Parents urged to incorporate healthy lifestyle in their children's lives

We also heard from Maretha Vermaak - Dietician for the Consumer Education Project to tell us more about how to live a healthy lifestyle and how to incorporate this into our children’s lives, at home and at school. As coastal schools open for the new school year this week we hope to alert parents and caregivers to healthy and delicious lunchboxes which are easy ways to incorporate healthy eating plans into your child’s diet and vital to encourage and promote good health in your children for today and later on in life. The National Department of Health’s National Food Consumption Survey revealed that most South Africans do not consume enough vitamin A, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, vitamins B₆, B₁₂ and C, calcium, iron and zinc. Vermaak said daily dairy intake could reduce the current nutrient gaps in the diets of most South Africans, including those of our children, and protect against chronic diseases in future. The Guidelines for Healthy Eating formulated by DOH, which were revised in line with new scientific evidence, call for increased intakes of milk, maas and yoghurt. This is great news for moms looking for healthy, nutritious snacks to add to their children’s lunchboxes, as these products are readily available and delicious, no-fuss additions to packed lunches. For further information you can visit www.rediscoverdairy.co.za