Kelly’s anxiety around food has subsided since taking part in Community Kitchen classes and she now enjoys batch cooking and sharing meals with friends.
“I had no kitchen skills when I did my first course in the Community Kitchen and eating had become complex due to dietary issues. The thought of a group setting was terrifying but seeing classes through the Community Kitchen window was welcoming.
That Batch Cooking class was life-changing.
The batch cookery course I did was really valuable and has totally changed my perception of cooking and shopping. It’s helped me deal with the overwhelming nature of supermarkets by planning meals and knowing which ingredients to buy – saving money as a result. I now freeze meals, so an additional benefit is only having to cook once.
It’s reassuring now to know I have nutritious food already prepped at home.
I live with digestive disabilities and food causes lots of anxiety for me. The input of [nutritionist] Fran was very valuable – and the chat afterwards with her on an individual level was appreciated.
Everyone was kind and non-judgemental in the classes. All questions were welcomed, and the Kitchen felt like a safe space. Since the courses, I’ve become more comfortable around new groups of people and my anxiety about entering new spaces has subsided.
There’s been an improvement in my anxiety levels around cooking too. It had been sometimes overwhelming to the point where eating was no longer joyful and I missed meals. I have a stoma so there’s a big variation in my symptoms on a day-by-day basis – where, when, what I can eat. It’s reassuring now to know I have nutritious and ‘easy’ food already prepped at home. It takes a lot of the pressure off me, physically and mentally.
It’s also led to price savings – prepping gluten-free products such as bread as opposed to buying specialised products which can be costly.
My first course in the Kitchen was the batch cookery. Then I did Food and Mood, then Taste of Summer. I took part in Emma’s gluten-free class using a concessionary ticket. I’ve now found the Food Partnership recipes online and I cook and share meals with my partner, and sometimes our friends too. I’m now also three weeks into volunteering at a charity shop, which has also helped with my anxiety around meeting and interacting with new people.
I learn from doing and appreciated the little tips and tricks learnt during classes. The best recipes for me were the kale and quinoa patties, the carrot and oat cheesy squares and the chilli.
I’d definitely recommend the Community Kitchen – and not just from the cooking perspective, but also the preparation and stress relief that comes with that.”
