Project Title: The Food for Wellbeing Healthy Heart Programme
Award: £10,000
Date: September 2019 – September 2021
The Problem & The Project
Working with a multidisciplinary team, this project aimed to change the way the NHS responds to patients with heart disease, moving away from a drug-based approach and towards a model of wellness.
This project aimed to teach and empower individuals within three of the most deprived communities in Bristol, to make changes to their lifestyle. Through hands on cookery workshops, information and goal setting, the project equipped, inspired, and supported group members to prepare and eat delicious, nutritious food from scratch. Those who took part in this programme have now learnt hands-on skills, built confidence and each have their own personalised action plan.
The Benefits
The project initiated positive change to people’s lifestyles and achieved the following:
- From those group members who agreed to have their weight and blood pressure measured, more than 50% showed improvements
- Group members lost between 4 and 12 pounds by simply changing the foods they ate and cooking healthier meals
- At least some individuals in all three of the groups lost weight during the 9-6 weeks that the programme ran
- Participants reported they were sleeping better, had more energy and enjoyed learning how to cook differently.
Some quotes from group members:
“I am eating more fruit and vegetables now, and less meat. I have more balance to my plate”
“I don’t feel like the course has helped me only with my food health, but also with my mental health”
“It has been a great opportunity to try new foods”
“I feel better in myself, and I don’t feel as tired. I have changed a lot with my diet – I am now not eating as much bacon! I feel somewhat healthier, and feel genuinely better in myself”’
We are really pleased to have received such positive feedback from this grant project.
