Healthy Eating and Wellbeing Courses for Families
The Children’s Healthy Weight team offers a series of free courses to support children, young people and their families reach and maintain a healthier lifestyle, as well as a healthy weight. The service is provided by HCRG Care Group’s B&NES Wellbeing Service, ran within the Community Wellbeing Hub. The courses provided by this service include Cook It!, Leap and HENRY (including Starting Solids and Fussy Eaters)- please see below for more information and upcoming course dates.
To book, refer or find out more contact the Community Wellbeing Hub on 0300 247 0050 or email BATHNES.thehub@hcrgcaregroup.com
Cook It! (5-17 year olds) – Online and in person
This free cook-a-long style course provides children and their families with the skills and confidence to plan, prepare and cook healthy, budget friendly, family meals.
- 5 week course for children aged 5-17 (1 adult required to attend with them).
- 1-1.5hrs once a week for 5 weeks.
- £30 supermarket voucher given to online courses, otherwise all equipment and ingredients provided.
- Free recipe booklet and certificate upon completion.
- Improve knowledge on healthy eating topics such as 5-A-Day, the Eatwell Plate, portion sizes, healthy snacks, meal planning and avoiding food waste.
- Learn how to cook recipes such as chicken curry, no added sugar banana oat cookies and veggie/fish bakes.
- Here is a video link to demonstrate some of our lovely recipes- Click here
Upcoming course dates 2023:
- Wed 7th June- 5th July, 4-5.30pm, Castle Primary School, Keynsham.
- Thurs 3rd Aug- 31st Aug, 4-5pm, online via Microsoft teams. Summer holiday course one session a week for 5 weeks.
New Parent and Baby Cook It! (currently online only)
Similar format to the course above, however this is specifically for families with babies and toddlers. Get additional healthy eating tips on weaning, as well as healthy, budget meal ideas suitable for babies and toddlers. Cook along for just an hour a week, currently run virtually in the comfort of your own kitchen with your little one by your side. Upon completion you’ll get a £30 supermarket voucher to cover the cost of ingredients.
Upcoming course dates 2023:
- Please contact us to be added to the waiting list.
“The practitioner was very friendly, approachable and the informative approach was great. The weekly discussion topics like portion size and snacks were especially helpful.” A parent from Cook It!
Leap (5-17 year olds)- Online and in person
Leap is a free course to support families of children who are above a healthy weight*. Providing 1-1 virtual or face to face support for 5-17 year olds.
Covering topics such as:
- Healthy food and drink swaps
- Physical activity/active play
- The impact of screen time
- Why we make certain food choices
This course is a year of support, made up of 6 x 30-60 mins weekly educational sessions followed by 12 weeks of free membership to a local leisure centre for child & parent/carer. The practitioner will check in with the family after the membership finishes and again at 6 and 12 months.
*Eligibility BMI 91st– 99.6th centile are referred straight to LEAP. Note that we are not a specialist service and referrals with a BMI above the 99.6th centile, or with complex health needs or severe learning difficulties (particularly those that have specific food or texture avoidance) should be referred to Dietetics. Height, weight and waist circumference taken in week 1, week 6 and at a 6 month follow up session.
Sessions ongoing, please contact the hub to book, refer or find out more.
“The Leap sessions were highly beneficial to us all as a family and they have really made us look at what and how much we eat. Also the encouragement from the practitioner to my son was invaluable, along with their non-judgemental approach” Family from Leap.
HENRY Healthy Families (for families with children aged 0-5 years old)- Online and in person
The HENRY programme is a free, nationwide, evidence based, supportive family course, which brings parents/carers together in order to provide their children with the best start in life.
- 8 week, online or in person group course.
- Supports physical and emotional wellbeing, covering nutrition, physical activity, portion sizes, screen time, looking after yourself, exploring children’s and parent/carer’s feelings, and managing challenging behaviour.
- A relaxed and informal course which gives parents/carers the opportunity to share experiences and ideas with other families.
- Each family receives a free pack of helpful resources.
- For more info please go to the Henry website at Homepage | HENRY
Upcoming course dates 2023:
- More courses currently being arranged, please contact us to be added to waiting list 0300 247 0050.
HENRY Fussy Eaters (for families with children aged 0-5 years old – currently online only)
Fed up with stressful meal times? We’re here to help. Come along and get free support and new ideas for:
- How to encourage your child to try new foods – and begin to enjoy them!
- Ideas for child-friendly foods that provide what they need to grow and be healthy.
- Happier family mealtimes.
Upcoming course dates 2023 (one session only):
- Tuesday 12th July, 6-7.30pm (online via Microsoft Teams)
HENRY Starting Solids (for families with babies and toddlers- currently online only)
Join us at an online Starting Solids workshop to help you get your baby off to a great start. The workshop will help you decide:
- When your baby is ready to try solid food.
- What foods to start with.
- When your baby is hungry and when they’ve had enough.
- How to make mealtimes an enjoyable experience for both of you.
Upcoming course dates 2023 (one session only):
- Please contact us to be added to waiting list.
“It was helpful speaking with other mums in my situation. I’ve made more effort to eat healthily and exercise. I also liked listening to other parents and getting solutions. I’ve learned not to be afraid of trying my children on new foods.” A family from HENRY
To book any of these courses or to simply find out more contact the Community Wellbeing Hub:
0300 247 0050 or email BATHNES.thehub@hcrgcaregroup.com
Professionals can refer directly here.
