Jamie’s Ministry of Food aims to educate, empower and inspire people to love and enjoy good food, learning how to cook, understanding where it comes from and recognising the power it can have on health, happiness and finances.
The Good Foundation has partnered with Jamie Oliver and The Good Guys to build, equip and run community based Jamie’s Ministry of Food centres, both permanent and mobile, around Australia. They will deliver community education programs about cooking and nutrition to youth and adults.
Jamie’s Ministry of Food campaign is a practical solution to the problems of obesity and diet-related disease and a successful response to the lack of basic food skills in the population. By teaching people to start cooking for themselves once again and equipping them with some simple skills and knowledge, the campaign inspires and empowers change in the way they and their families eat, and how they think about food.
We’re getting too fat
Health experts warn Australia is one of the most obese countries in the world per capita. Around 7 million Australians are overweight or obese*. And it’s affecting our kids, too.
*Source: National Preventative Taskforce 2010; Taking Preventative Action.
Our health is suffering
We’re eating the wrong things and too much of them, so we’re not getting a balanced diet. Relying on takeaways, snacks and readymade meals doesn’t give you the right kind of nutrition for good health. We’re also more likely to develop obesity-related illnesses like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. This is the first generation in which children are predicted to die younger than their parents.
We’re forgetting how to cook
If we don’t even know the basics about food and cooking, we’re not likely to give it a try. Within a couple more generations we are at risk of completely losing our cooking skills.
Lack of facilities
There are very few facilities available to the public to learn the basics in cooking and nutrition.
A Ministry of Food Centre is a place where everyone over the age of 12, regardless of gender, ethnicity or background, can learn basic cookery skills in a friendly, supportive and fun environment. Participants learn through practical hands-on cooking classes that demonstrate how easy and cheap it can be to make simple and nutritious meals from scratch.
The centres conduct a 10 week basic cooking course, 90 minutes a week, teaching a different dish each week.
Centres now operating:
Jamie’s Ministry of Food Ipswich
d’Arcy Doyle Place
116 Brisbane Street
Ipswich QLD 4305
Ph: (07) 3281 0340
Email: mofipswich@thegoodfoundation.com.au
Jamie’s Ministry of Food Geelong
106 Moorabool Street
Geelong VIC 3220
Ph: (03) 5222 8413
Email: mofgeelong@thegoodfoundation.com.au
A Jamie’s Ministry of Food Mobile Kitchen is a purpose built kitchen classroom on wheels, that can travel around to metropolitan and regional communities bringing practical cooking skills to the community.
The Mobile Kitchen program is a condensed program and offers a five-week basic cooking course comprising one 90-minute class a week. Participants can learn Jamie’s hints and shortcuts to cooking simple, nutritious and tasty meals using fresh ingredients.
Mobile Kitchens now operating:
Jamie’s Ministry of Food Mobile Kitchen – Queensland
Ingham Cycle 1 – Sold Out
16th April – 17th May 2013
TYTO Cultural Precinct
Macrossan Avenue, Ingham QLD 4850
Ingham Cycle 2 – Sold Out
21st May – 22nd June 2013
TYTO Cultural Precinct
Macrossan Avenue, Ingham QLD 4850
Bundaberg Cycle 1 – Bookings Open Monday 20th May
Monday 8th July – Saturday 10th August 2013
Lake Ellen Heritage Hub
George St, Bundaberg QLD 4670
Bundaberg Cycle 2 – Bookings Open Monday 8th July
Monday 12th August – Saturday 14th September 2013
Lake Ellen Heritage Hub
George St, Bundaberg QLD 4670
Jamie’s Ministry of Food Mobile Kitchen – Victoria
Whittlesea Cycle 1 – Sold Out
Lalor Shopping Precinct
2A May Road, Lalor VIC 3075
Dates: 8th April – 11th May 2013
Whittlesea Cycle 2 – Sold Out!
Lalor Shopping Precinct
2A May Road, Lalor VIC 3075
Dates: 13th May – 16th June 2013
Cardinia Cycle 1 – Bookings Open Monday 27th May
Monday 1st July – Sunday 4th August 2013
Pakenham Library
Corner of John and Henry Streets, Pakenham VIC 3810
Cardinia Cycle 2 – Bookings Open Monday 8th July
Monday 5th August – Sunday 8th August 2013
Pakenham Library
Corner of John and Henry Streets, Pakenham VIC 3810
For information on future visits from Jamie’s Ministry of Food Mobile Kitchen please email info@thegoodfoundation.com.au
For more information visit the official Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia website at jamiesministryoffood.com
