Cooking Up Connection: Women’s Health Programme Thrives in Clare
One of the big successes of the Clare Local Development Company’s SICAP (Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme) is the Cooking for Women’s Health series. This week we met participants of a cooking class under the series provided by well-known local nutritionist, Grainne Travers.
In the relaxed setting of the Ennis Scout Hall near the Cathedral, Grainne cooked and chatted about nutrition in a very open way, with the ladies present chiming in with their own experiences and questions as well. On this occasion it was a chance for some to bring in their own creations, such as Carmel’s Homemade Soda Bread and Tania Hristoskova’s Garlic Pesto.
Tasty, healthy food for all
Over the course of the morning, Grainne also showed how to make simple cauliflower and vegetable soup, shepherd’s pie, and homemade breaded chicken. The nice thing about it all is at the end everyone present gets to eat a beautiful nutritious home-cooked meal.
This is a fun, interactive, and supportive programme that covers subjects like: food for mood, sleep, digestion, and energy with practical strategies for daily life. All CLDC’s healthy eating programmes are grounded in an evidence-based approach, delivered by professionals. What strikes you when you come in is how welcoming everyone is, how engaged they are with the whole business of preparing food, swapping tips and generally having a good time.
What participants say
Among those attending this week were Carmel Madden, Marion O Loughlin and Julie Culligan- who turn out to be three sisters! All three get a lot generally from the various courses run by CLDC, which are practical but most of all social.
“I love it, as I have learned so much from Grainne. I am on my own and she has given us loads around learning to cook for one or how to batch and freeze, whether that’s chicken dishes, soups, shepherds or cottage pie and desserts. The recipes are straightforward, economical and easy to follow and she guides us how to read the labels on packaging, to understand what we are eating. Best of all you meet new people and make new friends.”
Marian had been spending a lot of time isolating during COVID and on finishing work in 2023, it would have been easy to feel more isolated. She enjoys gardening but has got a lot out of the programme, in terms of practical skills and social engagement. – “I wouldn’t have known anything about it, then suddenly I found out these groups are meeting and I wish I had known about it sooner.”
We have done so much, including flower arranging, Christmas tree decorating and wreath making, mindfulness, yoga, and journaling. You are learning things you wouldn’t have known much about before. Even knowing the difference between cottage and shepherd’s pie, as we found out today, for example!”
– mARION O’LOUGHLIN
Social engagement trumps all
Julie agrees that it is the social side to the activities that make it all the more worthwhile, “Even something like meditation training, which gives you insight into how to deal with what life throws at you differently. You also benefit from the different experiences of the other people in the room. We are all on the same wavelength and have a great laugh.
She added that taking part in one course often leads to others, from sewing in Miltown to crochet classes at the Junction and restoration workshops.
Back to today, and Antoinette Carey also wishes she’d found the CLDC-run courses sooner.
“I didn’t register last year when I was out of work. I opted for a computer course and while that has its place, there is no interaction- you are watching a video, then applying the lesson, then watching another video and son on. This kind of setting—with people, conversation, and shared experience—is much better for your mental health.”
“The food you can make too with simple ingredients such as tomato puree, Worcestershire Sauce and stock, tasty food that’s not too heavy- it’s a great mix of social and practical and I would highly recommend it.”
The group hope to publish a list of their recipes later in 2026.
To find out more about these and similar courses, contact sicap@cldc.ie
Contact Jackie Duffy for help with training, lifelong learning, and wellbeing at jduffy@cldc.ie
Also check our calendar for what’s coming up soon: Events from February 21, 2025 – March 19 – CLDC | Clare Local Development Company Also check our wellbeing page: Wellbeing – CLDC | Clare Local Development Company