Recipes to turn Foodbank parcels into tasty, healthy meals that will go that little bit further will be offered to those using the service across Bath and North East Somerset.
Nutrition experts from Sirona care & health’s Healthy Lifestyles Service have teamed up with volunteers from Bath Foodbank to come up with a range of dishes using ingredients commonly included in the parcels they give out.
Recipes include fish pie, corned beef hash, chickpea and potato curry and mushroom risotto as well as some sweet treats like fruity cornflake crunch.
Foodbanks provide three days’ emergency food supply to people in crisis who are referred to them by care professionals such as doctors, health visitors and social workers.
Non-perishable food is donated by individuals, schools, businesses, churches and other organisations and the Trussell Trust now has more than 400 Foodbanks across the UK run by volunteers, including in Bath, Keynsham and Peasedown St John.
Alison Preston, Sirona’s food and health co-ordinator based in Bath, said: “The recipes have been produced to give recipients of Foodbank parcels some quick and healthy ideas of what they could do with the items they have been given, creating balanced, low-cost meals with just a few basic ingredients.
“They also give ideas to make meals go a bit further.
“The amount of equipment needed to make the recipes is minimal, some recipes are one-pot dishes and most need minimal cooking so fuel costs will also be low.”
Recipe cards will be on display at Bath and North East Somerset’s Foodbanks and people will be able to choose any they like to take home.
Alison added: “The main components for the dishes are ones commonly included in Foodbank parcels.
“Foodbank parcels only include dried or tinned produce, or items that do not require refrigeration, such as long-life milk and juice, or items that will not perish in an ambient environment.
“So some recipes may require additional store cupboard ingredients, which are clearly stated on each recipe and many are optional ingredients.”
Jillian Tempo, Chair of Bath Foodbank, said: “It’s great to be able to give out these recipe cards with our food parcels.
“Although food parcels are a short-term help in a crisis, this is a way in which we can offer more lasting assistance. We’re very grateful to Alison and Sirona.”
To see the recipes created by Sirona and the Bath Foodbank team, go to http://bath.foodbank.org.uk/.
