My mother used to buy fresh fruit and vegetables from the local street vendor to keep me, then a toddler, healthy and active. After work she would find the local, and convenient, street vendor meters away from the office to buy this fresh produce.
However, over time, her work location changed, and she could no longer easily access affordable nutritious fruits and vegetables from the local street vendor. As a family, we had to adjust to buying these healthy food items from a local grocery store that was further away. The increased distance to the shop led to an increase in costs alongside generally increased living expenses, but we were committed to maintaining a healthy eating lifestyle. My mother worked out our monthly / weekly food budget carefully and would buy food in bulk to avoid food waste.
In high school, I started eating “mouthwatering” foods such as candy, fatty food and foods with high salt and/or high sugar content, whilst drinking more soda and less water. As a result, I began experiencing severe chest pains. When I visited a doctor, I was advised to avoid consuming sauces to ease the chest pains, however they continued to worsen.
In my final year of university, my family and I participated in a 21-day fast at Church and we decided to change our diet, opting for less meat and processed foods and more vegetables and grains. During this fasting period, I noticed a positive difference in my health and my chest pains finally stopped. The period of fasting motivated me to adopt a long-term healthy diet and I am now careful about what I eat and avoid highly processed food and sugary drinks. I eat as close to natural as possible and feel better for it!
Tips on how to adopt a healthy diet
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Check out the South African Food Based Dietary Guidelines, which explain in simple ways what foods are good for our health.
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Continuously search for affordable and accessible ways of adopting a healthy diet. Follow health pages on social media platforms which show how to adopt a healthy diet e.g., webpages exploring sustainable farming and health living. There are many small changes you can make to your diet that will motivate you to maintain the changes and do more!
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Visit different food retail stores to compare food prices. Use your budget wisely and ensure you buy the most nutritious food you can afford.
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Not everyone has access to affordable and healthy food, but you can take control of your diet! One way to do this is to start a local community garden within your schooling or university environment.
About the author: Masego Mokgwetsi is passionate about food insecurity, climate change, children’s rights, education, poverty and health. She is a Bachelor of Arts graduate in Media Studies and International Relations from the University of Witwatersrand and has gained leadership and volunteering experience with numerous organisations including Wits and SAIIA.
