The United Way of the Lower Mainland’s Local Love Food Hub grant through the UW Community Emergency Response Fund has allowed LEPS to continue work in local food security during the months of COVID-19. This grant has allowed LEPS to work with a local chef to help assist residents to learn simple kitchen food skills.
This program, which is running for 3 months, also includes shopping on a budget, and focusing on what is local and in season.
From learning to make pizza, stock for soups and stews, healthy snacks for kids, and simple fermentation, residents have been able to feel empowered to cook for their families and to even adapt some meals to address dietary sensitivities.
Course feedback: “My boys (grade 7 & grade 4) and I made all of the homework recipes from last week!! We absolutely loved the pasta sauce (I doubled the recipe or else there would not have been leftovers for chili, and used ground sausage for extra flavor) and the pasta salad too. My boys were great helpers with chopping of the veggies and mixing stuff. We normally just use a jarred sauce, but we all could really taste the difference in the meat sauce with the added veggies and our own seasoning. We found a jarred ‘strained’ tomato sauce on sale for .88 cents too!!”
Local organizations worked with this winter on this project have been families from SD 35 and Ishtar Society.
About Chef Cheryl: Cheryl Blaney is a local Langley resident that specializes in healthy meals, food skill planning, and transitional support for local seniors. With her work with Meals on Wheels this summer she fed hundreds of local citizens fresh meals that were suitable for all dietary needs and supported local farmers as well.
LEPS is incredibly pleased to be in partnership with Cheryl to deliver this program during this time when it is needed most! Check out Cheryl’s meal plan here.
