On the 22nd of July, Healthy Cities Illawarra facilitated a Stir it Up! training session to up-skill staff and volunteers with specific nutrition qualifications to educate their community on healthy cooking and eating.
Stir It Up! is an exciting project that aims to promote good food and healthy eating in local communities. The program was developed by Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) and is now coordinated by Healthy Cities Illawarra.
The Stir It Up! program is centred around four key messages; Eat more fruit and vegetables, eat a healthy breakfast, drink more water, and cook from scratch. These healthy eating messages are delivered to the community through a variety of activities including presentations, community gardens, talks, displays, cooking demonstrations, supermarket tours or cooking classes.
The training session commenced through a discussion of the Australian Guidelines to Healthy Eating, the health star rating, ingredient modification and food label reading. We then translated our understanding of healthy food and cooking into practical group activities, like using spoons to demonstrate how much sugar is hidden in sweetened beverages or how recipes can be modified to reflect healthier choices. Trainees were then given an opportunity to practice their cooking demonstration skills by making honey ricotta dip with nashi pear and green apple- this was a hit with everyone!
On completion, volunteer peer educators are qualified and supported to deliver healthy eating activities in their local community. The latest Stir it Up! activity ran at Bulli Community Centre, demonstrating yummy and healthy simple dips!
Our Stir it up! program needs new volunteers like you! Stir it up! is an exciting project which supports people to promote healthy eating and good food in their local communities.
Stir it up! volunteer peer educators receive training with a focus on healthy eating, practical food ideas, presentation skills, basic kitchen safety and food hygiene. On completion, volunteer peer educators are supported to deliver healthy eating activities in their community.
Healthy eating activities are often one off or part of a program and may include presentations at community gardens, talks, displays, cooking demonstrations, supermarket tours or facilitating cooking classes.
Find out more about volunteering with HCI HERE or email volunteering@healthyillawarra.org.au
Learn more about Stir It Up! HERE:
To request a Stir It Up! activity please contact Ingrid: ingrid@healthycities.org.au
