Healthy eating guide unveiled

A guide aimed at promoting healthy eating among disadvantaged communities has been unveiled in Dublin today.

The guide, developed by the all-Ireland Healthy Food for All (HFfA) organisation, provides practical advice to people interested in establishing community food projects to improve the consumption of healthy food.

HFfA chairwoman Marjo Moonen said eating healthy food should not be the preserve of the well-off and that community food initiatives play a large role in tackling food poverty.

With approximately 15 per cent of the Irish population experiencing some type of food deprivation - with the figure rising to 35 per cent for those on low incomes - Ms Moonen said the guide can help change what people eat and the decisions they make about food.

She said: “Food poverty is a growing problem, and we believe it will only be solved through a combination of Government policy changes and bottom-up approaches to food provision and consumption.”

A good practice guide for community food initiatives includes practical advice on how groups can growing their own fruit and vegetables, establish co-ops and markets and train to prepare healthy family meals on a low budget.

The booklet, which is also available online, contains case studies of community food initiatives operating successfully, such as the Knocknaheeny Community Café in Cork; Southill Food Co-op in Limerick; the Community Food Garden in Rossinver, Co Leitrim; the "Get Ahead" Community Breakfast Club and the Dolphin House Homework Club in Rialto, Dublin; ‘Supermarket Tours’ in Galway; and a nutrition education and training programme in Kildare.

Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey said improving the consumption of healthy food among low-income groups will “bring social and health benefits”.

He encouraged those working with vulnerable groups to use the guide and incorporate community food initiatives into their activities.

Today's launch took place at St Andrew’s resource centre in Pearse Street, Dublin, a venue that hosts a natural food market every Saturday.