Mayor creates a stir

Rochdale Mayor, Cllr James Gartside and Sabrina Gawthrop

Mayor, Cllr James Gartside, created quite a stir rustling up a mouth-watering meal as part of a series of healthy cookery classes.

Joining 14 local workers at St Andrew’s Church he produced a tasty chicken and noodle stir fry which had him declaring: “Delicious. This is much better than my signature dish of cornflakes.”

NHS HMR and partners are supporting the nationwide Change4Life campaign which aims to encourage healthier eating and physical activity. This hands-on session was one of four organised in January to demonstrate how tasty healthy meals can be made from scratch easily and inexpensively.

Mayor Gartside, said: “It was surprisingly simple and great fun to cook and enjoy a delicious, healthy lunch. And it’s a fantastic way to encourage people to create healthier meals for all the family.”

Cooking alongside the Mayor, mother of one, Sabrina Gawthrop from Middleton, said: “This has been a wake-up call for me. Life’s so busy that it seems easier to heat up ready meals for the family. But that’s often costly and doesn’t provide the goodness of fresh food. This session has given me ideas for easy, healthy recipes for all the family – and the meals work out cheaper. It’s changed my approach to healthy eating. I’m definitely a convert.” 

Dr Jane Rossini, Director of Public Health, added: “This is a great fun way to learn what for some is a new skill, and for others helps to tweak favourite recipes to be healthier. It’s great for the family budget as well as the waistline.”