ABSTRACT:
Background. Traditional green leafy vegetables (TGLVs) have been for generations a crucial component of indigenous diets and provide remarkable nutritional advantages. Despite the nutritional value they provide, TGLVs consumption has drastically decreased in South African urban communities in recent decades. Caregivers knowledge, attitudes, and practices have a significant impact on how children develop their food choices and dietary behaviours. Objectives. To assess the caregiver’s knowledge, attitudes and practices on the consumption of the TGLVs among children attending Early Childhood Development Centres in the city of Tshwane, South Africa. Methods. An observational, cross-sectional purposive study design. The study setting was 22 early childhood development centers (ECD centers) in the city of Tshwane. Data analysis used SPSS version 30.0. Normal data are expressed as means (standard deviation (SD), skewed data as median values (25, 75th percentiles) and categorical values as percentages and frequencies. Chi-square tests determined associations between categorical variables such as caregiver education, income level, and frequency of TGLV consumption. Results. The study sample was predominantly composed of mothers aged 19-39 years. Two-thirds of the households were unemployed (62.4%) and relied on social grants (74.8%). Caregivers’ demonstrated generally good recognition of common TGLVs, although gaps remain in identifying lesser-known varieties. Persistent stigma associating TGLVs with poverty or rural life was evident. Conclusions. The study reveals that while caregivers generally maintain positive attitudes toward TGLVs, knowledge deficits and inconsistent serving practices persist. Caregiver knowledge and attitudes were identified as significant predictors of TGLV consumption, suggesting that interventions addressing these factors could increase utilisation of these nutritionally valuable vegetables.