Just Cook Tika Tunu and Just Cook Healthy Ageing are specially designed, practical, and hands-on programmes designed with a balance of cooking and information to empower any age group from youth right through to older adults to confidently plan and prepare healthy meals for themselves and their whanau. These popular programmes have been being delivered at no cost to participants by trained facilitators for over 12 years now, and usually consist of approximately half a day a week over a period of four-weeks (note this is modifiable to meet group needs).
It is acknowledged that different ages, backgrounds and ethnicities have different preferences and needs, for example, a separate Healthy Aging course has been designed to support building (or re-capturing) essential cooking skills, learning about nutrition needs for different wellbeing challenges, and providing motivation for the older person who may find things quite different as their circumstances and health needs change with time.
Programme Descriptions
The Just Cook Tika Tunu and Just Cook Healthy Ageing Programmes run as three-four hour, friendly and social classes each week for four weeks. Participants learn to:
Plan and cook simple, healthy meals
Read and understand food labels
Shop on a budget using smart shopping tips
Apply time-saving strategies to make cooking easier
Build confidence in basic cooking skills and food safety
Enjoy nutritious kai together, with morning tea and lunch provide
Sessions are delivered in a supportive, whānau-like environment, in a venue convenient to the group with suitable facilities. The intention is to also encourage participation and build confidence and social connection.
Need for the Programmes
Cooking for an individual, or a family can be a challenge at the best of times. It's recognised that cooking at home generally provides healthier food at a better cost, super important as the cost of living continues to go up. There is conflicting and misinformation everywhere, and the old methods of passing cooking skills on from generation to generation, or through getting the basics at school, aren't always in place. Just Cook Tika Tunu addresses this need by providing accessible, community-based education that strengthens independence, supports cultural wellbeing, and promotes healthier choices.
For the older adult there are even more challenges, whether living alone or with a partner or having a change in circumstances, a lack of practical cooking skills or loss of motivation or confidence, at a time when nutrition is especially important for aging well, is of serious concern. Even the question of what is a healthy meal changes over time and make decision making and getting into the kitchen difficult. This can lead to reliance on highly processed or convenience foods, poor nutrition, and increased risk of long-term conditions including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Just Cook Healthy Aging provides just the right information and hands on cooking skills and helpful tips to groups of older people and their supporters.
Both Programmes Aim for:
Improved cooking confidence and practical food preparation skills
Increased understanding of healthy food choices and nutrition
Greater ability to shop cost-effectively using label reading and budgeting skills
Increased motivation to prepare meals at home
Enhanced social connection and community support
Positive contributions to long-term health and diabetes prevention
For more information about receiving the course for your group, or providing funding to deliver a course in your area please contact Trish by emailing trish.harry@diabetesfoundationaotearoa.nz or phoning 09 273 9650.
Tips on healthy eating for the older person here.
Tips on healthy eating for adults here
Tips for healthy eating for rangatahi young people here
Tips for healthy eating for pregnancy and breastfeeding here
