Community facilitators attended a training session for the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust's Cook It programme at Lough Moss Leisure Centre in Carryduff this week. The Public Health Agency commissions the programme to build nutrition knowledge and cooking skills among tutors for community delivery.

Participants cooked a three-course meal with fresh lean meat, vegetables and fruit. The menu featured chicken curry, cheesy bean crunch and summer fruit fool.

The Health Improvement Dietetic Team supplies tutors with a manual of 95 recipes. Tutors use these in settings including Sure Start programmes, food banks, social supermarkets and healthy living centres within the trust area.

South Eastern Trust Health Improvement Dietitian Jennifer McBratney said the practical session helps tutors gain confidence to teach skills locally. She added that the recipes work for families, cost little and stay simple.

Rachael Magee, family lead and group facilitator at Down Sure Start, plans to share the techniques with parents. She aims to encourage home cooking instead of takeaways and family participation in meal preparation.

Public Health Agency Health Improvement Manager Hannah McCourt called the programme key to boosting community nutrition and cooking abilities for better daily health choices.