New KOO Cooking Show Aims To Improve The Eating Habits Of South Africans

Legumes – such as beans, pulses and lentils – are vital plant-based protein that offer an affordable and sustainable source of vitamins and fibre to help with growth and development. They have been shown to help manage cholesterol and blood glucose, and maintain a healthy gut microbiome, yet independent research by Tiger Brands’ Eat Well Live Well Institute shows that South Africans don’t eat enough to reap their health and nutrition benefits. In fact, legumes are one of the least consumed food groups in South Africa, even though it is recommended to eat them regularly.

Colour Your Plate with KOO – Mzansi’s latest edutainment reality competition show – aims to educate South Africans about getting their 5-a-day by eating at least three vegetables and two fruit throughout their daily meals. The show focuses on how easy it is to change our eating behaviours to optimise our health, while searching for the country’s newest cooking celebrity from among 50 passionate home cooks. 

“The aim of the edutainment reality competition is to educate and entertain South Africans around the country, while helping them incorporate a wide variety of different coloured fruit and vegetables into their daily meals to help them stay healthy,” says Edna Mohale, Marketing Director at Tiger Brands.

Each week, five hopeful cooks take the challenge set out by a special celebrity guest to colour their plate by creating a dish that heroes a particular fruit or vegetable. Week one of the cooking challenge kicks off with KOO Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce as the hero product.

The show’s judges: award-winning celebrity chef Reuben Riffel, media personality Basetsana Khumalo and KOO’s Nutritionist Arthur Ramoroka are joined by special guest judge, former Springbok Lwazi Mvovo. As a professional athlete who needs to prioritise rigorous training and healthy eating, Lwazi knows all about the benefits of lean muscle gains which are made possible by eating sufficient amounts of beans regularly.

“Eating high-fibre rich foods – such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains and legumes – that contain prebiotic fibres create a healthy environment for ‘good’ gut bacteria to thrive, which assists in gut health and general wellbeing. That is why beans are such an essential part of a balanced eating plan,” says Arthur Ramoroka.

If you are looking to pack more nutrients into your diet, especially if you’re considering a more plant-based diet, beans are an excellent addition to any meal. Their mild flavour and meat-like texture makes them a sensible swap for any meat in stews, soups, salads and sauces.

Colour Your Plate with KOO broadcasts every Wednesday evening at 19:30 on SABC 2, with repeats every Tuesday morning at 10:00 on SABC 2. Weekly winners will be interviewed on SABC 3’s Expresso Morning Show every Thursday.