Community Foodies

Foodies, as they are also known, are community members interested in nutrition and food who first complete a nutrition training program, and then go on to work with local health workers to promote healthy eating in their local communities through peer education.

The Community Foodies undertake 24 hours of training – one four hour session each week, for six week. The training is free of charge. The training covers:

A social view of health (taking a broad view of what makes us healthy - for example, having a house and enough money also affects our health)
Basic nutrition with a focus on the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating
Food safety
Group work and presentation skills
Planning and evaluation skills
An opportunity for all Foodies to practise a presentation they would like to give in the community.

Once Foodies have completed their training they are registered as volunteers by the auspicing organisation (health service or local council) and work in partnership with health workers and other Foodies to promote healthy eating in the community.

Where Do Foodies Work?

Below are some stories from Foodies about their experiences working in their local community

Noarlunga Community Foodies have joined forces with the Hackam West Community Garden to prepare garden plots and planting Herbs and Vegetables. To date our plants are doing well as there are a regular group of us attending the garden on Wednesday mornings from 10am - 12pm. Marlene has been spending the afternoon with a group of children from Hackam South Primary who have their own plot at the site. One afternoon she spent making pizzas with the children by using ingredients from the garden itself. It isn’t a surprise that the children wanted to do more cooking the next week than gardening but Marlene stuck to her guns reinforcing the importance of maintaining a good garden bed for future cooking projects. Well done for your efforts Marlene. We are visiting the Aldinga Community Garden to get some ideas on what we too can achieve if we put in some effort and hard work. All who have attended have enjoyed themselves and we continue to learn as we go as we have varying experiences and knowledge. We encourage others to visit and hope to use any excess towards future Foodies events and fundraising.

Written by Helen Matthews , Community Foodie, Noarlunga, April 2007

Story From Port Pirie Community Foodie, Anita

I have initiated a program called ‘Mrs. Hubbard’s Cupboard’. This program was targeted to clients on limited incomes to help them budget and included, information on how to save money, cheap handy hints and tips, and cooking nutritious daily meals all on a budget. The program included the provision of information, discussions, cooking demonstrations and practical cooking activities. From running the program I have learnt that not everyone wants to change their lifestyles but for those that do they have great outcomes such as saving enough for a house deposit once thought impossible by them, and for another retaining guardianship of her children. Participants also reported increased knowledge about healthy eating and saving money.

Hi, my name is Sue. I am a Community Foodie for the Salisbury and Playford councils. I did my Foodies training in 2005 and we have continuing bi-monthly training. I have done a number of different things as a Foodie including cooking lessons and talks on healthy eating.

I love doing expo's. Most people are interested in health and nutrition so I have found that displays like the sugar display are great conversation starters. A lot of people are unaware of how much sugar is contained in the drinks they consume or give to their children and generally make the decision to check the labels when choosing what to buy in the future.

I am on a few different committees at the moment. One of the working committees is for an expo in Playford which is very exciting. We are planning what stalls we need and organising workshops on things like label reading.

Through Foodies I have learnt a lot about food and nutrition that help me and my family. I have also made some great friends and met a lot of interesting and inspiring people. Foodies has been a great experience for me and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Community Foodies.

It is great when people inform you that they have made some fantastic nutritional healthy changes for themselves and their family, which will make a great positive impact on all of their health now and in the future.