CATERING FOR HEALTH
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
COOKING BY NUMBERS
RECIPE OF
THE MONTH:
"Cafe Mistura
Carrot and
Coriander
Soup
(serves 6-8)"
Ingredients:
 |
2 onions, chopped |
|
3lbs carrots - washed, peeled and chopped |
|
1 tablespoon coriander powder |
|
3 pints water |
|
2 oz butter or a little vegetable oil |
|
2 reduced salt vegetable stock cubes |
Method:
| 1. | Heat oil in a medium sized cooking pot and add in the chopped onion and carrot and coriander powder. |
| 2. | Saute for 5 minutes to bring out the flavour of the spice and soften the onions |
| 3. | Add water and stock cubes and cook for about 1 hour |
| 4. | Remove from heat and blend soup in a liquidizer or food processor |
| 5. | Sprinkle with fresh coriander leaves and serve with wholemeal bread |
HINT: If you do not have a blender, or simply enjoy your soup "chunky", grate the carrot instead of chopping it. Why not try adding some rice to the soup to make it more of a meal?
TRAINING
'Community Food and Nutrition Skills' Course
The ‘Nutrition Skills’ course is a modular course consisting of 8 units. Unit 1 is designed to give participants a basic understanding of the principles of food and nutrition and information on how to promote healthier eating through cooking skills and food related activities. It is run through the ‘get cooking’ project, which is part of West Lothian Council’s Health Improvement Team.
It consists of a core 6-session course that covers the key areas of diet and nutrition in humans, numeracy and literacy, introduction to working with groups, health and safety and food hygiene.
After completion of unit participants will be able to deliver ‘get cooking’ sessions in their own place of work and register with the ‘get cooking’ tutor network. The network offers opportunities to meet with other ‘get cooking’ tutors and find out about related projects. It also gives access to various resources, such as equipment, promotional materials and teaching aids.
Units 2- 8 offer a range of individual modules that can be accessed after completion of Unit 1. These are delivered over a period of one year and cover more specific training in nutritional age groups, other areas related to nutrition and health and further teaching and community development skills. The modules will run on a rotational basis over a period of 1 year and participants can complete them in any order.
The course is currently gathering evidence ready to submit to the SQA for accreditation. It is planned that each unit will be individually credited to allow flexibility and allow for participants to gain accredited hours for each unit completed.
A Certificate in Community Food and Nutrition Skills will be awarded upon completion of all 8 modules.
The Nutrition Skills course is free to anyone working or living in West Lothian. Unit 1 runs approx 3 times a year. There is no formal entry requirement, however those applying are expected to be able to complete written assignments and class work to the required standard. They should also have an active interest in healthy eating and possess basic cooking skills.
Health Promoting Business
Catering for Health
What is Healthier Catering?
Healthier catering involves introducing ‘healthier’ alternatives gradually onto the menu and making small changes to the existing items. These changes can be to improve the nutritional value of one or more of the menu items (e.g. reducing the energy, fat and salt content) and also modifications across the board involving minor changes to many aspects of food preparation, including the type of ingredients used, the cooking or preparation methods employed, the way in which food is served or the portion sizes provided.
By providing ‘healthier ‘options you will broaden the range and choice of foods offered to the customer.
Why should you consider healthier catering when planning a menu?
Eating out used to be done only on special occasions, now it is part of our everyday lives. People eat out at lunch, or have lunch provided at work through the staff canteen. We eat take-aways and fast food. Going out to the Chinese or Indian for a meal for some is a weekly occurrence. We now have the emergence of Gastro Pubs etc. The food eaten outside the home now makes a much larger contribution to our total nutritional intake.
It is therefore becoming more important that those people who do eat away from home a lot have the choice to eat healthier if they choose to do so. This will only be possible if healthier options are available in the first instance.
The course is run and delivered by West Lothian Councils Health Improvement Teams ‘get cooking’ project which is responsible for delivering cooking skills classes throughout West Lothian and for providing training and information sessions for staff and communities in healthy eating and nutrition.
The course is also supported by the healthy living award and covers the main catering criteria for the award. So if your business is currently going for the award or planning to apply, this course will be of benefit to staff members. Even if you are not applying for the award, making small changes to make the food you serve ‘healthier’ will help towards improving the health of people who live and work in West Lothian.
The course is free to businesses in West Lothian.
