This is a 6 week per led education programme that is held twice per year.  The programme itself was developed by the ‘Health Promotion Unit’ Health Service Executive (HSE). The course is designed to develop useful cooking skills, providing training around nutrition, food hygiene, cooking on a budget and practical information.

Course content

Session 1:   A Fresh Look at Food: Introduction, Group contract, Basic facts about food, Food pyramid, Eating habits, Discuss recipes to be demonstrated in future sessions & quiz. 

Session 2:   Focus on Fats & Looking at Energy Balance: Relationship between food energy and activity. Healthy ways to reduce excess weight. Identify fatty foods.  Different types of fat. Ways of Reducing fat in the diet. 

Session 3:   Fibre Providers: Fibre and its role. Identify fibre-rich foods. Ways of eating enough fibre each day. Food Labels.

Session 4:   Family Food: Nutritional needs of children & adolescents. Identify family-friendly foods. Issues with family eating.

Session 5:   Sensible Shopping: Discuss how to shop. Insight into advertising. Plan shopping trips. Meet community nutritionist / Dietician.

Session 6:   Bringing it all Back Home: Extended practical cookery session. Reflect on previous sessions. Have eating habits changed? Test.

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