Khidmat Healthy Eating and Cookery Project - South East

 

In partnership with Khidmat‚ a group of older Asian women who meet at the Mosque in Woking‚ and with the help of a volunteer interpreter and one instructor‚ fit as a fiddle supported a Healthy Eating and Cookery active network. 

Who we are helping

This project helps older Asian women from the Woking area.
We set up the project because:

• There is a high incidence of diabetes‚ vitamin D deficiency and heart disease within this ethnic group.
• Although many of the women know how to cook‚ they often don’t know about the healthier alternatives to ingredients and cooking methods.
• Healthy eating also affects a person's ability to undertake physical activity successfully and maintain good mental health.

Project goals

This project aims to improve older people’s cooking skills‚ offer them nutritional advice‚ encourage them to eat a varied‚ balanced diet‚ and to introduce them to healthier alternatives. 

What we are doing

fit as a fiddle supported eight sessions of healthy eating and cookery to 15 ladies of the Khidmat group. Before the sessions started‚ a demonstration day was held for members of Khidmat and various community workers to find out more about the sessions and to sign up for the network.

With the help of a volunteer interpreter‚ Jen Twydell - a Food Technology teacher and former Masterchef competitor‚ taught all eight sessions using her own oven‚ crockery‚ food and disposable plates. The sessions were tailored to meet the needs of the group‚ and dietary‚ religious and capability issues were all considered. Topics covered included special diets‚ five-a-day‚ food labelling‚ food safety‚ low salt‚ low fat‚ shopping economically and hydration.

Recipes were translated and distributed‚ and the women would often take home some of the food made during the sessions. One lady took home five recipe books to pass on to her friends and family. Participants also often brought their friends and children along so a wider audience could benefit from the sessions. The course offered a sharing of cultures between Jen and the women‚ with everyone learning from one another. Many of the women already know how to cook‚ but this network offered them advice on healthier alternatives to ingredients and cooking methods.

One week Jen taught the ladies how to make paratha with chapatti flour‚ and the next week one lady brought in two different types of paratha‚ one made with corn meal and one made with millet flour for everyone to try. Jen said‚ “I never knew about all of the different flours you could use when making paratha. We’ve all learned from each other and for me that’s great‚ and what this course is all about.” 

Why we chose this approach

• The sessions can be tailored to the needs of the participants - from those who are immobile and unable to boil an egg‚ to those who are mobile and able to prepare a meal.
• While learning to cook‚ participants are educated on how to eat more healthily‚ economically and safely.  
• The sessions are sociable and fun with lots of interaction amongst the participants‚ food tastings‚ and questions and answers with the instructor.

Successes

All participants completed a monitoring form at the start of the project. A fit as a fiddle staff member visited the network throughout the eight weeks to evaluate the progress of the group and to speak with the participants‚ volunteer and instructor.
This project helped to deliver sociable‚ fun‚ and healthy lifestyles for the over-50s. With the success of the course‚ healthy eating activities have now been incorporated into Khidmat’s regular programme of activities. Once a month the ladies bring in their own food‚ recipes and healthy tips to share so they can continue learning from one another.