What is Nutrition Education? Why is it important in the context of

the South African public health nutrition profile?

Carol Browne

Objectives

To introduce and establish: •The concept of nutrition education

•What is it ?

•What has changed in recent years?

WHY NUTRITION EDUCATION?

• We want people to eat according to our recommendations!

• This may involve behaviour change• Food that is purchased or produced

• Preparation methods

• How food is served, places it is eaten

Definition. Contento 1995 in 2011.

Any combination •of educational strategies, • environmental supports, • voluntary adoption of food choices

and other behaviours, •delivered through multiple venues,• activities at the individual,

institutional, community and policy levels.

Combination of educational strategies

Environmental supports

Voluntary adoption of food choices

Delivered through multiple venues

Activities at the individual, institutional, community and policy levels.

BEHAVIOUR FOCUSED

• Communication focuses on behaviours rather than information

Why is NE important in SA? • Multiple burdens of malnutrition

• Limited finance available to treat and cure preventable conditions

• Healthy eating is the exception not the norm

• Knowledge of what constitutes a healthy diet is limited

The Smiley Family• Survey to parents

• Interest table

• Story time

•Activities – take home items

• Songs

• Letter to parents