Katie Hughes, Volunteer Kells Family Resource Centre; Louise Farrell, Health Promotion and Imp Officer; Suzanne Shevlin, Senior Community Dietician; Cllr Sarah Reilly, Meath County Council; Minister Frank Feighan; Emer Smyth, Health Promotion and Improvement Manager Health and Wellbeing Midlands Louth Meath CHO; Duana Mc Ardle, Senior HP&I Officer; Erin Moran, Family Support Worker, Kells Family Resource Centre; Shane Magorrian Wellbeing Co-ordinator Kells Family Resource Centre

Healthy food made easy in Kells

Kells Family Resource Centre (KFRC) was a hive of activity when Minister of State for Public Health, Frank Feighan, visited last week.

The purpose of the visit was to meet with participants who had taken part in the Healthy Food Made Easy (HFME) programme and the ‘Cool Dudes’ Programme.

Kells Family Resource Centre provides important, relevant support services to the children and families of Kells and surrounding areas.

The HSE Health and Wellbeing Manager, Emer Smyth said: “We work with partner organisations like Kells Family Resource Centre to enhance the lives and wellbeing of the community of North Meath. Through programmes like ‘Healthy Food Made Easy’, we have supported a healthier approach to food and increased awareness of the health benefits of balancing our diets”.

During the visit, photographs of dishes that were prepared by participants and their families were on display throughout Kells FRC to highlight the wide variety of healthy dishes that were made and enjoyed during the course of the programme. In the kitchen, Minister Feighan observed a ‘Cool Dudes ‘taster session’ in action where a group of local primary school children put into practice the healthy eating messages they had learnt.

The ‘Cool Dudes’ programme is a nutrition and cookery programmed aimed at primary school children from fourth to sixth class. The delivery of these programmes are funded through grants provided by HSE Health Promotion and Improvement.

The HSE Healthy Food Made Easy Programme is a community nutrition and cookery programme. The course content is based on the most up-to-date healthy eating guidelines from the Department of Health. The six session programme aims to increase understanding of healthy eating; demonstrate that it is possible to eat healthily on a budget; teach cooking skills and aims to increase confidence in cooking. The programme is typically delivered in community venues such as Kells FRC in a fun and relaxed manner.

Minister Feighan commended KFRC for their work in delivering Healthy Food Made Easy programme.

“This is an evidence based programme that works to assist people cook healthy meals using cheap ingredients. Here in Kells this has been adapted to include young people and works within the community to develop a positive food culture.”

Shane Magorrian, Wellbeing Coordinator, Kells Family Resource Centre informed the Minister of the positive health benefits that participants gained from the programmes.

The next Healthy Food Made Easy programme will take place in September 2022. For more information please contact Susanne Shevlin, HSE Senior Community Dietitian at HP.Nutrition@hse.ie