Men get food for thought (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Men get food for thought

5:00pm Thursday 11th February 2010 in Gazette Video By Emily Roberts

THEY might have been completely out of their comfort zone, but there was plenty of enthusiasm among the men who attended a new eight-week cooking course.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has launched Cooking For Men for those over-50 males who want to learn how to cook or improve on their skills.

The idea is to encourage them to eat healthily by cooking their own food from scratch.

Held at the Gill Nethercott Centre, in Whitchurch, the first course of its kind in the Basingstoke area attracted more than 20 men.

Demonstrator Maggie Bennett cooked a healthy soup with tomato, vegetables and filled pasta in the first week, explaining each step as she went along and answering any questions.

Geoff Dolby, 64, from Oakley, said: “My wife died five years ago so I do cook. I cook for myself and I enjoy cooking for my family but the only experience I have is what I have learned over the last five years.

“I enjoy cooking and I want to learn about the ingredients and herbs and so forth. I thought the class was fantastic. I have got a good idea of what’s required but to see a demonstration gives me everything I need to go away and do it myself.”

Derek Page, from Whitchurch, had been ordered by his wife to attend the course so he could help out more around the house.

“She wants me to be able to cook,” he said. “You never know, do you. As the years tick by, it might be that I should be more self-dependent.”

Mrs Bennett, who also teaches school children how to cook, said the lessons could be a lifeline for some men.

She added: “Sometimes men are left on their own, but also, they have never had the opportunity to learn when they were at school like youngsters these days. Most men, once they get the idea, are quite keen and capable. They just need to be enthused and get going a bit.”

Once the 30-minute demonstration had ended, the group sampled the soup before a question-and-answer session was held with Mrs Bennett.

The course will cover different healthy eating topics throughout the eight weeks, including food labels, vitamins, cholesterol and salt.

Funding for the course has come from Age Concern’s ‘Fit as a Fiddle’ programme funded by the Big Lottery, and a second course will be coming soon to Basingstoke.