Renegades turnip the beet on healthy eating!

As Easter approaches, the mantra ‘eat well, feel well’ is berry much at the heart of The Renegades youth club and its younger sibling Rascals.

“Healthy cooking for rurally isolated young people has long been one of the cornerstones of our activities,” says Group Leader Gareth Miller. “The wonderful Hyde Housing Trust have supported us financially in our efforts to teach the kids about nutrition, wholesome cooking and to explore cuisines like Mexican, Moroccan and Polish. This will broaden the palates and knowledge of young people as they experiment with ingredients, discover new herbs and spices and learn practical kitchen skills.”

Local Nutritional Therapist Anna Cash has joined the Renegades family to teach the children that what they eat has a direct impact on their physical and mental health. “Nutritional Therapy can be a powerful tool for supporting all kids, but especially neurodiverse children and teens as the right nutrition can help regulate mood, behaviour, focus and overall brain function by addressing nutrient deficiencies, gut health and inflammation.

“At Renegades we teach them why fibre, protein, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals are important for their health, empowering them to make changes and take what they have learnt home to their families.

“We take their favourite foods and make them more nutritious, incorporating the above food groups and telling them how these foods can support their health. For instance, we made spaghetti bolognaise, a big family favourite, but had them making their own spaghetti from scratch, using fresh tomatoes to make the tomato sauce for the bolognaise and adding lentils for extra fibre and to bulk the meal out so it was cheaper per person.  “We also made pancakes on Shrove Tuesday but encouraged them to add some nutritious toppings such as cheese, ham, mushrooms, strawberries, bananas, blueberries as well as the traditional fresh lemon and orange juice. Of course, the most fun part was flipping the pancakes!”

Membership of the Renegades (10 – 18) and Rascals (7 – 9) is currently either free or open to a voluntary donation.

For a taster session please contact Gareth on 07801 862550. Website: www.renegadesyc.org