SUBSCRIBE
Fri, Jul 1, 2022
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi
No Result
View All Result

Teacher Palesa does kiddie care best with veggies

by Pamela Madonsela
16th Aug 2021
in Grow It
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
Veggies at school

Early childhood development teacher Palesa Mojapelo is on a mission to show her kids that healthy eating can be fun. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

It takes a lot of effort to convince our littlest members of society that swopping a sweetie for a carrot could be good for them.

But for Soweto-born early childhood development educator Palesa Mojapelo, all it took was a food garden and teaching the little ones how to grow their own vegetables.

Healthy eating at kiddicare
Palesa Mojapelo grows food for the children of Kiddicare 24/7, an ECD centre she runs in Johannesburg. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Now they are hooked.

ADVERTISEMENT

A mother of three, Mojapelo is the founder of Kiddicare 24/7 in the South of Johannesburg, where she educates young ones on the benefits of healthy eating and growing their own food.

“For them this experience was exciting – to see vegetables from being a seed, to growing, to it being cooked. I would advise parents to do the same at home so that they are part of this learning experience.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Vegetables also have different colours, and each vegetable has a role to play in the child’s body. We also let them know that if they do not eat their carrots, they will not see [well] or they will not grow big and strong. We make sure that we incorporate fun into the healthy eating aspect,” she says.

From seed to plate

Mojapelo swopped her marketing degree for a bachelor’s in education from the University of South Africa (UNISA) to pursue her true passions in childcare.

“I grew up in a home where I was the only child and have always loved being around children,” she says.

She founded Kiddicare 24/7 after she noted a need for a pre-school that aligned with the schedules of parents who worked late nights.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dealing with little people and convincing them to eat vegetables was easy for Mojapelo. Tapping into their childhood wonderment, she helped them build their own garden so that they had access to fresh vegetables to cook.

“I believe that introducing healthy living for children at a young age will make them better adults. And healthy eating is cheaper, even though a lot of people say it is expensive.”

Fit kiddie culture

healthy eating
The little ones at Kiddicare 24/7 planting their own gardens during lessons. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Mojapelo adds that they have introduced weekly physical education for their children.

“Being fit and eating healthy should be their lifestyle and we encourage parents to instil this at home as well.”

Nobantu Mkhize, a parent at Kiddicare, says she was impressed when her three-year-old chose vegetables over sweets at home.

“It was a week or two after my child started at Kiddicare. I remember giving her sweets and she boldly told me that she does not eat sweets but vegetables and fruits. I was beaming with pride, and I figured she learned that at school.”

Nothing gives Mojapelo more fulfilment than knowing she has some impact on the growth of a child.

“Just being around these little voices who are always happy, warms my heart. But seeing every child grow is priceless. You become amazed at how some children come in shy and over the months they become confident. It’s like watching a flower fully blossom.”

ALSO READ: How to get your edible garden up and running

Tags: food medicinehealthy lifestyleNutrition
Share130Tweet81Send
Previous Post

Ivory Coast records first Ebola case in quarter century

Next Post

Vaccination for all adults might open up this week

Pamela Madonsela

Pamela Madonsela

Related Articles

Duo makes Soweto clean, green and healthy
Grow It

Duo makes Soweto clean, green and healthy

by Masego Mafata
27th Jun 2022
0

Growing up, Soweto duo Makhosini Ndlovu and Thobelani Sodinga used to play in an open space next to the Kliptown train station. But it soon deteriorated and became a no-go area, but...

Read more
How to make your own compost with kitchen scraps

How to make your own compost with kitchen scraps

20th Jun 2022
Seyisi Primary gets full marks for permaculture project

Seyisi Primary gets full marks for permaculture project

13th Jun 2022
Youth transform dumping site into thriving food garden

Youth transform dumping site into thriving food garden

6th Jun 2022
Next Post
18 to 35 vaccination drive

Vaccination for all adults might open up this week

Barbies honour frontline workers

Mattel honours frontline women with personal Barbies

ebola

Ivory Coast starts Ebola vaxxing of frontline workers

Stories

Finding a happy medium: Divorce vs co-parenting
Loyiso taps into liquid gold of extra virgin olive oil
Youth transform dumping site into thriving food garden
Winter: An ideal time to plant root veggies, take stock
Early pregnancy care essential for moms-to-be
Meet Mzansi’s Keto Queen, Sharney Blackway
Heart health: Keep your diet lean, clean and green
Yummy Meatless Wellington
No Result
View All Result

Categories

  • Choices (40)
  • Conversations (76)
  • Featured (1)
  • Grow It (52)
  • My Health (103)
  • Podcast (44)
  • Recipes (56)
  • Remedies (5)
  • Trending (276)

Recent

Wake-up call: Invest early in children’s mental health

Wake-up call: Invest early in children’s mental health

1st Jul 2022
Tips and tricks to help your baby sleep better

Tips and tricks to help your baby sleep better

1st Jul 2022
Sleep deprivation is detrimental to your health.

Why you should log off, shut down and sleep

30th Jun 2022
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

Marketing: +27 71 147 0388
News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

cropped-Katlego-Moloto.png

Weight loss a health triumph for determined mom

cropped-Harsha-Jovuka.jpg

Finding a happy medium: Divorce vs co-parenting

cropped-Organic-1.jpeg

Winter: An ideal time to plant root veggies, take stock

Wake-up call: Invest early in children’s mental health

Tips and tricks to help your baby sleep better

Why you should log off, shut down and sleep

The heavy mental toll of carrying extra weight

Olive vs vegetable oil: Soak up the best of both worlds

When is a disease deemed a global emergency?

No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

By continuing the use of our Website, you are explicitly and actively consenting to our processing of your personal information as per our Privacy Policy.
Cookie SettingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Go to mobile version
Finding a happy medium: Divorce vs co-parenting Loyiso taps into liquid gold of extra virgin olive oil Youth transform dumping site into thriving food garden Winter: An ideal time to plant root veggies, take stock Early pregnancy care essential for moms-to-be Meet Mzansi’s Keto Queen, Sharney Blackway Heart health: Keep your diet lean, clean and green Yummy Meatless Wellington