🥗 The Power of Food!
That’s a wrap on our Autumn Lecture Series! Last week, we hosted the final event, a thought-provoking exploration of The Power of Food. 🍽️
Here are some of the key insights from the event:
🌍 Breaking Down Barriers
Jess Thompson discussed how food is a universal experience that can bring people together across cultures, generations, and backgrounds. From teaching cooking skills to breaking bread, shared meals create a "magic way of bringing people together" and remind us of our shared humanity.
💡 Co-Design is Critical
Dr Sophia Amenyah who leads the Bournemouth University LEMONADE research project at Appleby Blue. emphasised the importance of engaging communities in the design and delivery of food initiatives. Whether it’s residents deciding how to cook together, children shaping school menus, or migrants leading cookery classes, co-production fosters ownership, builds confidence, and ensures initiatives meet real needs.
🍅 Simple Food, Big Impact
Anna Taylor of The Food Foundation highlighted the power of simple, affordable ingredients like vegetables, pulses, and beans to improve diets, sustainability, and long-term health. Cooking together—chopping, stirring, and sharing stories—was also shown to have significant physical and mental health benefits, particularly for older adults.
🛠️ Overcoming Barriers to Cooking
Our chair, Claire Pritchard highlighted the challenges many face in cooking, from time pressures and lack of equipment to limited access to fresh ingredients.how community kitchens and cooking sessions are invaluable in breaking down these barriers, teaching practical skills like chopping garlic or grilling, and fostering social bonds.
👩🍳 A Catalyst for Change
Organisations like Migrateful, which empowers migrants to share their culinary traditions, show how food can combat prejudice, create employment opportunities, and encourage pride in cultural heritage.
💬 Food as Connection
Beyond the practical, food is deeply emotional. When we’re happy, we celebrate with food; when we’re sad, we turn to it for comfort. This emotional resonance was beautifully captured during discussions about how food has become integral to the social fabric of communities.
🍝 A Shared Meal
The event closed with a meal prepared in the Appleby Blue Community Kitchen by our wonderful residents led by Hulya Erdal—a delicious veggie pasta bake, salad, and tiramisu. It was a moment to reflect on how something as simple as cooking and eating together can build stronger communities.
As our speakers noted, creating inclusive communities through food is possible when we come together, overcome barriers, and embrace shared experiences.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to this inspiring event! Let's continue using food as a force for good, bringing people together and building a better future.
📸 Benoît Grogan-Avignon
#ApplebyBlue #ThePowerOfFood #CommunityEngagement #SocialCohesion #HealthyLiving
