Feeddback from our cook and eat workshop trainer

Some most welcomed feedback from Jennifer Lauruol of Carpe Diem Gardens who facilitated for our summer programme of free cook and eat sessions.

"I was privileged to provide 12 workshops about Healthy Eating and Cooking Skills at Green Heart Den Community Garden in Barrow. The workshops took place during July and August 2015.

There was a wide range of people who attended, including children, adults and some people with additional needs.

Participants learned about eating a healthy diet including creating nutritious vegetarian meals from fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans and dairy. The sessions included harvesting fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden, preparing these, and sharing the meal together.

I observed that over the course of the sessions many people became interested in the different ways to cook vegetables and enjoyed preparing and tasting new recipes.

At the final session the feedback forms included very positive comments, including that several people felt they had learned a lot, enjoyed themselves and decided to improve their diet.

Three members of the the group, all of whom were overweight, had also been motivated to join Slimming World, a local slimming club.

I believe the sessions provided value for money and as the workshop leader I am very pleased at the positive outcomes for the people who attended the sessions, particularly as some of them are from social groups which suffer considerable disadvantage"

Funding to enable the free sessions was provided by Cumbria County Councils Healthy Weight Grant