The ECD Nutrition Basket builds four meals a day from eight food groups
A practical five-day meal pattern with substitution options — foods tracked in the September 2026 costing
Daily meal architecture
Breakfast
Porridge + milk
Morning Snack
Fruit + dairy
Lunch
Cooked meal: protein + starch + vegetables
Afternoon Snack
Bread + spread
Substitution principle: Substitutions should maintain the nutritional intent of the meal and be practical in the ECD setting. Example: Butternut ↔ Orange-fleshed sweet potato
Foods tracked in the September 2026 costing
Starchy foods
- Maize meal
- Instant sorghum porridge
- Brown bread
- Rice
- Potatoes
Vegetables
- Carrots
- Butternut
- Spinach
- Cabbage
- Onions
- Tomatoes
Fruit
- Apples
- Bananas
Legumes
- Dried red-speckled beans
- Lentils
- Dehydrated soya mince
Animal-source foods
- Eggs
- Pilchards in tomato sauce
Milk / dairy
- Full-cream fresh or UHT milk
- Maas
Fats / spreads
- Margarine
- Sunflower oil
- Peanut butter
Seasoning
- Salt
The ECD Nutrition Basket is built around four meals a day — breakfast, two snacks and a cooked lunch. Centres can substitute food items as long as the meal's nutritional intent holds, making the basket practical where supply or affordability vary.
Daily Maverick · Source: Philippa Barnard (public health nutrition consultant & registered dietitian); Zero2Five Trust; Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group
