References and Review
Nutrition references 1
Jukes, M.C.H., L. Drake, and D. Bundy, School Health, Nutrition and Education for all: levelling the playing field. 2007, Wallingford, Oxfordshire: CABI. 145.
Vermeersch, C. and M. Kremer, School Meals, Educational Achievement and School Competition: Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation, in Report No. 3523. 2005, The World Bank.
Omwami, E.M., C. Neumann, and N.O. Bwibo, Effects of a school feeding intervention on school attendance rates among elementary schoolchildren in rural Kenya. Nutrition, 2011. 27(2): p. 188-193.
Greenhalgh, T., E. Kristjansson, and V. Robinson, Realist review to understand the efficacy of school feeding programmes. Child: Care, Health & Development, 2008. 34(2): p. 281-282.
Nkhoma, O.W.W., et al., Early-Stage Primary School Children Attending a School in the Malawian School Feeding Program (SFP) Have Better Reversal Learning and Lean Muscle Mass Growth Than Those Attending a Non-SFP School. Journal of Nutrition, 2013. 143(8): p. 1324-1330.
Rahmani, K., et al., Effects of daily milk supplementation on improving the physical and mental function as well as school performance among children: results from a school feeding program. Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2011. 16(4): p. 469-476.
Miller Del Rosso, J., Programs: Improving effectiveness and increasing the benefit to education. A Guide for Program Managers. 1999, Partnership for Child Development: Oxford.
Nutrition references 2
Roodt, M., The South African Education Crisis: giving power back to parents. 2018, Institute of Race Relations: Johannesburg.
Ikdal, A., et al., Four Priorities Requiring Leadership for South Africa’s Future. 2015, The Boston Consulting Group.
Hall, K., Sambu, W., Berry L., Giese, S., Almeleh, C., and Rosa, S., South African Early Childhood Review. 2016, Cape Town Children's Institute, University of Cape Town and Ilifa Labantwana: Cape Town.
Vermeersch, C. and M. Kremer, School Meals, Educational Achievement and School Competition: Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation, in Report No. 3523. 2005, The World Bank.
Omwami, E.M., C. Neumann, and N.O. Bwibo, Effects of a school feeding intervention on school attendance rates among elementary schoolchildren in rural Kenya. Nutrition, 2011. 27(2): p. 188-193.
Adelman, S., et al., The Impact of Alternative Food for Education Programs on Child Nutrition in Northern Uganda. 2008, International Food Policy Research Institute.
Walker, S.P., et al., Early Childhood Stunting Is Associated with Lower Developmental Levels in the Subsequent Generation of Children. Journal of Nutrition, 2015. 145(4): p. 823-828.
Summary Review of the NICUS Analyses and Updated Menu
As part of our as part of our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible nutrition within meal price, delivery parameters and storageability, the Lunchbox Fund (LBF) commissions the Nutrition Information Centre of the University of Stellenbosch (NICUS) to undertake a biennial audit of Lunchbox Fund’s menu and the contribution it makes to the nutrition of our beneficiaries.
During July 2021 NICUS undertook a desktop review of national and international norms and standards and an analysis of the LBF menu. NICUS drew on international best practice and recognised norms and standards in school feeding interventions to assess the programme’s menu composition and its nutrient delivery. A nutrient analysis of the menu components was undertaken with software developed by the South African Medical Research Council.
The Lunchbox Fund runs breakfast or lunch programmes in schools, depending on the context and need. Our nutrition programme is designed for scalability within an average cost per meal of US25c (including delivery).
In the most recent NICUS review, the LBF lunch programme was found to make a significant contribution to the dietary energy, protein and fat needs of its beneficiaries, and is particularly effective in delivering micronutrients. Lunchbox Fund aims to deliver 20% of the WFP recommended daily dietary allowance (RDA) for macro and micro nutrients in our lunch menu for school-aged children. LBF’s fortified maize meal, soya mince, and VitaMilk were endorsed by NICUS as the best options for cost effective delivery of nutrients. Recommendations were made to further enrich our programme, and Lunchbox Fund is drawing on these as we work to continuously improve our nutritional offering.
Benefiting schools are required to ‘co-invest’ by adding fresh vegetables to lunch meals at least three days a week. This practice is a vital ongoing element and encourages schools to provide as much vegetable diversity from seasonally available, locally sourced vegetables.
Please email
info@thelunchboxfund.org
