It's ready, steady, cook for kids taking part in a new after-school club aimed at promoting healthy eating.
The ‘Cook And Eat’ club at Stirley Community Farm, which launched this month, is causing quite a stir among aspiring young chefs.
Children aged five to 11 donned their aprons and grabbed their wooden spoons to cook up nutritious and delicious dishes made from the farm’s own vegetable garden ingredients.
It is hoped the youngsters will remember what they learned and develop enough confidence to recreate healthy meals at home.
“Recent Government statistics suggest as many as 28 per cent of children aged between two and 15 are considered overweight, which can have many implications for their health and self-esteem,” said Joanna Richards, of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, which helped save the farm from dereliction.
“Healthy eating is a great way to combat this and the after-school club provides a fun learning experience for kids and parents alike, sharing recipes that are created from freshly picked nutritious ingredients,” she added.
Stirley Community Farm neighbours the villages of Berry Brow and Newsome.
Funding from Local Food, a £59.8 million programme supported by the Big Lottery Fund, enabled the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to establish food-growing training gardens there.
It has also helped volunteers set up and run a number of events, including the after-school club, to encourage people to grow and cook food locally.
‘Cook And Eat’ costs just £3 per child per session, including all ingredients.
The next two clubs run from 3.30 to 4.45pm tomorrow, and Thursday, February 20.
All children must be accompanied by an adult and sessions can be booked on (01904) 659570.
