Food handlers in INMED’s new Health in Action Program in South Africa are not your ordinary cafeteria workers; they’re the front-line agents of change. In partnership with Mondelēz International Foundation, INMED South Africa recently trained hundreds of food handlers in more than a dozen impoverished communities throughout two provinces.
Engaging food handlers in the importance of incorporating garden-fresh produce into school meals is part of INMED’s multi-faceted approach to combating obesity and malnutrition in the region. Delivered in three languages, the training focuses on preparing nutritious meals that children will eat, healthy portion sizes, safe food handling and proper hygiene practices. A cooking demonstration and sampling reinforced the lessons learned.
“It’s the first time ever that we received training on meal planning and healthy lifestyles,” said Belinda Moonsammy, a food preparer at Malabar Primary School in Port Elizabeth. “We’ll make sure that we impart knowledge gained as we prepare meals for learners both in schools and at our homes.”
