion, Pretoria East, Arcadia, Johannesburg, Midrand, and Roodepoort.
Jeff Nyoka, the Manager of eLearning Services from City of Johannesburg Public Libraries, facilitated the availability of the book in local libraries, making it accessible to a wider audience of children.
Leanne Kiezer, Registered Dietitian and Head of Public Affairs at Danone, encouraged parents and guardians to read the book together with their children.
She noted that, in South Africa, many children have insufficient intake of key nutrients such as Vitamin A, Zinc, Iron, and B vitamins (including Folic acid and B12), all of which are vital for optimal brain health. Kiezer explained that consuming yoghurt can support the development of a healthy gut environment, facilitating the absorption of these essential nutrients.
As a parent herself, she emphasised the importance of including yoghurt in breakfast and lunchboxes daily to help promote adequate nutrient uptake.
SUPPLIED.
