NATIONAL NUTRITION WEEK 2023
In these busy, challenging times we don’t stop to think about how our daily food choices are impacting on our physical health and mental well-being. From our performance at work and school to our mood and overall wellness, everything we eat and drink each day makes a difference to how we feel. South Africa’s high rates of obesity and overweight, as well as the prevalence of nutrition-related conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, signal the urgent need for us to make more healthy food choices. From 9 to 15 October 2023, the Department of Health and its partners are highlighting National Nutrition Week 2023 with its theme, ‘Feel Good with Food’. There are many easy ways, and small changes we can make, to boost our physical and mental health through better daily food choices.
View 2023 Guidelines
NATIONAL NUTRITION WEEK 2022
With the soaring costs of the monthly food basket, many South African households are forced to make changes to their well-established eating patterns. Given the country’s high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, which are impacted by diet, it is vital that the current high cost of food doesn’t become a barrier to healthy eating. During October an alliance of South African health organisations is collaborating with the Department of Health and the Department of Basic Education to address barriers to healthy eating and promote the National Nutrition Week 2022 theme ‘Make healthy food choices easier’.
View 2022 Guidelines
NATIONAL NUTRITION WEEK 2021
In the second pandemic year with new variants rising and straining the country, the health of South Africans remains a top-of-mind concern. COVID-19 is not our only battle. The country has high levels of diet and lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and Type 2 diabetes, as well as both significant under- and over-nutrition challenges. All of these conditions make us more vulnerable to the coronavirus, but also highlight how much power we have over our health simply through our daily food choices. This is the message from an alliance of South African health organisations who are collaborating with the Department of Health and the Department of Basic Education to promote the 2021 National Nutrition Week theme ‘Eat more vegetables and fruit every day’.
View 2021 Guidelines
NATIONAL NUTRITION AND OBESITY WEEK 2020
The global pandemic has highlighted many fault-lines across society, and in our current state of ongoing disruption, it also presents us with unique opportunities to make changes. In our daily lives, some of the best changes we can make are around our food choices. Overweight and obesity have been linked to more severe COVID-19 outcomes, along with diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. If there was ever the time to focus on a healthy diet to maintain a healthy weight and support our immunity, this is surely it! This National Nutrition and Obesity Week (NNOW), a range of South African health organisations have come together to collaborate with the Department of Health to highlight how essential good nutrition is when it comes to immunity.
View 2020 Guidelines
NATIONAL NUTRITION AND OBESITY WEEK 2019
Despite what we know about the impact of food choices on our health, overweight and obesity are still on the rise in South Africa, alongside a host of preventable diseases that can be attributed to unhealthy lifestyles. Thanks to our industrialised food system, and far greater, ultra-processed and fast food choices aimed at our ‘convenience’, we’ve got further away from eating the whole foods that are really good for us. This is the message that a coalition of health professionals, including the Department of Health, is highlighting in October during National Nutrition and Obesity Week (9 to 19 October)
View 2019 Guidelines
National Nutrition Week 2018
The importance of breakfast has long been a part of the prevailing wisdom, and the habit of eating breakfast has always been a marker of a healthy lifestyle. Yet, if there’s a meal that is going to be skipped, it’s probably breakfast; and this is a pity because research clearly shows that there are many vital health benefits associated with eating breakfast regularly. Studies show that 1 in 5 South African children skip breakfast.
For the first time, a broad coalition of health partners including leading non-profit organisations, health professional associations as well the National and Provincial Departments of Health, have aligned National Nutrition Week (9 – 15 October 2018) with National Obesity Week (15 – 19 October 2018) to promote a shared and very important message that eating breakfast is the best way to start your day.
View 2018 Guidelines
National Nutrition Week 2017
Clean and clear, refreshing and invigorating, we know instinctively that water is good for us. Yet, many of us have lost touch with water. Overwhelmed with the wide choice of what to drink, most of it sweetened with sugar, we’ve somehow left the simple, but profound goodness of water behind.
National Nutrition Week 2017, running from 9 to 15 October and, with its theme “Rethink your drink – choose water”, aims to help us reset when it comes to water and get into the habit of making water our beverage choice each day. Water contains no kilojoules, hydrates, is essential for health and is the best choice to quench thirst. View 2017 Guidelines
National Nutrition Week 2016
So much nutrition advice is centred on what we need to eat less of, but when it comes to pulses – dry beans, peas and lentils – the message is about eating more! This year, the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) has declared that 2016 is the ‘International Year of Pulses’, promoting pulses as nutritious seeds for a sustainable future.
Every year South Africa celebrates National Nutrition Week from 9 to 15 October, and aligning to the FAO, this year’s campaign is ‘Love your beans – eat dry beans, peas and lentils!’ which echoes the country’s food-based dietary guideline to ‘eat dry beans, split peas, lentils and soya regularly’. View 2016 Guidelines 
National Nutrition Week 2015
How can we improve eating practices at the workplace to contribute to achieving optimal nutrition status for all South Africans? Unhealthy workplace eating behaviour is believed to be playing a role in South Africa’s burgeoning obesity problem. The 2012 South African Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES) showed local obesity levels have skyrocketed. The prevalence of overweight and obesity combined is now 65% for females and 31% for males.
This year’s National Nutrition Week (9 to 15 October 2015) is focusing on “Healthy Eating in the workplace”, aiming to encourage employees to make healthy food choices at the office, and employers and corporate food providers to make healthy meals easily available in the workplace.
View 2015 Guidelines 
National Nutrition Week 2014
Due to South Africa’s rising obesity epidemic National Nutrition Week 2014, which runs from the 9th to the 15th October, will focus on raising awareness of the importance of portion control.
Statistics show that increasing numbers of South Africans are overweight or obese, with the problem at its worst among adult women and preschool children. ‘Choose your portion with caution!’ will be the central message for National Nutrition Week. View 2014 Guidelines 
National Nutrition Week 2013
Due to South Africa’s rising obesity epidemic National Nutrition Week 2013, which runs from the 9th to the 15th October, will focus on raising awareness of the importance of portion control.
Statistics show that increasing numbers of South Africans are overweight or obese, with the problem at its worst among adult women and preschool children. ‘Eat less – choose your portion with caution!’ will be the central message for National Nutrition Week. View 2013 Guidelines  |
National Nutrition Week 2012 With a growing number of South Africans at risk of diet-related non-communicable diseases, People will also be encouraged to use the newly developed Food Guide and the recently updated Guidelines for Healthy Eating to learn more about the best choices for their healthy eating plans. |
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National Pregnancy Week 2012 National Pregnancy Week, 12-18 February, is a nutrition education and awareness campaign supported by Association for Dietetics in South Africa (ADSA). Registered dietitians are trained to provide up to date, relevant and accurate information on nutrition, food and health. The week long campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of optimum nutrition prior to, during and after pregnancy. National Pregnancy Week provides the opportunity to remind the public and the media to turn to credible sources for relevant, science based information on food and nutrition. |
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National Nutrition Week 2011 National nutrition week is a nutrition education and awareness campaign arranged annually by a number of partners. The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of actions to promote optimum nutrition through best food choices for health. National nutrition week also reminds the public and the media to turn to credible sources for relevant, science based information on food and nutrition. |
