Being passionate about research and looking more into food security in higher educational sectors is what led Sboniso T Ngcobo, a BTech student at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), in Consumer Science: Food and Nutrition; to delve more into the topic and help to publish a book called Ubungqabavu (Vitality)-Food and Nutrition Security: Student voice@DUT.

Ngcobo said the book came about after attending the National Siyaphumelela Conference in 2018 and participating in Siyaphumelela workshops and using the data collected to gain more information on food security for university students.

“With all the information gathered, under the supervision of Dr Delysia Timm (Former Advisor: Special project office of the DVC Teaching and Learning) and Dr Heleen Grobbelaar (Lecturer: Consumer Sciences: Food and Nutrition), we compiled this book which is definitely for students by students with students,” he said.

Ngcobo said the book communicates the benefits of healthier food choices within students limited budgets and how to support them as they plan, shop, prepare, cook and eat healthy meals.

He said that students whilst undergoing tight class schedules, inadequate nutritional education, these students can find themselves subjected to unhealthy ready-to go foods served on campuses.

“In the same way, some studies have analysed the association between nutrition security and food security in students’ population attending institutions of higher learning and the findings shows a prevalence increased consumption of unhealthy foods (such as biscuit, sweets, meat, fried food, sugar-sweetened beverages, and salty snack foods) among university students,” he said.

Ngcobo further stressed that a survey was used to determine students’ eating habits, food choices, and food-related coping mechanisms.

“This book has been designed and developed as part of the food security project of Siyaphumelela – We Succeed at DUT. The book provides the knowledge required to select a nutritious diet and make wise lifestyle choices. The project also aims to produce at least one book every after three years,” he stressed.
For more information on how to get a copy of the book, go to E-book: https://openbooks.dut.ac.za.

Pictured: Sboniso Ngcobo