In celebration of national child protection week, Nestlé South Africa hosted over 1 000 school children for a nutrition and physical education activation as part of its Nestlé for Healthier Kids global launch, at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens in Roodepoort, Gauteng.
The children took part in a cook-a-thon and food preparation activities led by a trained chef, and various physical activities, including Zumba dance, boot-camp exercises, hoola hoop and skipping rope challenges.
The Nestlé for Healthier Kids initiative was formally launched on 15 May 2018 and aims to help 50 million children globally to lead healthier lives. This also includes the development of healthier products and advice for families on nutrition and exercise suitable for school going children.
Since its foundation, Nestlé has been committed to helping parents and caregivers provide the right nutrition to their children. In 2017 alone, the company launched more than 1000 new products to meet the nutritional needs of children.
In South Africa, Nestlé has a partnership agreement with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and is committed to supporting the DBE’s efforts in promoting health and wellbeing in the department’s Life Skills Curriculum, which focuses on healthy nutrition and quality physical education.
In 2015, Nestlé and the DBE have commissioned a nutrition education study done by the Vaal University of Technology to measure the impact of this initiative. The results of the study are due later this year and will be used to enhance the current Life Skills curriculum. Through this initiative, Nestlé South Africa aims to reach over 50% of South African primary school learners by 2020.
The DBE, through its National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP), aims to enhance the learning capacity of learners through the provision of healthy meals at schools. Where it is implemented, the programme has shown to improve punctuality, regular school attendance, concentration and the general wellbeing of learners.
“We have partnered with various stakeholders, including the Department of Basic Education, to help in successfully raising awareness and enhancing nutrition and physical education programmes to promote the health and wellbeing of children,” says Nestlé South Africa spokesperson, Ravi Pillay.
The children took part in a cook-a-thon and food preparation activities led by a trained chef, and various physical activities, including Zumba dance, boot-camp exercises, hoola hoop and skipping rope challenges.
The Nestlé for Healthier Kids initiative was formally launched on 15 May 2018 and aims to help 50 million children globally to lead healthier lives. This also includes the development of healthier products and advice for families on nutrition and exercise suitable for school going children.
Since its foundation, Nestlé has been committed to helping parents and caregivers provide the right nutrition to their children. In 2017 alone, the company launched more than 1000 new products to meet the nutritional needs of children.
In South Africa, Nestlé has a partnership agreement with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and is committed to supporting the DBE’s efforts in promoting health and wellbeing in the department’s Life Skills Curriculum, which focuses on healthy nutrition and quality physical education.
In 2015, Nestlé and the DBE have commissioned a nutrition education study done by the Vaal University of Technology to measure the impact of this initiative. The results of the study are due later this year and will be used to enhance the current Life Skills curriculum. Through this initiative, Nestlé South Africa aims to reach over 50% of South African primary school learners by 2020.
The DBE, through its National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP), aims to enhance the learning capacity of learners through the provision of healthy meals at schools. Where it is implemented, the programme has shown to improve punctuality, regular school attendance, concentration and the general wellbeing of learners.
“We have partnered with various stakeholders, including the Department of Basic Education, to help in successfully raising awareness and enhancing nutrition and physical education programmes to promote the health and wellbeing of children,” says Nestlé South Africa spokesperson, Ravi Pillay.