New Zealand Nutrition Foundation

Local food producers and caterers with student input could integrate lunch preparation with classroom teaching and learning-benefits students and local business as part of the Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunch programme

Food for thought: how NZ’s school lunch programme can add learning and local economies to the menu The government is reducing the scope and scale of the free school lunch programme. But evidence suggests expanding it would be good for children, communities and local businesses.

A simple, delicious chickpea patties recipe to create your own burger. You could replace the chickpeas with black beans, lentils or white beans.

Mothers came together to upskill and cook new recipes at our Just Cook Tika Tunu programme. They formed new friendships and enjoyed learning together.

NZ Nutrition Foundation facilitator, Lenora Winiata completed another successful Just Cook Tika Tunu for Whanau Wānanga in Rotorua. This 2-day weekend programme was modified to cater for whanau. Whanau who attended the programme thoroughly enjoyed learning and cooking together. They learnt to cook low cost, nutritious food and how to use cheaper plant-based protein in kai.

Comments from some of our participants:
“I love the programme. Thank you for your knowledge and skills in the kitchen. It has helped me to understand sugar, fat and salt content”.
“My fridge is packed now with healthy alternatives”.

Thank you, Rotorua Trust and Geyser Community Foundation for supporting this programme in your community.

Stuck with foods for lunch?

Try to boost your protein intake with the addition of canned fish such as sardines, salmon or tuna or add grated cheese to soups, mini pizzas or macaroni cheese

Recently, parents and grandparents at Tamaki Footsteps Christian Community Preschool completed a Just Cook Tika Tunu programme to learn recipes for the children's lunchboxes. In this 3rd session, they were introduced to a new recipe and had a hands-on experience cooking tofu and lentil choy suey. They also delved into reading and understanding food labels.

Thank you to Tui Flower Foundation (managed by Perpetual Guardian) for supporting this programme.

Protein foods
Important at each meal to keep muscles strong, repair injuries and wounds and support our immune system to fight infections.

For Breakfast
Try topping toast with eggs, cheese, sardines, baked beans or peanut butter

Include a milky drink or yogurt: for cost saving try milk powder- 1 part powder to 4 parts water and mix well

NZ Nutrition Foundation facilitator, Maria Bernard is currently delivering a Just Cook programme with parents and grandparents at Tamariki Footsteps Christian Community Preschool in Otara. Together they explored fresh recipe ideas for the children's lunch boxes. Some of their creations so far include vegetable quiches and chilli bean pizza.

Thank you to Tui Flower Foundation (managed by Perpetual Guardian) for supporting this programme.

NZ Nutrition Foundation has completed another successful Just Cook Healthy Ageing programme facilitated by Jo Tahuri at Virtual Eastern Bay Villages / Te Kokoru Manaakitanga in Whakatane. The 11 participants who attended the 4-session programme reported improvement in understanding of food for healthy ageing, cooking skill and newfound motivation and confidence to cook for themselves. Our participants thoroughly enjoyed the programme, with participants encouraged to extend invitations to others to come along and share a meal together.

Thank you to COGS Mātaatua for supporting this programme.

Photos from the last session of a Just Cook Healthy Ageing programme recently completed in Mangere where participants cooked vegetarian curry using tofu and lentils. A huge congratulations to our participants for completing the programme!
Thank you to Louisa and Patrick Emmett Murphy Foundation (managed by Public Trust) for supporting this programme.

The Just Cook Healthy Ageing programme in action with a church group in Mangere. Participants enjoyed cooking and eating together. In this session, they cooked vegetarian chilli con carne (packed with vegetables, lentils, and beans) and chilli bean pizza.

Thank you to Louisa and Patrick Emmett Murphy Foundation (managed by Public Trust) for supporting this programme.

Pulses are affordable, packed with nutrients, are highly versatile and helps extend meals.

Check out our Just Cook Recipe Cook for these snack or meal recipe ideas packed with vegetables.
https://nutritionfoundation.org.nz/our-programmes/just-cook-recipe-book-and-recipe-videos/healthy-bites/

Some good tips to encourage children eat more vegetables.

Our collaboration with the Auckland City Mission

Learning how to cook with 'what you've got', from food parcels - to Christmas A 501 deportee talks about coming together in the festive season with his social housing neighbours.

Thank you, Rotorua Pacific Islands Development Charitable Trust for having us. We are delighted that you enjoyed the programme.

12 Days of Just Cook Christmas
Participants from our Just Cook programmes want you to know the twelve best things about attending a Just Cook programme this year.

A huge shout out to all Just Cook supporters for making this opportunity available in vulnerable communities. The need is huge.

Click the link below to become a Just Cook supporter.
https://nutritionfoundation.org.nz/donate/

It's great to be back at the Auckland City Mission!

It's Diabetes Action Month.

This year's theme is Eyes on Diabetes - to raise awareness of the complications caused by diabetes, with a special focus on eye health. Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in Aotearoa.

Visit www.diabetesactionmonth.org.nz to stay up to date with news, events and information.

Home | Diabetes Action Month | Diabetes NZ Diabetes Action Month is an awareness campaign by Diabetes NZ, bringing New Zealanders together to take action for NZ's largest and fastest growing health condition. During Diabetes Action Month, you can support New Zealanders living with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, pre d...

NZ Nutrition Foundation is extending its' Just Cook Healthy Ageing programme to the Pasifika community in Rotorua. Our fantastic facilitator, Lenora is passionate about showing people healthier, cheaper ways to cook traditional kai.

The Just Cook Healthy Ageing (JCHA) programme extends its reach into the Waikato.

Another successful JCHA programme has been completed in Hamilton. Huge thanks to our highly trained facilitator Leanne Young who went over and beyond to build confidence, motivation and skills amongst the diverse group of programme participants. At the end of the 4 sessions participants reported they were ‘using difference proteins like beans and lentils to extend meals’, ‘drinking more fluids’ and ‘considering the healthy plate model when planning meals’. A few participants also noted ‘reading food labels’ and ‘eating more regularly’.
Participants loved the opportunity to share ideas, learn new cooking tips and learning to eating well.

A variation on a traditional Pasifika recipe. Sapasui made from marinated chicken and extended with loads of frozen vegetables. This recipe costing $3.29 per serve, was made by participants attending the South Auckland Pacific Tika Tunu programme. Cheaper and healthier than a takeaway!

Serves 6
Ingredients:
500g chicken breast, diced into pieces
3 Tbsp soy sauce, low salt
2 Tbsp oil
1 onion finely chopped
1 whole clove of garlic, finely chopped
1 ½ Tbsp chopped ginger
Half fresh chilli, finely chopped
1kg frozen mixed vegetables
250g vermicelli noodles
¾ cup chopped fresh coriander

Method:
1) Marinate chicken in soy sauce for 3-7 hours
2) Heat oil in a large pot, add onions and cook until soft
3) Add garlic, ginger and chillies and cook 1-2 minutes.
4) Add marinated chicken and cook until meat is cooked through.
5) Add frozen mixed vegetables and cook until vegetables are heated through.
6) Add hot water to vermicelli noodles and wait for a short time until they soften then use scissors to cut into shorter lengths.
7) Add noodles to the dish. Add soy sauce to give colour to the noodles.
8) Stir through and add fresh coriander to serve.

The Tika Tunu cooking programme is now in progress in South Auckland to support Pacific families to cook their traditional recipes with a healthy twist. People are shown new ways to include vegetables in their favourite dishes and healthier cooking methods to improve the nutritional profile of the food. The programme is hands-on, fun and free.

Next week is ! (28th Aug - 3rd Sept)

The Vegetarian Chilli, Cottage Pie and Chilli Con Carne recipes from our Just Cook Recipe Book are such easy, delicious ways to help with your iron intake.

Vegetarian Chilli recipe: https://nutritionfoundation.org.nz/our-programmes/just-cook-recipe-book-and-recipe-videos/vegetarian-meals/
Cottage Pie, Chilli Con Carne recipes: https://nutritionfoundation.org.nz/our-programmes/just-cook-recipe-book-and-recipe-videos/red-meat-meals/

We have now completed our very first 2 Just Cook Healthy Ageing programmes at Ascot Care Home, Invercargill.
Post programme evaluation show encouraging outcomes. On average, half the participants reported eating more vegetables and reading food labels, 1/3 are cooking more and using other protein like lentils & bean to extend their meals.

A quick and easy soup recipe from our Just Cook Recipe Book.
You can substitute the mixed beans with other beans - chilli beans, red kidney beans.
To check out more of the Just Cook recipes: https://nutritionfoundation.org.nz/just-cook-recipe-book/

We have now completed the 6-session programme at Auckland City Mission. The focus of the programme was to teach about cooking healthy kai, as well as showcasing ways to save money. People cooked and ate together.

Some of the comments from participants when asked about the new knowledge, skills or other learnings they have noticed from these sessions:

“How to use food parcel ingredients to make nutritious meals”

“How to cook beans & legumes (lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans, etc)- and make them really tasty.”

Just Cook Tika Tunu at Auckland City Mission - NZ Nutrition Foundation Following a partnership with the new residents at the Auckland City Mission’s HomeGround apartments, the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation approached the Child Poverty Action Group...

The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation has completed its sixth and final programme at the Hugh Green facility in Albany, Auckland. Comments from the latest programme on what parts of the programme participants found most valuable:

‘Sharing – cooking in pairs’.

‘Lots of fun – great recipes’

‘All parts were very valuable – reading the menus and following the instructions and experiencing how things should be done. Also ensuring all ingredients are in place (preparation) before commencing cooking.’

Bupa Just Cook Healthy Ageing Update - NZ Nutrition Foundation The New Zealand Nutrition Foundation has completed its sixth and final programme at the Hugh Green facility in Albany, Auckland. All the participants enjoyed these...