Cookery classes to help patients

Friday 1st June 2012

Cookery lessons will be given to people with Type 2 diabetes in an effort to help them manage their illness.

Patients will be given hands on training by charity Focus On Food at its own cookery school.

The novice cooks will be shown how to make recipes healthier, how to experiment with cooking techniques and use spices and herbs to provide sweetness, tartness and taste.

More than 85% of people with Type 2 diabetes could be treated with a healthy diet and increased physical activity, in addition to tablets or insulin.

The pilot scheme, in Calderdale, West Yorkshire, will see patients receive 10 hours of cooking lessons at The Cooking School at Dean Clough, in Halifax. In the first session, participants will learn how to make an alternative Sunday roast.

Advisory teacher Siobhan Haughey devised Connecting With Cooking To Manage Type 2 Diabetes. She said: "We know from research by Diabetes UK that cooking healthy food can reverse the effects of life-threatening Type 2 diabetes. At Focus On Food, our expertise is in teaching people to develop their cooking skills, which can lead to a greater understanding of nutrition, food and health.

"This course will guide people through practical preparation of appropriate main meals and accompaniments as well as demonstrations to help with skills."

Tricia Smikle, senior development manager for Diabetes UK, said: "We campaign to stem the rising tide of diabetes by raising awareness of the risk factors of Type 2 diabetes and encouraging people to eat a balanced diet, maintain a healthy weight and take regular physical activity. Diabetes UK supports the development of this healthy cooking programme by Focus On Food."

The course starts during National Diabetes Week, which runs from June 10 to 16.

Ruth Robinson, managing director of Focus On Food, said: "We don't just tell people how to cook, we show them. We are really excited to be working with our partners to deliver a pilot which could make a huge difference to the lives of those living with diabetes."

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