FAMILY COMMUNITY KITCHEN PROJECT {ANTIGONISH FOOD SECURITY COALITION}

Lindsay McIntosh & Alexandra Yule

What is the community kitchen?

The Antigonish Family Community Kitchen aims to increase food security in Antigonish County through community partnerships, leadership development, and community education.

Community Food Security is…

“A situation in which all community residents obtain a safe, culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable food system that maximizes self-reliance and social justice.”(Hamm and Bellows, 2003)

Antigonish Food Security Coalition Goals:

1. Participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of programs and projects to build community food security.

2. Collaborate with organizations that have existing programs to provide support and work together as appropriate.

3. Identify specific populations where programs/projects are needed and would be feasible.

4. Through coalition members, stay up to date on provincial, national and international food security initiatives, and determine their feasibility in a local context.

5. Increase awareness, engagement and commitment to build food security in the local area.

What is the community kitchen? Where? Antigonish Public Library (People’s Place) in the Community

Kitchen. When? The last Wednesday of every month. Who? Karen Mackinnon the public heath nutritionist, Kid’s First

Resource centre, local mothers, and their children . What? Mothers work together to prepare a healthful meal and an

educational nutrition discussion is also facilitated by the public health nutritionist.

Purpose. The purpose of the community kitchen is… Develop cooking skills Learn and discuss nutrition Receive social support Share a healthful meal Socialize with other members of the community

Our Project. Design a healthful and budget conscious

meal (appetizer, entrée, and dessert) Construct a detailed grocery list Plan and present a nutrition discussion

related to the Nutrition Month theme: “getting the real deal on your meal”

Design a handout for the mothers to take home

Work with the mothers to prepare the meal

On the Menu. Appetizer: Tzatziki with homemade

(baked) pita chips and vegetable sticks Entrée: Chicken and broccoli curry over

brown rice Dessert: Fruit pizza with whole wheat

cookie crust

Nutrition Discussion. Nutrition Month Theme: “Getting the

Real Deal on Your Meal” Wanted to address common nutrition

myths: used a true or false game to initiate the discussion.

Challenges. Lack of space Time Constraint Complex Nutrition Questions (eg. Human

metabolism of various sugars)

Lessons Learned. Importance of the target audience when

planning an educational presentation Understanding your “setting” Keep your message simple Goals of health promotion

Outcomes. Gives new mothers capacity, self

efficacy, and social support Participants gain new skills, knowledge,

and recipes Aims to improve health of the entire

family (upstream approach)

Overall Experience.

Questions?

References. Food Security. GASHA Health Connections. Retrieved 04 02, 2012

from http://gashahealthconnections.ca/food-security.htm

Reynold, R., Tarasuk, V. A Qualitative Study of Community Kitchens: as a response to income related food insecurity. Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research. 1999, 60:1.