Helping Tuckshops fight the Bulge

School years are a time of rapid growth and learning for children, and it is at this time that good nutrition plays a vital role in ensuring that they reach their full potential. Sadly, however, a child’s nutritional needs are often overlooked and underplayed by both parents and the school system, resulting in common problems such as behavioural disorders and childhood obesity. 17% of South African children between the ages of 1-9 years of age are overweight. At the same time as many as 19% of children are stunted because of insufficient food intake.

Teaching a child about food groups and the importance of good nutrition in the classroom is the best defence against poor eating habits. Turning those lessons into reality by providing children with healthier tuck shop options is essential to further reinforce these principles.

It is the belief of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA) that there is a connection between a healthy diet and:

• Healthy growth and development
• A learner’s capacity to learn and perform effectively and optimally
• The development of diseases of lifestyle at a young age as well as later in life
• The decrease or prevention of the development of obesity
• Improved sports performance
• Minimised hyperactive behaviour

This prompted the HSFSA to relaunch the Tuckshop Programme. It is a free service and the HSFSA aims to provide:

• the schools with assistance, advice and guidance as to how to make the tuck shop healthier
• training to tuck shop staff (if school is based in Cape Town)
• the school with a quarterly seasonal newsletter via e-mail (called Break Time) which contains useful information on how to adapt to a healthier lifestyle
• a presentation by a dietitian to the school governing body or parent-teacher association (PTA) detailing the programme (if the school is based in Cape Town)

Other benefits:

• The school can create a link from their website to the HSFSA website
• The school can make use of any relevant articles/information from the HSFSA website provided the HSFSA is credited for it
• Media publicity through the HSFSA dietitians e.g. radio interviews (where applicable and if the school provides permission)
• The school can send us pictures of their healthy tuck shop and we will place them on our website

Resources to set up your healthier Tuckshop
General Nutritional Guidelines
Poor, Better, Best Options

Tuckshop Programme Newsletters

View Summer 2009 Edition
View Winter 2009 Edition
View March 2009 Edition
Summer 2008 Newsletter
Spring 2008 Newsletter
View March 2008 Edition (Taking the guess work out of food labels)

For more information, on the Tuckshop Programme or subscribe to the seasonal newsletter kindly contact Ayesha Seedat (Registered Dietician) on (021) 447 4222 or ayesha@heartfoundation.co.za and provide your full name, school name, contact details and email address.

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