PIONEERING healthy cooking educators The Wholesome Collective will be firing up their cooktops in Coraki, Casino, and Ellangowan this month, in a series of free workshops revealing the time-tested tips of preparing delicious and healthy food on a budget.
Founded by accredited dietitian Kerryn Boogaard, and home economist Mary Wills, The Wholesome Collective is a social enterprise promoting the use of fresh, seasonal ingredients to prepare tasty meals.
Richmond Valley Council’s Disaster Recovery team has coordinated the workshops thanks to funding support from Resilience NSW, as part of its ongoing recovery effort aimed at strengthening community connections and improving residents’ health and wellbeing outcomes.
The free workshops will take place at the Casino Community and Cultural Centre, Coraki Golf Club, and the Ellangowan Hall between 22-24 June.
Richmond Valley Council’s Acting General Manager Angela Jones said The Wholesome Collective would combine culinary skills and education with expertise in nutrition, general health, and chronic disease prevention.
Ms Jones said the workshops would involve a series of informative cooking presentations, with advice such as grocery shopping on a limited budget, tips to make meal preparation easier, and simple secrets to boosting flavour in your cooking.
“The aim of the workshops is to help people overcome their common barriers to eating well at home, which may include a lack of kitchen education, social isolation, mental health problems, limited family support and chronic medical conditions,” she said.
The Wholesome Collective’s Mary Wills said the workshops would be fun and interactive, and led by the audience.
Ms Willis said the workshops also included some “myth busting” on the convenience of fast food compared to cooking at home, and its long-term health impacts.
“We work with every age and stage of life, from four to over 100, to empower people to get into fun and healthy habits in their own kitchen,” Ms Willis said.
“The workshops will include a live cooking demonstration and participants can ask the questions which matter to them to ensure they get the most out of the experience.
“We’ll show people how to whip up something quick and easy, packed with both flavour and nutrition, every day of the week, not just as a one off.”\
Everyone who attends will get to sample the prepared food and receive a free cookbook, which includes 80 recipes along with important nutrition information.
Bookings are essential by Friday 18 June and can be made via the related Eventbrite links for the dates and locations below:
- Casino Community and Cultural Centre, Tuesday 22 June, 5-7pm
eventbrite.com.au/e/t157424261203
- Coraki Golf Club, Wednesday 23 June, 5-7pm
eventbrite.com.au/e/157901021205
- Ellangowan Hall. Thursday 24 June, 5-7pm