RECIPES THAT GIVE

Canadian chefs show us how to be charitable in the kitchen

With the holidays fast approaching, many thoughts turn to giving back to the community.

This year, Food Banks Canada and Egg Farmers of Canada are once again teaming up to give Canadians what they need to make a difference in their community: time.

The organizations have partnered with celebrity chefs from across the country to create recipes that not only give Canadians a bit of a break in the baking department, but help support those in need, to by bringing awareness of such issues as hunger.

And times are getting tougher: single-person households now account for nearly half of all food bank users and their rate of use has hit a record high according to HungerCount 2019, an annual report released by Food Banks Canada that analyzes data from 4,934 food banks across the country.

Single people living with disabilities and single seniors are of particular concern as they grapple with trying to live on social assistance rates that have fallen far behind inflation.

Seniors 65 and older have been the fastest rising age group accessing food banks — and children represent 34.1% of total food banks.

Bringing awareness is key, particularly when well-known celebrity chefs roll up their collective sleeves and offer great recipes that not only give back time to Canadians to spend with family and friends, but support those in need, too by encouraging donations in food, funds and time to your local food banks, and sharing #RecipesThatGive on social media.

Here’s a selection of recipes from Chef Lynn Crawford (Toronto), Chef Dale MacKay (Saskatoon) and Chef Craig Flinn (Halifax)— you can make them, and then create a jar with dry ingredients to give as gifts — just attach the recipe to each jar! And consider those less fortunate this holiday season: #RecipesThatGive