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Healthy eating courses spread across capital
The breakfast roll, now part of male Ireland’s dietary landscape.
A
course in Clondalkin that is also delivered in six other communities across Dublin is teaching people to cook for themselves at a time when the diets of disadvantaged groups are disimproving.
Liz Griffin
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We give people recipes, show them how to prepare food, and get them to taste it. It takes people backto-basics when it comes to cooking.
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VOLUNTEER… as therapy.
“It’s peer-led, meaning local people are trained to run the course,” said Liz Griffin, project co-ordinator of ‘Healthy Food Made Easy’, “It takes people back-tobasics.” People’s diets are narrowing thanks to the recession, according to a national report by ‘Safefood’ published on November 2nd and the most at-risk groups are young single men and low-income families with children, especially oneparent families. However, the boom in community gardens and healthy eating courses such as the one in Clondalkin (which is supported through the LCDP) show that communities have answers. Currently, says the CSO, 14% of Irish people are at risk of poverty, while the
figure among the unemployed is 33%, among lone parents is 35% and among children is 18%. With less money in their pockets, people are prioritising value over nutrition, and as a result, their health is suffering. The best way to tackle this problem is through education – to show people that they can make unexpensive meals that are also nutritious, as the course in Clondalkin succeeds in doing. Asked why unhealthy diets are on the rise, Ms Griffin said that from observing people coming on the course, “they have less disposable income and they’re going to the take-aways which is expensive.” The six-week health programme has been running since 2004 through the Clondalkin Community Healthy Living Centre in association with the Health Promotion Service. The programme attempts to alter people’s behavior: “We consistently promote the food pyramid. We give people recipes, show them how to prepare food, and get them
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to taste it. It takes people back-to-basics when it comes to cooking. In the fifth session, a dietician from the health promotion service takes people through what they should be eating. It is a fun practical course that’s available to all community groups in Dublin.” The course has been extended over the years to Palmerstown, Newcastle, Lucan and parts of Tallaght. The work fits in with LCDP Goal 1 which aims “to promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services.” Further information: Call Liz in Clondalkin on 01-4570665 or email her at: lgriffin@cpln.ie W: giyireland.com, safefood.eu, and cpln.ie Note: Safefood is a North-South organisation that works in four key areas: education, research, nutrition and communicating with consumers.