Cooking and eating well can help look after our physical and mental health. This is as important now as ever.
We have collated a list of healthy, affordable and accessible ideas to help you to discover new recipes, many using store cupboard ingredients. Be sure to adapt the recipes to your needs and follow guidelines on safe cooking.
Children & Families
Cooking can be a welcome release, a distraction and a great activity to entertain and educate the kids. From planning meals and reading recipes, to prepping and cooking, children and young people can get involved. Check out the British Dietetic Association’s tips on cooking with different age groups and enjoy your creations!
BBC's Goodfood store cupboard essentials for families
Cook with Jack - Cheap and healthy weekly shopping list with recipes (Under £15 in the UK - prices may differ in the Bailiwick)
Change4Life recipes and ideas for families
Veg Power recipes for children and parents to make together
Early Start Group Fun Child-Friendly Recipes and Cooking Activities
Jamie Oliver’s 6 healthy after-school snacks
Our Lunchbox Lowdown 50 ideas for children aged 1-5 (scroll down to the Resources section)
Order free copies of the WCRF’s Budget Bites recipe booklet
Learning to Love veg & fruit
Children develop their relationship with food and from an early age, and it is key to carry on supporting this development. We support the Island’s pre-schools, schools and youth settings to make veg and fruit available, accessible and attractive. Below are useful links for parents and teachers.
Child Feeding Guide’s ways to increase fruit and veg consumption
Flavour School’s free Sensory Food Education Programme for Reception & Key Stage 1
TastEd free resources on building food “vocabularies”
Nippers Nutrition Box Blog on encouraging healthier eating habits
HENRY’s activities for the early year’s parents and carers
Our page on Building Healthy Relationships with Food
Kids in the Kitchen - getting children involved with cooking
Adults
For general guidance on eating well including portions and sizes check the Eatwell guide.
Eating a healthy balanced diet will keep you well-nourished, in good general health and your immune system functioning normally. But no specific food or supplement will prevent you catching any viruses. So be aware of false claims that foods or supplements will “boost” your immunity. Also, you do not need to avoid any specific foods to stay well (unless you have a medical condition and have been advised to do so by a healthcare professional). Good hygiene practice remains the best means of avoiding infection. Check out the British Dietetics Association (BDA) advice on nutrition and viruses.
British Heart Foundation Recipe finder and healthy "fakeaways"
BBC's Good Food top 10 healthy store cupboard recipes, healthy and quick recipes & freezable recipes
Jamie Oliver’s Keep Cooking and Carry On & all recipes can be found here
Chef Gregg Wallace & Chris Bavin’s eatwell for less recipes
The Health Improvement Commission for Guernsey and Alderney LBG offers these links as educational resources and not as endorsement. The Health Improvement Commission is not responsible for the content of the linked websites, or changes to them, and you should review the third party's terms and conditions, privacy and data protection policies.