Community Kitchen group members Andrea Maurici with Isabella, Naomi Taylor with Mark and Alexandra Barton-Johnson with McEwan. 30221
By Monique Ebrington
THERE are no buns in the oven at the Yarra Junction Mums with Bubs community kitchen, just plenty of healthy and delicious food.
Run by Yarra Valley Community Health, the group of six women attended a two-hour class every Wednesday for four months with their babies.
Group member Naomi Taylor said the community kitchen was great in providing her with new cooking skills, social interaction, parenting information and a meal to take home for the family.
“It’s just been great. It’s a social morning, you have the afternoon to yourself while the baby is sleeping and in the evening all you have to do is heat up the meal that gives you extra time to talk with your partner,” she.
The mothers aim to make meals that are both practical and nutritional like first birthday party food, pureed veggies and fruit, vegetarian lasagne, curries, pasties and food that can be given away as gifts.
The meals cost group members around $2.50 per head.
Yarra Valley Community Health Dietician and Mums with Bubs convener Stacey Counsel said that she was excited about starting a new group of mothers after the success of the first group and feedback they provided.
“Our goal was to get mothers together cooking. It has gone beyond that and they’ve really enjoyed the social side of things as well,” she said.
“The women learn some of the things that are taken for granted when it comes to cooking, like budgeting skills, leaning new recipes and trying new things.”
For further information or to join the group phone the Yarra Valley Community Health Service on 1300 130 381.
