Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia offers hands-on cooking courses that celebrate great food and produce.
Earlier this year, Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food (via The Good Foundation) launched in Ipswich, Queensland, with a community-focused cooking program that hopes to inspire Australians to get back to basics in their kitchens. The centre offers 10-week cooking courses, comprising one 90-minute cooking class per week. Each class has a maximum of 12 participants and is completely hands-on so participants get to see, smell, feel and taste everything they cook. “The Ministry of Food is so simple in what it does: it’s about celebrating great food with guidance, love, care and attention. It’s for anyone, from any background, and it really does change lives,” says Jamie Oliver.
“Based on current trends, 30 per cent of Queensland adults will be obese by 2020 and our government is determined to do all we can to turn those figures around,” said Queensland Premier, Anna Bligh, in a media release in April this year. “That’s why we’ve invested $2.5 million over four years in this program.” Jamie’s Ministry of Food is one way Queenslanders can become better equipped to cook healthy meals, feel more confident in the kitchen and maintain a healthier weight. “Jamie’s Ministry of Food provides people with the tools and information to make better choices about food. It’s a little bit of mentoring, hints, tips, shortcuts, how to shop, how to save money and how to make beautiful, quick, tasty meals,” explains Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia Program Director, Alicia Peardon. Jamie’s plans to tackle Australia’s obesity crisis head on goes beyond Ipswich. “I’m so excited for Australia, a country that I love.
Our dream is to open up more of these centres, at least one in every state. Thanks to partners, like my friends at The Good Guys, who started this dream with me, and now the Queensland State Government, the first state to come on board, hopefully there will be even more.” Jamie’s Ministry of Food says Australia faces one of the biggest obesity problems in the world due to changes in family life, the rise of convenience foods, and a lack of compulsory food education in schools — cited as the reason why people have lost touch with one of life’s most essential skills: cooking. Jamie passionately believes the most effective way to combat this lack of knowledge is to tackle it head on, with good information and practical cooking lessons for everyone.
Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia plans to build, equip and run permanent and mobile centres around the country. The Good Foundation is proud to recognise the following supporters of Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia: The Good Guys, Qld State Government, Westinghouse, Lumo Energy, Ipswich City Council, Breville, Tefal, McPhersons and Churchill.
Details
Jamie’s Ministry of Food
d’Arcy Doyle Place 116 Brisbane Street Ipswich Qld 4305
Website www.jamiesministryoffood.com
To book classes visit www.thegoodfoundation.com.au/ booking-classes/