Parents swap fast food for healthy grub

‘Hands on’ parents in a practical cookery session

Parents at Castleton Sure Start Children’s Centre have banished takeaways and fast food from their diet in a six week healthy eating course.

The Sure Start food team have led the sessions each week to provide parents with information on nutrition, highlight foods with high salt and fat content and then demonstrate practical sessions of cooking healthy alternatives to the ready meal lifestyle.

The course aims to portray the message of looking at healthy versions of popular take away meals without compromising on taste. Parents have had the chance to make healthy versions of their favourite Italian, Chinese and Indian meals plus how to cook the ultimate Christmas lunch.

After the cookery sessions each week, parents sit down with their children to sample the new meals in the all important taste test. Parents have thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and now have new recipes to try at home.

The course is part of the children’s centre target to encourage a healthy lifestyle for families.

Parent Becky Hill has been participating in this course. She said: “By learning how to make my own version of our favourite takeaways, I will save money and make healthier versions. I have also learnt to make my own pizza base which tasted fantastic.”