How to Keep The Whole #Family Healthy Without Breaking the Bank #BFBD @KelloggsZA

Hi Guys,

Time and budget pressures are a reality for thousands of households. When it comes to meals and food choices, families with growing children and working parents can often find it difficult to find a healthy lifestyle balance. It’s often easier to grab fast-food or ready-made meals which may be a huge time-saver but that are not doing your health or budget any favours. For those who want to eat healthily, wholesome food options don’t necessarily mean spending a fortune. Simply understanding which foods to choose to be your family’s best shot at getting good all-round nutrition is the first step in the right direction.

Breakfasts for Better Days™ dietitian, Cheryl Meyer, says it’s not just about making time for meals, it’s about the foods you choose.

“Over and above simply consuming food, the nature of your choices is key. By providing your family with meals that contain high fibre carbohydrates, lean protein, vegetables, fruits and healthy fats you can help them to maintain sustained energy levels needed to make the most of your day,” says Meyer.

Here are her top five tips to keep the whole family and your bank account healthy.

Plan ahead of time
Planning ahead of time means you are less likely to overspend on snacks and on-to-go options or overeat as a family. It also means that you can plan healthy options for everyone, using ingredients that are accounted for across the week. A well-thought plan means you can make sure your child is getting all the nutrients they need through a variety of vegetables, fruits, proteins, starch and healthy fats. A big plus about planning ahead is cost-effectiveness – thorough planning of meals and snacks means you can stick to a shopping list and because all items will be used during the course of the week, it reduces wastage.

Breakfast for a better day
Making time for breakfast should be a priority. Having a balanced breakfast like a bowl of cereal and milk can ensure you are getting many of the vital vitamins your family needs including iron, vitamin A and protein. A full tummy before school or work also means you will be able to concentrate better and make the most of your day.

Eat your five a day
Aim to include plenty of vegetables and fruit during the day. These can accompany your morning cereal, provide a snack throughout the day and give the perfect added extra to evening meals. Incorporate fruit and vegetables in your diet that cover a spectrum of different colours. This will add visual-appeal to your plate while increasing the number and variety of vitamins, minerals and protective compounds that you consume.

Try to limit sugar and salt
Try and limit your intake of artificial sugars or added sugar to meals. If you are looking for a little extra flavour, use natural herbs and spices during food preparation rather than added salt and sugar. This also means trying to avoid sugar in tea and coffee. Gradually reduce the amount you add until you can leave it out altogether - this means you have time to adjust and soon won't miss it at all.

Help growth
Proteins are vital for muscle repair and growth. If your budget is a little tight, serve meat less often opting instead for beans and other legumes, fish or chicken. Legumes like split peas, lentils and dry beans are also a great way to make a meat dish go meal a further, by bulking up your meal and increase your fibre intake.

Through Breakfasts for Better Days initiative, Kelloggs have provided over 13 million servings of cereal to South African school children since 2014. To learn more about Kellogg, visit the website: www.kellogg.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/KelloggsSA or follow on Twitter @KelloggsZA.

Cheers!!!

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Why Are We Hungrier In #Winters? @KelloggsZA #KelloggsBFBD

Hi Guys, 

As South Africa goes through its winter months, many are experiencing the hunger and food cravings that occur as the days turn colder. As temperatures fall, our appetite seems to spiral out of control - but why is it that we are hungrier in winter?

Studies have shown that as outdoor temperatures drop, the body temperature drops and that is what actually sets up a longing for foods that will warm you the quickest. Shivering triggers a self-preservation mode that sends our body a message to heat up fast. Although all food, including fruits and vegetables, will help create the extra heat we crave, for most it’s the traditional comfort foods that we turn to when it gets colder.1

"In winter we are likely to drink more hot beverages. If using more than a teaspoon of sugar, this could be problematic for weight management. Couple this with a biscuit or two and this can drastically increase your normal energy intake," says Kwa Zulu Natal-based registered dietician Kelly Francis. 

While for some it is falling temperatures that sets appetites in motion, for others, it's the decrease in sunlight and an onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) - a type of depression caused by a decrease in light exposure. Predominantly, it occurs in winter but disappears as the days get longer in spring and summer. Those who suffer from SAD seek quick sources of serotonin, which come from carb-heavy meals.

“High fibre carbohydrate breakfast choices, with the addition of protein rich dairy provide sustained energy, naturally stabilizing blood glucose levels and the appetite,” Francis added. 

Although our appetites have increased this winter, for many children in South Africa, hunger is a reality they face every day, every season. Today almost one in five children in South Africa goes to school without breakfast, which has a direct impact on their growth and development. Winter temperatures also further increase children’s ability to fight off illness, meaning more learners are sick and missing school in the winter months.2

Kellogg’s South Africa aims to combat this issue with its Breakfasts for Better Days™ initiative. The initiative is continuing to spread the importance message of staying healthy by providing children across the country with a balanced breakfast, giving them the vital fuel they need to learn effectively. 

Since the programme’s launch in 2014, over 13 million breakfasts have been served up, with 25 000 children getting a balanced breakfast every school day in Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Eastern and Western Cape provinces. The breakfast offerings include Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Instant Porridge, which provides energy and warmth during the winter.

About Kellogg South Africa Company

Kellogg is the world's leading cereal company. At Kellogg, we are driven to enrich and delight the world through foods and brands that matter. Our brands – Kellogg's®, Corn Flakes, All-Bran®, Special K®, Rice Krispies®, Coco Pops®, Frosties®, Strawberry Pops®, Pringles® - nourish families so they can flourish thrive. Through our Breakfasts for Better Days® initiative, we’re providing 5 million servings of cereal and milk, provided by Clover, to South African school children by the end of 2016. To learn more about Kellogg, visit the website: www.bfbd.co.za, Facebook: www.facebook.com/KelloggsSA or follow on Twitter @KelloggsZA.

Cheers!!!

REFERENCES 

1 MCALLISTER, RALLIE (2004) Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom’s Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim. Lifeline Press. ISBN-10: 0895260581 

2 Shisana O, Labadarios D, Rehle T, Simbayi L, Zuma K, Dhansay A, Reddy P, Parker W, Hoosain E, Naidoo P, Hongoro C, Mchiza Z, Steyn NP, Dwane N, Makoae M, Maluleke T, Ramlagan S, Zungu N, Evans MG, Jacobs L, Faber M, & SANHANES-1 Team (2013). South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES-1). Cape Town: HSRC Press.

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