The Food & Health Programme is aimed at supporting people who are interested in healthier eating.  The course includes a lot of practical cookery as well as sensible suggestions and ideas, particularly where cost is a consideration. The main goal is to help improve people’s access to good quality information that can be put into practice in everyday life. This is a community peer-led program, whereby local women have been trained as Food and Health instructors.  The Food and Health instructors come from all across the Midlands.

The project is a joint initiative between the Mountmellick Development Association (MDA), Westmeath Community Development Ltd (WCD) and the Health Service Executive, Dublin Mid Leinster.  

Since the inception of the project in 1999: 
• Two Local Co-ordinators has been employed.
• 35 Peer Led Instructors have been trained.
• 400 adult courses have been delivered.
• 12 Cool Dude courses have been delivered. 

4 courses are available depending on the needs of the group:

Healthy Food Made Easy
This course comprises both theory and cookery elements. The Instructor takes the group through the food pyramid chart and discusses balance in their diet, fats, fibre, shopping tips etc. A community Dietitian visits the groups as the course progresses. 
 

Cooking for Health
This is a simpler version of the HFME and is delivered to people with low literacy skills and people with intellectual and learning disabilities.
 

Cool Dude
This program is aimed at young people and is both practical and fun. A physical activity module is attached to this programme. 

Community Heart Health
The Community Heart Health project is designed for groups who have already completed a Food and Health course and focuses on nutrition, stress and physical activity.

If your group is interested in a Food and Health course in Laois/Offaly or Kildare, please contact:
Barbara Lalor
Food and Health Project
Mountmellick Development Association, Mountmellick
Co. Laois.
057 8644989 or 057 8624525
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If your group is interested in a Food and Health course in counties Longford or Westmeath, please contact:
Karen Scarnicchio
The Food and Health Project
Ball Alley Lane
Athlone
Co. Westmeath
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