Students get their teeth into veggie cooking
BIDEFORD students had the delights of veggie food brought to life during a visit from national healthy charity the Vegetarian & Vegan Foundation (VVF) last week. VVF Food & cookery coordinator Jane Easton, led four special sessions at Bideford Community College, with GSCE Food Technology students and GCSE Catering students on Thursday (January 15). Teams were given a recipe and box of ingredients for either: spicy bean burgers; chilli non carne; falafels in a pitta pocket; veggie sausages and mixed salad. Recipes were chosen specifically to get students to cook from scratch with “staple’ ingredients such as tinned pulses, veggies, herbs and spices to show them that veggie food (all vegan, in fact) is affordable, easy to make and tasty. Jane says: “The students were delightful; they worked brilliantly and enjoyed the cooking process and the end results. Their response was extremely positive, with many asking for recipes so they could cook them at home for their families. Not only are meatless meals generally cheaper, but there are other important issues for students to consider too. As well as the well-documented health advantages of vegetarian diets, going veggie is one of the most effective things anyone can do to help cut their carbon footprint,” added Jane. Head of department, Stephanie Dyer, says: “Our students really enjoyed the day and I was really impressed by how enthusiastic they all were. The recipes were all really well chosen and tasted delicious.” Food Technology and Catering GCSE courses now feature vegetarian diets on the syllabus to reflect the large numbers of vegetarians, vegans and meat-reducers in the UK. If you would like the VVF to contact your child’s school about a similar visit, call Jane on 0117 970 5190 or email jane@vegetarian.org.uk . Visit www.vegetarian.org.uk for free veggie advice and recipes. ENDS Pictures attached: students are pictured taking part in the veggie cookery session with VVF food and cookery co-ordinator, Jane Easton. Notes to editors The leading market research company, Consumer Analysis Group estimates that six per cent of the population is vegetarian and a further 2,000 people a week stop eating meat. (2006) Already, 40 per cent of the population avoids eating meat at least once a week. The Independent newspaper estimated that 600,000 people in the UK are vegan – and that the number is rising. For more information about this media release, please call press officer Helen Rossiter, on 0117 970 1000 or email press@viva.org.uk or call 0117 944 5190 to speak to Jane Easton.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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