Foodbank's new nom! nutrition and education programs are helping WA households facing food insecurity.
Over 388,000 Western Australian households have faced food insecurity in the last 12 months, according to Foodbank Australia’s recent Food Hunger Report.
“The cost-of-living crisis has seen demand for our services soar,” Foodbank WA’s CEO Kate O'Hara said.
In the last quarter, Foodbank experienced a 28 per cent increase in households accessing its services compared to this time last year. Over the year, the need has increased 59 per cent.
“While we can’t stop the rising costs of living, we can empower people to plan and cook easy, nutritious meals on a budget," Ms O'Hara said.
“With nom!, we’re doing just that.”
nom! is Foodbank's answer to providing Western Australians with the skills and knowledge needed to improve their confidence to support health eating and keep meals healthy, fresh and affordable.
Developed with a team of nutritionists and dietitians, nom! is more than cooking classes. The nutrition education and cooking programs improve food literacy, strengthen social connections and build confidence among those who need it the most.
“We recognise it can be difficult for some people who are not used to food budgeting, have limited cooking experience, limited knowledge or are time-poor to ensure they can provide healthy meals for their themselves and families. Our programs give them the skills to make healthy food choices with a range of nutritious, easy and tasty recipes," Ms O'Hara said.
During a nom! session, people learn through hands-on activities guided by expert nutritionists to create easy, tasty recipes on a budget and can enjoy the meal they cook together.
"We believe that making a great meal isn’t limited to Michelin Star chefs, nor should it be. Everybody has the potential to make creative, healthy and delicious meals when empowered with the right knowledge,” Ms O’Hara said.
“In addition to supporting healthier behaviours, people also increase their socialisation and connectedness when meeting new people, cooking and sharing a meal with others and joining new social networks."
nom! is a fee-for-service model, ensuring Foodbank’s nutrition education programs can continue reaching those who need them most.
“With a paid service model which supports our essential work no longer limited by funding, we can deliver our programs right in the heart of the communities that need it,” Ms O’Hara said.
Foodbank has been bringing nutrition education and cooking to Western Australians for 16 years.
“Our programs are evidence-based and equip participants with the tools and know-how to make informed, healthy eating choices. With our new paid service model, we can continue to confidently deliver this service for years to come,” Ms O’Hara said.
"Foodbank’s nutrition education and cooking programs have already benefitted so many people in the community. People attending a program can make meaningful change to improve their long-term health outcomes.”
Foodbank now also offers nutrition programs tailored to corporate wellbeing programs.
