Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Recipe for happier life
Project to show how cooking can improve mental health
A NEW cooking project has been launched by a mental health charity for young people.
Feeling Strong’s new project, called Turn Up the Heat, helps people use cooking to promote self care and recovery.
The project, which will take place at Hilltown Community Centre, will run from 5pm-6pm with the day yet to be determined.
It is aimed at those aged 13-26 and will run i n blocks of six weeks per age group, with one group for those aged 13-18, one for 19-22 and another for those 23-26.
Chief executive Brook Marshall said: “We’re very excited to start this programme for the benefit of young people in Dundee. It’s very much a peer-led project.
“Cooking can be a very meaningful activity – we want to show how good nutrition, and the act of taking time to meet your own needs, can be hugely positive for your mental health.”
Those taking part will be starting off with something simple.
The first recipe will be a strawberry and lime ice-cream.
Over the weeks they will build up to more complex meals like curries and other meat dishes. All equipment will be provided. Brook added: “I think it will give them something to look forward to. It will give them a chance to meet new people and will just get people talking.
“Sadly the art of cooking and sharing recipes is dying out, but we believe that creating a community around cooking is a good step towards demonstrating the benefits this can have on your social life, too.”
The course will begin in midFebruary and anyone interested can sign up online at Feeling Strong’s website www. feelingstrong.co.uk.
The charity opened their new Feeling Strong Community Hub, on Albert Street in Stobswell at the beginning of the year.