A group of mothers from Kirkby, an area in the North West of England with high obesity rates, has teamed up with nutrition students and local medical professionals to create a cookbook aimed at promoting healthier eating habits.
The initiative, developed in collaboration with Liverpool John Moores University nutrition students and Millbrook Medical Centre, seeks to address the area’s growing health concerns. Recent NHS statistics revealed that Knowsley, which includes Kirkby, has the highest proportion of obese and overweight children aged 10 and 11 in England. Additionally, 75% of adults in the region are classified as overweight or obese.
The Kirkby Kitchen Cookbook offers a practical, accessible way for local families to incorporate healthier meals into their daily routines. The cookbook features 26 recipes that can be prepared using an air fryer or slow cooker, providing time-saving options for busy parents.
Kelly, a mother-of-two with a 10-year-old son and a seven-month-old baby, explained how the cookbook offers a practical solution to creating healthy meals. “It’s not always easy or cheap to make healthy meals, especially with fussy eaters,” she said. “But now, I can put meals in the slow cooker, and they love it.”
She highlighted the challenges many parents face in Kirkby, where cost and convenience often lead to unhealthy eating choices. “It’s tempting to pick up frozen chips or something quick when you’re on the go. A lot of mums can’t afford certain meals, and we end up feeding our kids first and neglecting ourselves,” Kelly added.
Amy Gladhill, a 21-year-old nutrition student, noted that the cookbook is designed to fit seamlessly into the busy lives of parents, offering healthier versions of meals they already know. “It’s about giving a healthier twist to what they’re already doing, not asking them to completely change their eating habits,” she said.
The Kirkby Kitchen Cookbook is available online and aims to be a resource for families looking to make healthier food choices without the stress of complicated cooking techniques or high costs.
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