You Are What You Eat!
Bringing people together through food and conversation, MCenhancement, Men Only IOW, and Equals IW partnered with Isle of Wight Council Adult and Community Learning to run three Food and Mood workshops. Funded by the Council, the sessions were held at Rodger and Steve’s Warm Space/Safe Place in Ryde.
Eight men joined Mark and Shirley in a relaxed and supportive setting to explore the connection between food and mood—looking at how what we eat can influence how we feel, think, and support our mental wellbeing. Shirley included tips on how to incorporate healthy regularly eating into your life and the importance of a balanced diet and staying hydrated.
The session enabled all to explore the role of carbohydrates and eating the right balanced proteins and fats, recognising the importance of vitamins and minerals and looking after your gut health.
Everyone joined Mark and Shirley to experience the simple pleasure of cooking together and creating a hearty winter meal from scratch. The group worked as a team to prepare a traditional Shepherd’s Pie with fresh vegetables and an apple crumble pudding, following recipes, measuring ingredients, and learning new skills along the way.
The group members all worked in pairs to selected their own filling and successfully make their Shepard’s Pie. Most of the group also successfully made an Apple Crumble..
Before coming together to enjoy the meal, the group reflected on the wider benefits of eating together, including the positive impact on mental wellbeing, social connection, and overall health.
Together all taking part learnt about
- The role of carbohydrates, proteins, and healthy fats
- The importance of vitamins, minerals, and gut health
- How food choices impact mental health, mood, confidence, and overall well-being
The book ‘Food and Mood’ was an ideal resource for participants who presented with diverse learning abilities and it stimulated excellent group discussions. As they explored the resource book all participants positively contributing to group discussions. The session also enabled everyone to promote and enhance their own positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health. They were able to relax with others in friendship in a warm and welcoming atmosphere and safe environment, spending time getting out of the house and meeting new people.
Green Time Cultural Food and Mood, is a fun, informal way of using food to enhance positive emotional wellbeing, self-confidence, self-esteem and mental health through the food we eat.
