After a series of major life events, Amy found herself struggling. ‘Cooking on a Budget’ at the Community Kitchen improved her physical and mental health – and gave her the crucial skills which helped her weather the pandemic. “The course allowed me to feel pleasure again.”
“I was grieving, struggling and depressed when I took the ‘Cooking on a Budget’ course. That followed the death of my parents, a divorce and moving country too. At the time, I was also moving accommodation a lot and had no proper cooking facilities, so it was hard to find the strength to even try to cook on my low budget.
The result was I couldn’t eat well and I’d lost pleasure even in the things I’d liked to eat before. I love healthy food, but I was eating trash instead. I felt unwell, gained weight and my wellbeing wasn’t as it should be.
The course at the Kitchen was like therapy for me. It allowed me to feel pleasure again. I’d been working all the time and grieving too, but also trying not to go too deep into my grief. The course gave me a place to challenge myself in a very positive way.
I could forget my troubles for a while and do something meaningful and create. We could have our own space, yet also enjoy the presence of others. It was a good balance between being alone and together.
I have very little time – and sometimes patience too! – for cooking, so I liked how in the course we learned how to use very few ingredients to make something delicious. I loved the simplicity of it all. But more than anything, I loved working with Charlotte, our cookery leader. She was very calm and clear. The whole Kitchen was lovely and welcoming, but Charlotte made it even better.
Knowing more about different foods has helped me choose better foods, including when I occasionally go to the food bank. I’d never had lentils before the course and it was a revelation. They’re cheap, nutritious, easy to work with and filling. Now I can’t live without lentils and I add them to many things.
I took the course just before the pandemic started, and my new knowledge really helped me cope with food and eating during the long months of lockdown. I had a heart condition diagnosed in 2020, the same year, so I couldn’t work or do anything for a long time. Having the skills and the recipes from the course was very valuable during that time. Food became an important way of making myself better.
They remain important too – I used the cupcake recipe for my 50th birthday!
I started to eat better after the course so I do feel better physically. But it’s not only about food. It is also about a general sense of wellbeing. The course has a relaxed atmosphere, it is a happy place to be and it’s good for the mental health. I’d recommend it to anyone. You learn new skills, meet new people and quite literally share the bread.”
Please note that names in case studies have been changed. Read more case studies here.
