18/1/22

Cardiff Council's Money Advice team, in partnership with Food Cardiff, is once again on the look out for another 50 households to take part in a fun, healthy cooking challenge.

The challenge will begin in early February and follows two successful healthy cooking projects run last year. Challengers will be tasked with creating a week's supply of delicious family meals by following the easy-to-follow, budget-friendly recipes developed by the Cardiff and Vale UHB Nutrition and Dietetics team.

The fifty households taking part in the challenge, supported by Welsh Government's Tackling Food Poverty and Addressing Food Insecurity Fund, will once again be provided with everything they need - including ingredients, basic equipment and step by step instructions - to produce five healthy dishes that can be enjoyed by all the family.

Food Cardiff is the city's local food partnership that recognised the huge impact food has on life in Cardiff — not just on people's health, but on communities and businesses,  and the environment too. The movement champions food that is good for people, good for the place we live, and good for our planet as well as being affordable and tasty. 

Households interested in taking part in the challenge can find out more and apply by emailing advicehub@cardiff.gov.uk or calling 029 2087 1071.

Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne, said: "The New Year is often a time when people think about being more healthy so it's the perfect opportunity for us to launch another healthy cooking challenge.

"We've had really positive feedback from previous challenges - households really love taking part - from the excitement of receiving their goods and equipment, to enjoying making a meal together and of course, the proof of the pudding, eating their tasty dishes.

"If that sounds like something your family or household would like to be involved with, then get in touch and find out more."

The Harnu family, who took on the challenge before Christmas, said: "Thank you, Cardiff Council for the initiative. We had lots of fun cooking in the family."

Another challenger, Natalie, said: "Thank you for letting us take part in the healthy eating challenge. My daughter & I enjoyed cooking together following the recipes provided. All the ingredients and utensils were much appreciated and came in handy."

Pearl Costello, Food Cardiff's Sustainable Food Places co-ordinator added: "Food Cardiff is delighted to be part of such a great healthy eating initiative, encouraging households across the city to cook a range of delicious, healthy and sustainable dishes. 

"Food Cardiff believes that good food creates strong, healthy, resilient communities - and an initiative such as this really demonstrates this in practice.  The people taking part in this competition will learn new cooking skills, will learn how to prepare healthy, nutritional and cost-effective meals - as well as having lots of fun along with way. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the 50 household rise to the challenge and can't wait to see the meals that they've created."

Once the 50 households are signed up to the challenge and their food deliveries have arrived, families will have until February 24 to send photos of their culinary masterpieces to advicehub@cardiff.gov.uk The winner will be chosen based on presentation and how tasty the meals look.

Cardiff's Money Advice team provides help and advice to residents with money worries. The team are experts in providing assistance on budgeting, income maximisation, benefits, grants and discounts, debt advice and more.

Find out more about the Cardiff Money Advice Team by visiting www.cardiffmoneyadvice.co.uk or call 029 2087 1071, email advicehub@cardiff.gov.uk