Parent cooking classes 'built my confidence'

Parent cooking classes 'boosted my confidence'

Lauren Weller expressed that it is "challenging for parents to discover fresh, affordable, and healthy meal ideas" that are also convenient.

Parents who participated in complimentary cooking classes in Guernsey reported gaining new ideas and the confidence to prepare nutritious, budget-friendly meals for their families.

These cooking sessions, organized by St Martin's Community Centre in collaboration with the Health Improvement Commission, were conducted by a professional chef to assist parents in creating simple and fresh meals.

Parent Laura Weller mentioned that the class provided a safe environment to "experiment with new things and not be afraid of cooking and making healthy choices."

"It's all about convenience, and this enables me to prepare something from scratch, using fresh ingredients that I can offer my family, and I know my seven-year-old will truly enjoy this," she added.

Alex Kosmas from the Health Improvement Commission noted, "it's difficult to find meals that are both affordable and healthy, which families have the time to prepare."

He further stated, "Parents and caregivers face a challenging task of providing nutritious food while managing busy lives."

Kosmas emphasized, "Given the current cost-of-living crisis, we need to support parents as much as possible. When you're busy and return home, the last thing you likely want to do is start chopping a lot of ingredients."

He mentioned that simplifying healthy cooking could assist families in making better food choices.

Chef lecturer Rivelino Rodriguez remarked, "Even as a chef, I find it challenging to come up with ideas for healthy and inexpensive meals," adding that parents want their children to enjoy nutritious food.

Rodriguez, who teaches at The Guernsey Institute, explained that the initiative aimed to provide parents with "inspiration for affordable, adaptable meals that taste good without the additives and preservatives found in pre-packaged foods."

"The parents now know how to prepare the recipes, they can try them at home, and if their kids see them making it, they are likely to want to try it too," he said.

During one session, Rodriguez demonstrated how to make a stir fry, which included four servings costing £2 each.

He noted that stir fry is one of the most economical and versatile dishes.

Parent Ros de Carteret shared that it is more challenging for working parents who have limited time.

She stated, "My mother was an excellent cook; we always had meat and vegetables, but she had the time to teach herself. We don't have the time to learn everyday cooking, and when you go to the stores, everything is pre-packaged."

De Carteret added, "Learning everyday cooking could also help families save money."

Rebecca Silk, the operations manager at the centre, mentioned that the goal was to help individuals develop "real-life skills" and encourage them to try new foods.

Guernsey's Healthier Weight Strategy estimated that over 57% of adults in the bailiwick are overweight or obese, while it found that nearly a third of Year 5 children are living with excess weight.

The strategy identifies healthier eating as one of its key priorities.

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