April 2008

Cooking classes promote healthy and happy eating

A Department of Human Services North and West Metropolitan Region and Aboriginal Health Promotion and Chronic Care (AHPACC) project has improved cooking skills among Aboriginal people.

The primary care project was part of a health promotion and chronic disease prevention program and organised at the request of parents seeking to learn about the preparation of healthy meals for children.

‘It is very normal for children to be fussy eaters and this just may be the only thing the child can control,’ said Glynis Vickery, AHPACC health worker with Plenty Valley Community Health.

‘Many adults in the Aboriginal community missed out on learning how to cook because they left home early, were being part of the stolen generation or endured family breakdown,’ Ms Vickery said.

Several agencies and volunteers joined to establish a community kitchen aimed at improving skills and food knowledge.

During the course—which included a visit from a nutritionist—the group discussed ways for economising on healthy meals such as buying vegetables in season and ingredient substitution.

At the end of each class the next was planned and during this time many creative discussions were held about ways to encourage children to eat healthy.

Eleven adults and three older children did the cooking, though many others helped run the class, including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Elder and a home economics teacher.

A volunteer mother and childcare students helped out by caring for children of participants.