New recipe cards created by Ballarat Regional Industries are helping people with disabilities to cook nutritious meals at home.
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The not-for-profit organisation that provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities worked with Ballarat Community Health and Phoenix College students to create the Meals Made Easy recipe cards that were launched on Tuesday.
The creation of the recipe cards follows the success of the Ballarat Regional Industries weekly cooking program.
Cooking program manager Barbara Hiley said participants had enjoyed the program, but many were not translating their skills to cooking at home.
“We wanted to help them use the recipes once they got home,” she said.
If they have the skills and confidence to cook a healthy meal they will do it rather than telling them you should be eating this because it is healthy.
- Barbara Hiley, Ballarat Regional Industries
The Meals Made Easy recipe cards are designed to make cooking accessible for people of all skill levels and abilities. Pictures on the cards show ingredients and utensils needed for each healthy recipe.
“A lot of the participants we have seen are now using the recipes at home,” Ms Hiley said.
“They are enjoying the process of being able to cook for themselves and share food with their family and friends. That has helped them in terms of their nutrition and their self esteem.
“We’re focussed on giving people skills and confidence knowing if they have the skills and confidence to cook a healthy meal they will do it rather than telling them you should be eating this because it is healthy.”
School students from Phoenix College took the photos featured on the recipe cards. Men’s Shed volunteers made the wooden stands to hold the cards.
Meanwhile, work is underway for the Central Highlands Regional Partnership Prevention Lab to improve the health of the region.
One in four adults are obese in the Central Highlands, one in three adults are overweight and one in 10 adults are getting enough nutrition from their diet.
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