21 February 2008

Cook it! Comes to South Down

A six week healthy eating programme is being introduced to the South Down and Newry area.

13 people have signed up to become ‘Cook it!’ facilitators throughout the area. The programme teaches people how to make healthy low cost meals and learn about nutrition and food hygiene.

Participants in local programmes include a range of community and voluntary groups for example young mothers, the homeless, Traveller women, men’s groups and people with mental health difficulties.

The South Down facilitator training was funded by the Southern Investing for Health Partnership.

Collette O Brien, Cook it! Co-ordinator for the Southern Health and Social Care Trust says: “Now running across the Trust area for three years, an evaluation of Cook it! shows that it has encouraged participants to change their diet and helped them to improve their wellbeing. The demand for Cook it! is high throughout the area, so we are delighted to be able to train more facilitators. We now have 53 trained Cook It! facilitators and are better able to provide more programmes to local communities.”

Catherine Brogan, Positive Health Matters Resource Worker from South Down Family Health Initiative took part in the training. She said: ”Cook it! training has been great fun and has taught me some very important nutritional tips for a healthy well balanced diet. I look forward to facilitating my own Cook it! programmes and sharing my new found knowledge with others. Cook it! really is fun, fast food for less.”

If you are interested in learning more about Cook it! or booking a programme for a community group Tel: 028 3741 2424.