How to make nutritious family meals on a budget
Budget Beaters COOKING a meal for a family of four at a cost of just R40 a day might sound impossible to some, but a local organisation has made this a reality.
After identifying that many South Africans faced a food crisis, the SA National Zakah Fund (Sanzaf), an Islamic NPO, came up with a solution to the problem.
On Wednesday, Sanzaf launched its Budget Beaters recipe book which focuses on low-cost meals for families who are struggling to make ends meet.
The organisation conducted a survey which revealed that the average income of some between R1500 and R3500 a month.
After paying rent, electricity, water and transport costs, most were left with only R1200 a month. This amounted to about R40 a day.
The book had been in the pipeline for six years and was finally launched by the organisation’s head of skills development, Saffura Khan, at a ladies luncheon at the
NMJ Islamic Centre in Overport, Durban.
It contains local as well as recipes from all around Africa.
Meals would cost between R20 and R40 to make.
“Living in tough economic times, and with a monthly income of R1 600 or below, many households battle to make it through the month with the groceries they have.
“The idea of the book was to ease the burden on households and show them how they can get the best out of their groceries to carry them through the entire month,” said Khan.
The organisation also embarked on a drive to teach some of its recipients how to cook nutritious yet low-cost meals for themselves.
Budget-beater cooking demonstrations were held in Tongaat, central Durban, and Pietermaritzburg.
The book is being sold by the organisation at a cost of
R50 and the public also has the option of sponsoring the book to a deserving family who might need it.
Those interested in buying or sponsoring the book can e-mail dbn@sanzaf.org.za