Healthy eating is important for everyone. However, as HIV damages the body’s ability to fight infection, it is really important for people with HIV to eat foods that help the body to stay healthy. Some of these, such as eggs, meat and milk may cost more money. Others, such as green vegetables, beans, fruits and pulses may not cost much. Dark green leafy vegetables, including many traditional vegetables, are particularly high in vitamins and minerals that give protection against illness.
Try not to overcook vegetables because long cooking destroys some vitamins. Add onions, tomatoes or oil to improve their flavour if necessary.
If possible plant vegetables and herbs to provide food all year round. Plant fruit trees, such as papaya, guava and citrus, near the house.
People living with AIDS often suffer from throat infections and loss of appetite. They should be encouraged to eat small amounts of tasty food regularly. Food with plenty of liquid, such as soups and stews, is easy to eat and digest. Fresh green leaves can be chopped finely and added.
Discussion
- How do people in our area use pulses (beans, lentils, peas, mung beans) in cooking? What are the most popular meals made from pulses? How could we include more pulses in our meals?
- What wild plants are traditionally used in our area as a source of dark green leaves? Where can these be obtained?
- Traditional foods (such as termites, caterpillars, grasshoppers and wild plants) are often very nutritious. What kind of traditional foods are eaten in our area? How could we encourage people to eat more of them?
- How could we encourage more people to grow and eat more dark green leafy vegetables?
- Sometimes not all family members get the same amount of healthy food. For example, women and children often get less meat or relish. How can we make sure that people with HIV or AIDS get enough meat, relish and vegetables?
- What trees or plants in our area produce leaves that can be eaten, such as moringa or cassava? Can people gather these leaves free of charge? How could more of these trees be planted?
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