JUST COOK Healthy Ageing Programme

The JUST COOK Healthy Ageing programme is aimed at a vulnerable and often-overlooked community: older people. The programme builds cooking skills, motivation and confidence to cook, increases nutrition knowledge and builds social connection. The four-session programme has proven hugely beneficial for older people who:

• Do not have practical cooking skills (perhaps because their partner always cooked)
• Have lost their motivation to cook through illness or the loss of a partner
• Need a boost of confidence to cook for themselves
• Are suffering health consequences as a result of not cooking or eating enough

The programme teaches participants to plan and cook simple, healthy meals for one or two people, plus shopping tips, label-reading and time-saving strategies. It incorporates social connection, with participants eating morning tea and lunch together.

The benefits:

• in older people, improved nutrition (and social connection) is associated with the prevention of malnutrition;
• reduced risk of chronic disease;
• improved mental wellbeing;
• reduced hospital admissions and
• higher rates of independent living.

Feedback from participants:

“This programme has been an awesome experience. I’ve learnt so much in improving my cooking – great meals that are so good for my health. I’m more alive and able to last the day without a nap in the afternoon. Praise for this cooking class.”

“The atmosphere of the teamwork, and the love of the instructors – patient, caring, friendly – has built up… I enjoy being there every time I come to class.”

” It’s reduced my sense that cooking is a complicated, hard to learn skill.”

“I had lost interest in cooking meals, and this has given me a boost.”

“I am surprised by how easy and quickly I can make a healthy meal. I am now enjoying thinking about my food and cooking healthier food.”

“It motivated me to cook for one and not throw out food like I did. I’m more conscious of eating healthier, plus I met some lovely people.”