WHAT ARE FOOD SOCKS MADE FROM?
Natural Ingredients – Dehydrated ingredients that are sourced locally in South Africa are used to make up the Food Socks. With a protein base of soya, they are ideal for a range of dietary requirements.
WHY FOOD SOCKS?
Savour the Taste of Eco-Friendly, Nutritious, and Affordable Meals!
We prioritise providing delicious, affordable, meal options for the budget conscious South African consumer. Our soya protein ensures that you can indulge in your favourite dishes while minimising your carbon footprint and supporting sustainable food practices.
By choosing our meal kits, you not only treat your family to a scrumptious, nutritious dinner but also contribute to a healthier planet. Discover the benefits of soya protein and taste the delectable, sustainable meals Food Socks has to offer. Experience the perfect blend of nutrition, affordability, and eco-friendliness with Food Socks – where great taste meets green living.
WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF FOOD SOCKS?
Food Socks are thrilled to inform you that after rigorous testing and assessment, the shelf-life labeling of all nine flavors of our Food Sock products is now 12 months.
This enhancement ensures that you can enjoy our delicious meals for an extended period with absolute confidence in their quality and freshness.
WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS IN FOOD SOCKS?
We cannot share the detailed ingredients list, due to Intellectual Property and the fact that a lot of time and money has been invested in the development.
We can say however, that they are all soya based products, and contain the following base ingredients: Pasta, rice, flavourings, stock powders, herbs, spices, dehydrated veggies, pulses and beans. Mushrooms and nuts are not used – however these are present in the factory.
All the ingredients that are sourced are Halaal as well as vegetarian. However, do keep in mind that stock and soup powders are used.
The ingredients of each Food Sock product are also printed on the package label.
HOW ARE FOOD SOCKS PREPARED?
All the Food Socks are prepared in the same manner – they require a pot, water and a source of heat. Empty the entire contents in a pot, add water as indicated on the packaging and cook until ready. Some products use beans, these are packaged separately in the Food Sock, and will require boiling first to soften as they take a little longer to prepare. Some people, if in a hurry, exclude the beans from the pot.
WHO CAN MAKE USE OF FOOD SOCKS?
Absolutely anyone!!
The poor, the wealthy, the elderly, students, Government, NGO’s, feeding schemes, soup kitchens, campers, hikers, pensioners, the disabled, the single, the married, … the list goes on!
WILL MORE FLAVOURS BE INTRODUCED?
There definitely will be new flavours, in fact, factory R&D are always working on new exciting flavours! We would love to hear your suggestions – please let us know.
These flavours are the base-line for the meals, but all of them can easily be “upscaled” so that you can enjoy a wide variety of very tasty alternatives. Food Socks has developed a recipe book that can be downloaded to guide you – CLICK HERE to obtain the recipe book!
HOW ARE THE FOOD SOCKS PACKAGED?
They are packaged in biodegradable plastic sleeves, made by Outeniqua Plastics.
DO YOU PROVIDE FREE SAMPLES?
No, unfortunately we do not.
CAN I PURCHASE FOOD SOCKS AS A DONATION?
Not only can you, but we would like to encourage you to do so! Whether it be a creche, one of your employees, or just a family member in need, please consider helping them out – we can have your donation delivered to the recipient anonymously if you wish.
ARE FOOD SOCKS SUITABLE FOR DISASTER RELIEF?
They are PERFECT for disaster relief. They are easily distributed, easily stored for quick access at times of need and easy to prepare with the minimal resources at the victim’s disposal. Not to mention minimal cost as opposed to traditional food parcels.
HOW CAN FOOD SOCKS BE PURCHASED?
You can purchase your food socks from Food Socks Knysna in the following manner:
By making use of the BLUE button at the bottom left of the PRODUCTS page that says CLICK HERE TO ORDER. It is important to know that by using this means you will be making a secure payment by card using the Yoco portal. Making use of that will transfer you from this website to the secure Yoco gateway, which means that we will not collect your personal information or card details. We will only be provided with your name, contact details and payment confirmation by Yoco. Any order placed will need to be collected by you from the premises of E4 Electrical, 25 Gordon Street, Knysna either by yourself or a nominated representative. We will confirm the collection arrangements with you once the payment and order has been confirmed to us by Yoco. Alternatively, you can….
Contact Michael on WATSUP by clicking the GREEN button at bottom right of this page (TEXT or VOICE NOTES ONLY) and indicate what you wish to buy. You will receive a return message or telephone call to confirm that what you need is in stock in Knysna as well as the amount that needs to be paid. You may then make use of the following methods to make your payment:
- By EFT to bank account 219 389 1733 with Capitec Bank, or…
- By paying by CARD (Credit, Debit – VISA/MASTERCARD) on collection at 25 Gordon Street, Knysna, or…
- By paying CASH on collection at 25 Gordon Street, Knysna.
IMPORTANT: If you choose to pay with EFT, your purchased goods will only be released for collection once the payment reflects in our bank account – you will be advised once cleared and ready for collection. Payment using CARD on collection is our preferred method of receiving payments.
CAN FOOD SOCKS BE PREPARED USING A MICROWAVE?
It can be done, but we recommend it rather be prepared on a stove. The meals take between 30 and 40 minutes to cook (on average – the Chakalaka Samp & Beans takes longer as the beans & samp need to soak for 60 minutes) and should be stirred regularly during this time to prevent burning and ensure even absorption of the water.
WHAT DO THE FOOD SOCKS WEIGH?
Rounded off weights – DRY Weight
Tomato Bredie: 395g
Pasta Bolognese: 310g
Mutton Stew: 390g
Chicken Pasta: 310g
Chicken Breyani: 425g
Chicken and Veggie Soup: 165g
Mac & Cheese: 380g
Melkkos: 330g
WHAT IS THE “MELKKOS” FOOD SOCK?
Here in South Africa we have plenty of great desserts to choose from. But have you ever heard about Melkkos? The word “melkkos” directly translates to “Milk food”.
To be honest “milk food” really does not sound very appetizing. Melkkos is a sort of lumpy, porridge like, milky dessert. Looking at it, it almost looks like a thick white sauce, just sweetened and spiced up with some cinnamon. Well, that also doesn’t sound too great. Just trust me, try it once. You will truly be amazed with the taste.
There is only one secret here. Serve your melkkos with lots of cinnamon.
This is a great dessert to serve during the cold months. It is truly a pure comfort food. I think it’s just the combination of the milky porridge like pudding and the great taste of cinnamon that makes it so great.
The traditional recipe is made with plenty of milk and some flour. The older traditional method is to add either spaghetti or macaroni noodles – believe me, try it!
WHEN AND HOW WAS FOOD SOCKS DEVELOPED?
Established in 2021
The Garden Route, Klein Karoo and Central Karoo regions are of the poorest in the Western Cape, suffering intense hunger, unemployment and malnutrition.
For over a decade, it has been the vision of George resident, Carl van Blerk, to establish a food bank to address the severe shortages of nutritional foods to the most vulnerable. The challenges of starting such a facility, such as financial support and food resources, were prohibitive.
When COVID-19 hit the region, Carl and the team from the Eden Lions Club, which he founded in 2009, were requested by local government to support the efforts of providing food to the local community. This was the spark that re-ignited the fire to start a permanent food bank. In January 2021, the Garden Route Food Pantry was officially opened.
Towards mid-2022, Carl recognised an alarming trend of a vast number of families, not just in the Garden Route region, but countrywide, who are finding themselves moving further and further into poverty. These were not just the traditional poverty regions, but the typical middle-class resident.
The need for an affordable, convenient and nutritional meal was proving to be essential.
This sparked the idea for Carl to develop the Food Sock.
With valuable assistance from the Late Master Chef Francois Ferreira as well as celebrity Chef and entertainer, Nataniël, a quality product has been developed.
HOW MUCH SALT IS USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF FOOD SOCKS?
When it comes to saltiness, it’s truly a matter of personal preference, making it a challenge to provide a definitive answer. We take pride in our commitment to limiting the sodium content in our meals, as is evident from the ingredient list. Despite this effort, some meals may taste saltier than others due to the nature of their individual ingredients.
It’s worth noting that for every individual who finds a meal too salty, there may be just as many, if not more, who deem the seasoning perfect. Let’s take curry as an illustrative example: the spiciness level of curry can be too intense for those who prefer milder flavours, whereas spice enthusiasts often add extra seasoning to meet their taste preferences.
If you encounter a meal that feels too salty for your taste, a simple fix can be to dilute it with a bit more water. Alternatively, exploring another meal from our Food Sock range may better suit your palate—we all have our unique flavour inclinations, after all.