By Heather Code-Burrell:

The Orillia Community Kitchen Resource Group in partnership with the following local organizations: Simcoe Community Services (Young Adult Connections), Soldier’s Memorial Hospital (The Key Program), Couchiching Jubilee House (Family Kitchen), Green Haven Community Kitchen, and Orillia Children’s Aid Society Parent Group, have created a unique opportunity for individuals to learn about healthy eating.

Jane Forest and Heather Code-Burrell of the Orillia Community Kitchen Resource Group have created lesson plans developed to help individuals to better understand the benefits and pleasures of eating healthy and to provide hands on opportunities for them to prepare and share healthy meals. With funding provided by the Community Wellness Program of Casino Rama the group has been able to deliver these workshops and they have been met with great enthusiasm. Six workshops have been delivered since February of 2010. One group even sponsored the Orillia Community Kitchen Resource Group to come back for a repeat performance.

Each session offers the opportunity for individuals to learn the basics of cooking a healthy meal. The session begins with an informative component and outlines the day’s menu designed to follow Canada’s Food Guide. Participants then form three or four working groups, each responsible for cooking their designated recipe, as well as cleaning their respective work stations. Other components covered include safe food handling, practical food preparation skills, equipment use and budgeting ideas tailored to the client group.

The participants are then treated to a healthy meal that has been cooked entirely by the group. They sit and have their meal around the “dinner table”, enjoy discussions on the day’s lesson, and further camaraderie during cleanup.

Through the efforts of the Orillia Community Kitchen Resource Group, with funding provided by the Community Wellness Program, these participants learn the importance of healthy eating and acquire the tools to prepare their own meals with the benefit of working with their peers.
The Orillia Community Kitchen Resource Group is a local team working under the guidance and facilitation of several local individuals and agencies with an interest in providing healthy eating and food related information to community and area members.

Since 2007, direction and support has been provided through agency representatives of the United Way, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, The Sharing Place Food Bank, the Common Roof Orillia Project, the Orillia Youth Centre, St. Vincent de Paul Society, as well as the above mentioned agencies and includes the efforts and expertise of individuals Civi Jacobsen, Robert Sparkes, Heather Code-Burrell and Jane Forest.

The Orillia Community Kitchen Resource Group members would like to extend its reach further into the community and welcome input and involvement by other individuals and organizations with an interest in distributing and facilitating information and education surrounding food and healthy lifestyle.
To get involved or for more information please contact; United Way of Greater Simcoe County.
E-mail: ap@unitedwaysimcoecounty.on.ca   Website:   www.unitedwaysimcoecounty.on.ca