What if the biggest barrier to South Africa’s future success isn’t in the classroom or the workplace, but in the kitchen?
This World Food Day (16 October) and National Nutrition Week (9–15 October), we are reminded that food is not only about filling stomachs, it’s about building stronger bodies, sharper minds,and more resilient communities. Yet despite our abundant food resources, South Africa continues to face stunting, rising obesity, and high levels of iron-deficiency anaemia, challenges that quietly undermine education, productivity, and long-term health.
The scale of the challenge is sobering. According to the Human Sciences Research Council, 51% of households in Gauteng – the country’s economic hub – are food insecure. Nationally, between 2021 and 2023, 14% of households faced severe food insecurity, 20% moderate, and 17% mild. This means more than half of South Africans do not have reliable access to safe, nutritious food. Poor households survive largely on nutrient-poor staples such as cereals, sugars, oils, and fats, with limited consumption of fruits, pulses, nuts, eggs, fish, and vegetables. The result is diets that fill stomachs but leave nutrient gaps wide open.
Adolescence, the vital stage between 10 and 19 years, is when bodies and minds grow at their fastest. Yet many South African teens lack key nutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin D.According to the World Health Organization, anaemia affects millions worldwide, with adolescent girls most at risk. In sub-Saharan Africa, rates have risen by 15% in the past decade, leaving about 40% of adolescent girls affected. This Hidden Hunger may not always be visible,but they have loud consequences for learning, health, and the economy.
The good news is that small shifts can have a big impact. Simple choices such as starting the day with fortified cereal and yoghurt, swapping processed snacks for fruit or nuts, or cooking balanced dinners together all add up to stronger nutrition. To support families and communities in tackling the nutrition challenges, Nestlé has launched GoodNes, a free digital platform designed to make everyday nutrition easier for all. GoodNes brings science-based guidance directly into homes through locally inspired recipes, meal planning tools, and practical tips that help parents put balanced meals on the table. without stretching budgets or time. From iron-rich chicken livers to affordable zinc-boosting snacks, the platform puts practical solutions at the centre of family life. With GoodNes, families have a practical tool that makes these shifts easier, giving parents recipes and guidance they can trust.
Food is not only about today’s meal, but about tomorrow’s potential. By tackling nutrient gaps now, we invest in healthier learners and more productive adults. This World Food Day and Nutrition Week, let us go beyond awareness and commit to action, one meal, one family, one community at a time. For practical tips and recipes that make healthy eating easier, visit Nestlé Goodnes your partner in everyday nutrition.
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