Healthy eating – a Pillars guide

This guide looks at the subject of the food we eat. It covers all kinds of topics including an awareness of the nutritional value of different foods, the food needs of different family members and good hygiene practices. 

It includes ideas for improving our diet with little cost by using wild or traditional foods, drying and preserving foods at harvest time, producing food in door-sized gardens, and recipes. There are pages on the importance of breastfeeding and feeding young children well. It also looks at the difficult subjects of customs and taboos relating to food. The Bible studies at the back of the guide should be used as an essential and ongoing part of the process. They are best used in small groups, with time for everyone to discuss.

Objectives of this guide:

• To increase awareness of the importance of a good diet in maintaining health and resisting disease 
• To build understanding of the nutritional needs of pregnant and breast-feeding mothers, young children and older people 
• To increase awareness of the foods which are essential to make up a balanced diet 
• To increase awareness of the risks of HIV transmission through breast-feeding in order for women to make clear judgements 
• To improve the variety of household foods through door-sized gardens, preserving foods and encouraging the use of valuable traditional foods 
• To encourage discussion about certain food traditions and taboos which go against good nutritional practice