Food glorious food and it’s all healthy at Macroom fest

MACROOM Community Leisure Centre had no bother drawing the crowds on Sunday thanks to the excellent talent and lovely cuisine served up at the ‘SECAD/Safefood Healthy Eating for All’ day.

South and East Cork Area Development (SECAD) had been working since August with all who were involved, and their preparation certainly paid off with Sunday’s successful staging. The day was launched by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed, who praised the initiative ‘for raising awareness of healthy eating.’

The quality-laden event included useful tips from dietician Anne Griffin, demonstrations by FoodCloud of simple, inexpensive dishes, and superb exhibitions of cookery skills from both local students and representatives of Macroom Active Retired.

The unique ‘Smooth Cycle’ developed by students of McEgan College proved exceptionally popular, with no shortage of people queueing up to hop on the bike and pedal the smoothie blender to full power – and the smoothies they made certainly weren’t short on taste!

There was a wealth of beautiful art work by Macroom primary school students on show to promote good health, and the consensus around the town was that Macroom’s future is bright with young talent already producing work of such a standard.

SECAD are available to anyone who wishes to access services. Contact (021) 461 3432, or info@secad.ie.

Éabha (7), Sadhbh (6) & Ciarán O’Leary with Mom & Dad, Canovee, at the SECAD Healthy Eating Healthy Lifestyle demonstration at the Macroom Food Festival which took place last weekend.

Daniel (1), Anna (2) with Mom & Dad Mairead & Eddie at the SECAD Healthy Eating Healthy Lifestyle demonstration at the Macroom Food Festival which took place last weekend. SECAD has been working since August with the active retired and students, and...

Fruit smoothie shots for the girls, Nora Kate O’Leary, Roísín O’Riordan & Jade Dineen, at the SECAD Healthy Eating Healthy Lifestyle demonstration

Macroom Senior Citizens, Claire Dineen & Maureen Foley, at the helm to create beef stew, appletart, vegtable soup & fruit scones as part of the food demos.

Lena (6) and sister Nicola (3) with Dad & Mom Mirek and Dominika Cabala, Macroom

Ronan (6) & sister Nora Duranton (3) with Dad Nick, Kilmichael,

Anna Murray (3) and Maggie McCarthy with Dad, Rory at the SECAD Healthy Eating Healthy Lifestyle demo at the Macroom Food Festival.

Eoin O’Connell with his five a day fruit

Emilia Twomey (7), Macroom, lets loose with her bananas

Aoife O’Connor, Clondrohid NS, proudly shows her 1st place drawing.