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27 September 2011 11:54
Food news
Food cart takes to the road
Parents and children are receiving an extra-curricular lesson in healthy eating at the school gate now that the NK Food Cart has hit the road.
Two sessions have taken place already as a programme of rolling out the mobile cooking cart and advice on making the most of seasonal food begins its tour of schools in North Kesteven.
During the next ten months North Kesteven District Council’s Environmental Health Food Team will take the Food Cart to eighteen primary schools and run cookery sessions in a bid to improve families’ understanding of how to rustle up quick, easy, economic and wholesome meals using home-grown or seasonal food wherever possible.
The next one will be at Ruskington’s Winchelsea Primary School on Tuesday 27th September, followed by a return visit on 18th October, and repeat sessions at Billinghay Primary School on 4th October and Ruskington Chestnut Street CE Primary School on 11th October. The cart will then be at St Botolph’s in Quarrington on 1st and 8th November before taking a winter break unless indoor venues can be found.
At each event, parents who are picking up children after school are shown how to cook three of the 26 dishes contained in a free recipe book, which they are handed along with the chance to taste some of the dishes. They are also given helpful hints and advice on food safety in the home.
The schoolgate sessions are central to the Sow Grow Cook initiative funded by NHS Lincolnshire under its Choosing Health promotion, which aims to encourage families to cook good fresh food in the home, using local produce where possible.
North Kesteven District Council’s Executive Member with oversight for health matters, Cllr Richard Wright said, “Over the year our aim is to bring the cart to 18 schools, possibly supporting 300 or so families further along the route of affordable healthy eating at each of the 36 sessions, boosting confidence and skills, supporting healthier lifestyles and promoting increased consumption of fruit and vegetables.
“It’s an exciting time for such an innovative project and we really hope that it will prove to be a success in promoting greater use of locally-sourced produce and reduced food waste for a more sustainable district,” said Cllr Wright.
John Gibson, NKDC’s Environmental Health Manager, described each recipe as it was being cooked and how the costs were significantly lower and nutritional value much greater compared to ready meals or take-aways.
“Each recipe is specially designed to be attractive to children, to be made in 45 minutes or less and make a significant impact on daily consumption of fruit and vegetables. And the costs can drop dramatically if you grow your own,” he said.
The initiative is being focussed chiefly on areas where there is a recognised need. The recipe booklet is available free to all parents at the school sessions and cookery classes will be arranged to meet demand.
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