Ideas to help improve household nutrition at low cost – food groups, kitchen gardens, recipes, methods of food preservation and hygiene.
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Objectives
To increase awareness of the importance of a good diet in maintaining health and resisting disease
To build understanding of the nutritional needs of pregnant and breast-feeding mothers, young children and older people
To increase ... More >> |
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anaemia a condition often caused by a lack of iron in the diet, so that the blood becomes weak. Other causes are malaria, hookworm, HIV and other infections
community people living in one local area, often with the same culture and similar interest... More >> |
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Good food is important for good health. Most people depend on one or two staple foods for much of what they eat. This may be a cereal (such as rice, wheat, maize or millet), a root crop (such as cassava, yam or potato), or starchy fruits (such as pla... More >> |
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The food we eat has three main functions; to give us energy, to build and repair our bodies and to protect us from disease. Most foods have a mixture of nutrients. To keep healthy, we should eat a good mixture of foods each day.
Energy foods help... More >> |
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A healthy diet is directly linked to good health. It is particularly important for pregnant women, babies and young children. Well-nourished babies and children are much less likely to become sick through disease and infection. Common infections like... More >> |
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One hundred years ago, the diet of people in our local area was probably much better and more varied than it is today. This is not because people had more money or time. It was partly because they used many traditional foods in their diet. They also ... More >> |
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All kinds of pulses are excellent sources of nutrients. When dried they can be stored easily for a long time. Pulses should be an important part of the household diet.
Pulses are often cooked whole and added to stews. Cooking times can be greatly r... More >> |
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Many people believe that newly introduced vegetables such as lettuce and cabbage are better than traditional vegetables. In fact the opposite is usually true. Locally available vegetables such as spinaches usually contain many more nutrients. Dark gr... More >> |
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Anaemia is one of the most common conditions resulting from a poor diet. It is often caused by a lack of the mineral iron in the diet. Iron is needed to build strong blood. The most common signs of anaemia are tiredness, and difficulty in working and... More >> |
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Good personal hygiene plays an important part in good health. We should wash ourselves, and our clothes, regularly with soap and water to prevent the build up of dirt. Teeth and nails should be cleaned regularly.
It is really important to wash our ... More >> |
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Make sure all pans, dishes and tools used in preparing food are clean. Dry them on a drying rack and avoid using a cloth to dry them.
Uncooked meat and fish, and uncooked vegetables with soil on them, should never touch cooked foods. After handling... More >> |
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All cultures have various traditional beliefs and customs concerning food. Sometimes people eat special foods at festivals. Some foods may be avoided on particular days. Foods that are avoided in one culture may be valued in another. Some foods may b... More >> |
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Herbs and spices are foods with really strong flavours. Every local area will have some familiar herbs or spices. These may include garlic, ginger, black pepper, chillies, coriander, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon.
Those of us who cannot always affor... More >> |
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Many homes, particularly in towns and cities, have little or no room for growing vegetables. However, outside many homes is an area of ground that could be used to make a small garden.
Mark out a space the size of a door or bed. Dig out the soil un... More >> |
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For many centuries, people have used the technique of fermentation to prepare foods. Examples are fermented maize in Ghana, fermented legumes in Asia and fermented millet porridge in East Africa. This kind of fermentation does not produce alcohol.
... More >> |
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Many vegetables, herbs, spices and fruits can be preserved by drying. Tomatoes, onions, chillies and herbs are examples of crops that are easy to dry and store. Drying vegetables means that they can still be used months after harvesting. It can impro... More >> |
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Fruits tend to ripen at the same time of year. For several weeks there may be large amounts of mangoes, guavas or citrus, for example. During the rest of the year there may be little or none available.
Some fruits can be made into juice – particula... More >> |
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Our food needs change through our lives. In the first few years of life, plenty of foods for building and protecting the body are necessary to build strong healthy bodies. Older children and adults who lead busy, hard-working lives, need larger amoun... More >> |
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During the first six months of a child’s life, breast milk alone is the ideal food. It contains all the nutrients and water needed for healthy growth. It also provides good protection against many common infections.
Breast milk continues to be an i... More >> |
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Children who are well fed during the first two years of life are more likely to stay healthy for the rest of their childhood. Breast-milk alone can no longer provide all the energy and nutrients needed by a young child after six months of age.
Comp... More >> |
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Porridges prepared from the staple, and soups, are often used as early complementary foods. However, these are usually watery and contain little energy and few nutrients.
To improve the nutritional value of porridges and soups:
Use less water a... More >> |
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Mealtimes should be happy times and an opportunity for the family to spend time together. Feed young children with the rest of the family but give them their own plates so they get their share of the food. Cut up food into small pieces so that it is ... More >> |
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Snacks are foods eaten between meals. Nutritious snacks are an easy way to give a young child extra food. Snacks should be easy to prepare.
Good snacks provide both energy and nutrients. Examples are:
banana, paw-paw, avocado, mango and other f... More >> |
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Fortified foods have special nutrients added by the manufacturers. Sometimes these are added to replace those lost during processing. For example, milling rice or cereal grains removes several useful vitamins and minerals. Sometimes they are added be... More >> |
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These Bible studies are designed to use in small groups. They may provide a useful introduction to a meeting where different topics from the Guide are being discussed. Choose a study that will be linked to the topic you plan to study or that is relev... More >> |
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Nutrition for Developing Countries by Felicity Savage Kind and Ann Burgess An excellent, detailed and informative book looking at all aspects of good nutrition. It covers essential facts about nutrients, nutritional needs, foods and meals. It explain... More >> |
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