TASTY AND GOOD FOR YOU

Communities First has run a healthy cooking course in partnership with the Antioch Centre.

The brief for this project was to hold six sessions for six young people and their parents to learn about cooking tasty, nutritious, healthy food on a budget.

The young people and their parents were introduced to how to work safely in the potentially hazardous environment of a large kitchen. They never shied away from using the range of kitchen equipment, but the attendees learnt how to work in the kitchen, use equipment safely, and some basic, but necessary food hygiene principals.

Over the six weeks the attendees created interesting food ideas from different countries and cuisines, learning about the ingredients, cooking techniques and flavour combinations.

Very quickly it became apparent how creative and artistic the young chefs were creating amazing pizzas and fruit flans using up to eleven different fruits.

Apart from the cookery skills, appreciation of the ingredients, and learning how to bring exciting combinations together, their levels of confidence grew immensely as well as levels of self-reliance and resourcefulness.

Each session included a discussion regarding the menu for the following week and now these young people can realise that their opinions are valued (and acted upon) and how to build mutually respectful relationships with their elders and work together.

Acting Health Worker Emma Sprake said: “At the beginning of the six weeks we promised more than anything the sessions would be fun. The looks on the faces of these young people said everything. They enjoyed all the sessions and much to the amazement of the parents who also came along, they approached the tidying up, washing up and mopping with equal joy and enthusiasm!”

For the final session when the young chefs cooked some of their favourite dishes and invited their guests to a celebration evening where they all received their much deserved certificates.

Emma added: “It was great to see the enthusiasm of the children and the parents. It was a pleasure to join in the celebration evening and taste the dishes they had prepared. We are so proud to report that we have supported six new Young Chefs to learn and expand their skill set.”