COOKING HEALTHILY & ECONOMICALLY WITH THE FOREST BUS

As part of the burgeoning Forest Bus Health project, we at the bus have been very busy of late partaking in the delivery of amongst other things a very special cooking project, originally derived from a healthy schools initiative and specially adapted to suit the people that we at the Bus currently work with. The course originally intended to last six weeks has been extended to eight weeks plus to cater for our very special client group.
It is currently delivered from a church hall in Calshot a community centre in Thorney hill and on one of our specially converted Lorries at a caravan site in Marchwood. On our lorry we can only work with four persons at a time because of space restrictions. The group is typically four young persons with at least two parent carers present in one sitting. Twenty six people are currently signed up to take part. But at the community hall and the church hall we currently deliver to up to twelve young persons and adult, parent carers at a time.

What happens?
Apart from learning how to prepare and cook foods our young persons and their parent carers gain an understanding of food and hygiene. Thus before each session begins, they remove any jewellery and tie back hair where necessary. Then they wash their hands using recognized techniques, drying them properly and putting on blue catering plasters where necessary too. Then they put on aprons and hats or hair nets.
Throughout they are constantly informed about safety issues such as sensible dressing, knife handling, cross contamination, washing vegetables, handling of boiling waters the use of electrical goods and more besides. Our first waves of cookers are on week three and are doing fantastically.
Also throughout the course they are quizzed on all sorts of food topics and games such as the seasonal availability of vegetables and the best time to buy, whilst making sure that they understand the meaning of 5a-day. Menus are certified healthy are gradual and graded, beginning at first with simple fruit dishes leading on to more complicated sauces, dressings to baking low fat recipes. There is much much more to the course, so look out for up to date Forest Bus bulletins.
Until then Happy Eating!