My training and background
I studied at Oxford Brookes University, graduating last summer
with a degree in Nutrition, Health and Exercise. My interest
in nutrition really started after having my daughter, who is now
10 years old.
I am an outdoors person, having been brought up on a
farm. I am at my happiest in my wellies getting stuck
in. Whether it is maintaining a vegetable patch or some
other project, I try to aspire to being self-sufficient.
What I want for Root & Branch
I like to throw myself into anything that I find stimulating,
enjoyable and worthwhile, so the project that I am here to set up
and run ticks every box.
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I believe that we have become detached from
the food we eat and hope to show how easy it is for simple, sustainable
practices to improve our health.
Cooking is about giving pleasure to ourselves and others,
and it really does not need to be complicated. Just
knowing which foods work together and which spices and herbs
bring out flavour can significantly enhance our eating
experiences. |
A friend once described my cooking as a combination of careful
planning and fun-abandonment. I think this sums up what I
would like to pass on to the people who come to Root & Branch.
Ideas for the Programme
- Basic preparation and cooking skills. Simple
dishes to make at home (focus on food, not nutrients) -
recipes that feed the brain. These will be provided at lunch
time and through a Root & Branch recipe book
containing our tried and tested recipes.
- Understanding food labelling
- Breakfasts - ditch the sugary cereals for slow energy
release breakfasts
- Key Nutrition Messages - 5-a-day, Eatwell Plate
(gives the correct proportions of food groups on a plate),
fluid intake and food safety/hygiene
- Herbs and spices - flavouring food without
adding sugar and salt.
- Tasting new fruits and vegetables
- Exercise - the feel good factor
Email me if
you have any other ideas.
Lastly - It's not just what we eat
Many of us recognise the relationship between what we eat and how we feel. Increasing research
shows an association
between food and brain function. This association has taken
time to develop as did the the association between diet and
physical health.
I believe that the treatment of mental health problems should
be part of a person's total well-being including physical,
emotional and life-style. I will, therefore, be including aspects
such as encouraging exercise and helping those giving up smoking.
Root & Branch seems a fantastic place to explore and
develop my ideas. I am really looking forward to getting to know
everyone better over the next couple of months and hope that the
Gardeners as well as the volunteers will benefit from my time
spent here, as I am sure I will.
After spending a couple of months at Root & Branch, I will
be working with other mental health charities around Oxfordshire.
Sarah Lay
Contact us for further information.
This healthy-eating project is a Big Lottery Funded chances4change programme.
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