Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences
Open Access
ISSN: 2155-9600
+32 25889658
ISSN: 2155-9600
+32 25889658
Xolile Mkhize
Mangosuthu University of Technology, South Africa
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Nutr Food Sci
A food security project is an instrumental platform for students to demonstrate acquired knowledge and practical applications in a nutrition course. A vulnerable community was used by students as a service learning platform in order to improve dietary diversification among elderly within this community. The objective was to develop a sustainable project focusing on vegetable production, nutrition education and providing extension advisory services for the gardens established. This was to improve vegetable intake and enhance dietary diversification. Structured questionnaires were developed for each team and presented through interviews and focus group discussions during visits for phase-one of the project. Student teams had to perform various tasks through a situational analysis of the environment; design assessment tools then, provide relevant activities to address nutritional needs. There was evidence of conceptualized nutrition education through educational material developed (providing translations in isiZulu) for the elderly to understand nutritional terms and food based dietary guidelines. Students demonstrated a link between nutrition, agriculture and extension as a comprehensive intervention for community members to sustain the project. More strategies are needed to improve eating patterns, food habits and agricultural production within the limited financial budget of this community.
Email: xmkhize@mut.ac.za