Ensuring food security for young children requires not only the availability of food, but also the capacity to translate theoretical knowledge of dietary diversity into daily practices. In the most remote areas of Samburu County, such as Samburu East, many families face structural challenges regarding proper breastfeeding practices and the preparation of adequate complementary foods for children over six months of age.
To bridge this gap, NutriAid promotes participatory cooking demonstrations. This is a participatory approach to transmit practical nutritional concepts, food selection criteria, and basic culinary skills within a community context, strengthening family autonomy and promoting healthy diets.
Guided by a professional nutritionist, participants are introduced to the different food groups and led through the preparation of simple, balanced meals tailored to the age of the recipients.
The fundamental objective of these demonstrations is to show practical and sustainable ways to incorporate vegetables, legumes, and animal proteins into the daily household diet, making the most of locally available ingredients. This model not only consolidates nutritional education, but also increases mothers' confidence in managing family nutrition.
In the coming weeks, the project will support the launch of new cooking sessions in other communities across the County to reach more and more families, reinforce nutritional education, and build healthy habits that last over time.
This intervention is made possible thanks to the funding of the 8x1000 IRPEF directly managed by the Italian State.
