Food from trees and green spaces can diversify diets and enhance food and nutrition security for households. However, sourcing food from these areas often receives little attention in addressing nutrition issues. This study assessed the contribution of trees and green spaces to household food consumption and nutrition in the eThekwini Municipal Area (EMA) located in KwaZulu-Natal South Africa, focusing on the Osindisweni and Maphephetheni communities, which are biologically diverse and face high poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity. Using stratified random sampling, 280 households were selected to complete questionnaires. Additionally, two Focus Group Discussions (FDG's) and key informant interviews were conducted with community members and municipal representatives. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Household Food Consumption Score (FCS), Ordered Logistic Regression and a thematic analysis was done to analyse responses from Focus Group Discussions. The results showed that 93.6% of households consumed acceptable diets, with only 5.0% in the borderline and 1.4% in the poor categories. Specifically, Osindisweni and Maphephetheni households reported 93.3% and 93.7% acceptable diets, respectively. Ordered logistic regression indicated that both cultivated and uncultivated green spaces, household size, number of dependants, as well as access to training, agricultural assistance, extension, and advisory services negatively correlated with nutrition security. While communities recognized the contributions of trees and green spaces, they believed that these sources alone were insufficient. It is concluded that consumption of products from trees and green spaces likely did not improve the nutrition security of the households. To improve household nutrition security in eThekwini, it is vital to foster collaboration among stakeholders, including nutritionists and extension agents. Strengthening the knowledge of extension officers regarding the harvesting and consumption of food from trees and green spaces is crucial for disseminating effective guidance to households, thereby enhancing nutrition outcomes.

Keywords: Food Consumption Score; diets; food groups; household nutrition security; nutrition; trees and green spaces.

树木和绿地中的食物可以丰富家庭饮食，增强食品和营养安全。然而，在解决营养问题时，很少关注从这些地方获取食物的问题。本研究评估了树木和绿地对南非夸祖鲁-纳塔尔省eThekwini市政地区（EMA）内奥辛迪斯韦尼和马菲菲特赫尼社区家庭食品消费和营养的贡献，这两个社区生物多样性丰富，并面临高贫困、失业和粮食不安全问题。采用分层随机抽样方法选取了280户家庭完成问卷调查。此外，还与社区成员和市政代表进行了两次焦点小组讨论（FDG）和关键信息访谈。数据通过描述性统计、家庭食品消费评分（FCS）、有序逻辑回归以及主题分析进行处理以分析焦点小组讨论的回复。结果显示，93.6%的家庭摄入了可接受的饮食，只有5.0%处于临界水平，1.4%处于贫困水平。具体而言，奥辛迪斯韦尼和马菲菲特赫尼家庭分别有93.3%和93.7%接受了可接受的饮食。有序逻辑回归表明，无论是种植还是未被开发的绿地、家庭规模、依赖人口数量以及获得培训、农业援助、推广和服务的情况都与营养安全呈负相关。尽管社区认可树木和绿地的作用，但他们认为这些来源本身是不够的。因此可以得出结论，消费来自树木和绿地的产品很可能没有改善家庭的营养安全状况。为了提高eThekwini地区家庭的营养安全水平，促进利益相关者之间的合作至关重要，包括营养专家和推广人员。增强推广官员关于从树木和绿地收获并食用食物的知识是至关重要的，以便向家庭传播有效的指导，从而提升营养成果。

关键词：食品消费评分；饮食；食品类别；家庭营养安全；营养；树木和绿地。