Dr Spinach: Baking his community healthier

Dr Spinach: Baking his community healthier

In 2012, a then 24-year-old Lufefe Nomjana had a dream to make a sustainable change in his community in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. With a desire to promote healthier living through more nutritious food, Lufefe started his own vegetarian bakery, which he called the Espinaca Bakery.

Changing perceptions one spinach loaf at a time

“I wanted to provide healthier food to the people living in my neighborhood and show them that healthy eating can be just as affordable and tasty as the fast food they are used to. I saw a big need for a health and nutrition change when looking at the eating habits of the people in my community.”

For Lufefe, the solution was in spinach: an easily grown vegetable in his township. “You can be assured of getting a good dose of essential vitamins and minerals while enjoying spinach snacks or meals,” he stresses. Ranked as one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables with health-promoting carotenoids, flavonoids, and antioxidants, spinach helps fight against inflammatory problems, cardiovascular problems, and certain cancers. “The community was initially sceptical – I had to first provide health education to each and every customer before they’d try my products but now, people respond very well and I’ve grown a loyal customer base. They call me Dr Spinach.”

Not a half-baked idea

During the launch of his business, Lufefe faced various challenges. “Initially, my new venture separated me from my friends as it required a complete change of my eating habits and lifestyle to one focused on health. It was only my mother and then-fiancé (now wife) who could understand my vision. I remember visiting my mother for some ingredients and she always made sure I got them – even if she had to borrow money.”

Fast forward two years from what started out in a repurposed shipment container to what is now a successful small business based in a house in Khayelitsha. “My specialty is home-baked whole wheat spinach bread – the first of its kind. I make this with whole wheat flour and spinach with no preservatives or artificial ingredients. Other popular options are our spinach muffins, rusks, and smoothies. We even make spinach biscotti!”

The future for Dr Spinach

Lufefe is passionate about promoting good health to the younger generation and aims to encourage the youth to live healthier lifestyles. “Children enjoy a lot of my delicious and nutritious baked products and I provide edutainment workshops in my community to help promote a healthy diet starting at an early age.”

Spanish for ‘spinach’, Lufefe called his bakery ‘Espinaca’ to add a bit of foreign flavour to his local initiative and is excited about future expansion plans to other township areas around Cape Town, and perhaps soon after, nationally.

For more information on Dr Spinach, Lufefe Nomjana, and his Espinaca Bakery find him on facebook facebook.com/EspinacaInnovations or follow him on twitter @EspinacaInno.