Healthy food demos cooking up a storm

People across Belfast are finding out how to cook healthy, tasty, low cost meals thanks to cookery demonstrations being organised by the Public Health Agency (PHA).

The demonstrations are helping to promote the PHA’s ‘Choose to Live Better’ campaign, which helps people identify how they can take small practical steps to reduce their waist size. The cooking demonstrations will focus on creating good food that won’t break the bank.

The culinary masterclasses are being hosted by a number of community and voluntary organisations across the city. Many of these organisations are supporting the PHA in promoting the Choose to Live better campaign by providing a range of programmes to promote healthier behaviours such as the community weight management programme ‘Weigh to Health’, the ‘Cook it!’ community nutrition and cooking skills programme, and many physical activity initiatives.

Dr Eddie Rooney, Chief Executive of the PHA, explained: "These demonstrations are offering tasty ideas which make meal times more interesting and healthy, even on a tight budget. The most recent figures from the Northern Ireland Health Survey reveal that more than half of us are now overweight or obese. However, many people don’t even realise that they fall into this category and are putting their health at risk.

"Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of developing heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes and we want to help people recognise when they are overweight or obese, explain the health effects and encourage those who need to, to make small changes that will help them maintain a healthy weight. One of the best ways you can do this is by cooking food which is healthier."

Choose to Live Better offers advice on measuring your waist, target setting, cooking healthier food, getting more active and eating smaller portions. Information can be found by visiting the website at www.choosetolivebetter.com