Image caption, Lauren Weller said it was “hard for parents to find fresh, cheap and healthy meal ideas” that were also convenient
Parents who attended free cooking classes in Guernsey said they had new ideas and confidence to prepare healthy, affordable meals for their families.
The cooking sessions, run by St Martin’s Community centre in partnership with the Health Improvement Commission, were led by a professional chef to help parents cook simple and fresh meals.
Parent Laura Weller said the class was a safe space to “create new things, and just not be scared of cooking and making healthy choices”.
“Its all about convenience and this allows me to create something from scratch, with fresh ingredients that I can give my family, and I know my seven-year-old will really enjoy this,” she added.
Image caption, Alex Kosmas, from the Health Improvement Commission, said “it’s tough to find meals which are both affordable and healthy, that families have time to make”
Alex Kosmas, from the Health Improvement Commission, said: “Parents and carers have a pretty tricky job to get food on the table that is nutritious while balancing busy lives.”
He said: “With the cost-of-living crisis at the moment, we need to help parents as much as we can.
“You’re busy, you get back home, the last thing you probably want to do is start chopping up loads of stuff.”
Kosmas said making healthy cooking “as easy as possible” could help families make better food choices.
Image caption, Chef lecturer Rivelino Rodriguez said “even as a chef I struggle to find ideas for healthy and cheap meals” and parents want their children to enjoy healthy food
Rivelino Rodriguez, chef lecturer at The Guernsey Institute, said the project was designed to give parents “inspiration for cheap adaptable meals that taste good without all the additives and preservatives found in ready-made foods”.
“The parents now know how to make the recipes, they can try them at home, and if their kids are watching them make it, chances are they are going to want to try it too,” he said.
At one session, Rodriguez taught the class how to make a stir fry, which included four portions costing £2 each.
Image caption, Rivelino Rodriguez said stir fry was one of the most affordable and adaptable dishes
Parent Ros de Carteret said it was harder for parents who both work and have less time on their hands.
She said: “My mum was a really good cook, we always had meat and vegetables, but she had the time to teach herself.
“We don’t have time to learn everyday cooking, and you go into the shops, and everything is pre-packed.”
De Carteret added: “Learning everyday cooking could also help families save money.”
Rebecca Silk, the centre’s operations manager, said the aim was to help people develop “real life skills” and inspire them to try new foods.
Guernsey’s Healthier Weight Strategy estimated more than 57% of adults in the bailiwick are overweight or obese, while it found almost a third of Year 5 children were living with excess weight.
The strategy identifies healthier eating as one of its priorities.
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