It is important to eat healthy and nutritious meals that keep us energised and full. Cooking can also be a great way to relieve stress and keep you occupied. Some handy tips are:

• Eat regularly throughout the day and try to avoid unnecessary snacking. If you do feel the need to snack, then try and swap to healthy alternatives.
• Try and keep meals balanced with food groups.
• Drink water to keep hydrated. If you don’t like water, you can add some squash to it. Fizzy drinks taste great, but they can make you feel dehydrated.
• Only cook what you feel comfortable making. There is no need to push yourself. Cook food you want to eat and know you will enjoy making.
• Listen to your cravings, it could be your body’s way of telling you what it needs.
• If you live with others, then involve them in the cooking process-it can be a great way to spend time together and bond.
• Share recipes with family and friends.

Here are some links to websites that you may find helpful:

• https://www.jamieoliver.com/ – Jamie Oliver’s website is packed with recipes for beginner cooks and people who want to experiment. There are also recipes that he cooks in his current TV show ‘Keep Cooking and Carry On.’
• https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/storecupboard – This page of the website is dedicated to store cupboard recipes-making use of ingredients you may already have. It may also inspire you to create your own store cupboard recipe.
• https://www.nhs.uk/change4life – A website for families containing healthy recipes and activities. You can join Change4life to receive emails with healthy eating tips, recipes and fun activities for kids too.
• https://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/ – Free resources for teaching young people aged 3-16 years about where food comes from, cooking and healthy eating.