Family favourites made a little healthier

Good food is at the heart of so many communities in Tower Hamlets. Cook Well, Eat Well started from that idea.

We brought together talented home cooks from local women’s groups and NHS nutritionists, and asked a simple question: what small tweaks could make the dishes people already love a little healthier to eat every day? The answer wasn’t to change everything. It was to make modest adjustments that respect culture, flavour and tradition, saving the ghee for special occasions, using a little less salt, swapping in vegetable oil for everyday cooking, without anyone feeling like they were being told to eat differently.

The result was a collection of recipes, cook-along workshops in community centres across Tower Hamlets, and a free recipe card pack to take home.

The workshops

A local woman is frying fish and onions in very little oil at a healthy eating class
Image of fish and onions being cooked in a pan
Women attending a cooking demonstration at Aberfeldy Community Centre
A Public Health interactive demonstration where residents are asked to sort various foods into different food groups

Cook Well, Eat Well - the recipes

If you weren’t able to attend one of the workshops when they happened, you can still flip through our collection of recipe cards and bring the workshop experience to your kitchen.

Get step-by-step instructions for exciting dishes to try out at home that are not only delicious, but also better for you.

Take me to the recipes
Image showing the Cook Well Eat Well recipe cards by Well One
Local cooking class instructors prepping food for their budget cooking class at Feldy community space

If cooking is your passion, maybe you’d be interested in joining a community group to connect with others who share your passion for food? These groups offer opportunities to share recipes, learn new techniques and nutrition tips, and make new friends.

Check out the ‘Cooking Classes‘ activity listings for social community cooking groups in your area.

 

The Eatwell Guide

And, if you’re curious about eating a more nutritious diet, the Eatwell Guide is a great place to start! The guide was created by the NHS to provide helpful and easy to understand information about balanced and healthy eating and food groups, as well as tips on portion sizes and the role of physical activity.

Learn more
Image showing the NHS Eatwell Guide, which shows how different food groups should be portioned on a well-balanced plate of food.
Session leader, Moni, is preparing ingredients to cook
A womans hand with henna designs, with a background of the Somalian flag
A young woman looks peaceful as she meditates in a wellness class with her eyes closed

Easy Cooking with Moni

Simple, affordable family cooking with Moni.

Somali Women’s Health Group

Connect, dance, and enjoy Somali culture with other women.

St Anne’s Gardening Group

Free gardening sessions at St Annes Church Limehouse

Womens Health & Fitness Class

A supportive space for women of all fitness levels to own their wellness
Read More