Oral Presentation ESA-SRB-ANZOS 2025 in conjunction with ENSA

Grow.Cook.Eat.: Supporting a community living with disadvantage to build food literacy and connection (128975)

Kristy A Bolton 1 , Kate Wingrove 2 , Rebecca Lindberg 1 , Eloise-Kate Victoria Litterbach 3 , Vicki Brown 4 , Kaylene Reeves 5 , Simon Reeves 5
  1. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
  2. School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
  3. Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
  4. Deakin Health Economics, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
  5. The Good Neighbourhood Project, Norlane, Victoria, Australia

 

Rising living costs, poor access to affordable healthy food, and being swamped with unhealthy options pose major health challenges to the Norlane community (the most disadvantaged area in Victoria, Australia). The Good Neighbourhood Project, a community-led placemaking organisation, takes a whole-of-neighbourhood and whole-of-person approach to create healthy, sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities. Their strategies include: social enterprise cafés, an urban farm, a community garden, neighbourhood meals, and a food co-operative. Community feedback in 2022 revealed a demand for food literacy skill-building.

In response, The Good Neighbourhood Project partnered with Deakin University to co-design, deliver and evaluate a pilot food literacy program Grow.Cook.Eat. Weekly sessions were held at a social enterprise café adjacent to a community garden. The free program helped residents to build practical cooking and gardening skills, increase nutrition knowledge via growing, cooking and sharing a meal; and via monthly Healthy Conversations interactive workshops. A mixed-methods evaluation in 2024 included pre/post surveys, weekly session evaluations and follow-up interviews. Thematic analysis is underway.

Early interview feedback at follow-up reveals enjoyment and strong engagement of participants with Grow.Cook.Eat. Participants improved food knowledge (labels, healthy swaps), confidence, cooking skills. Participants were more motivated and creative with cooking, cooked more and increased fruit and vegetable intake. Social connections were fostered via shared meals. Gardening engagement was lower, possibly due to weather, limited growing space at home, and mobility challenges.

In conclusion, co-designed, place-based food literacy programs can build community trust and engagement while addressing local needs such as food security and food literacy skills. Embedding opportunities for social connection into food literacy programs enhances impact beyond empowering community members with nutrition knowledge by fostering a healthier more connected community.