Children's Kitchen and Friends Group Cooking Sessions

The friends group is a circle of mothers from Knowle West Nursery School who meet to participate in activities for wellbeing. The Children’s Kitchen is an early-years project focused on areas in Bristol that may experience barriers in accessing affordable and nutritious food. We usually work with children aged two to four exploring and tasting vegetables and fruit in a relaxed and playful way. In 2023, we came together with the friends group for a project of weekly cooking sessions, first with the parents and then going on to include the children too. It proved to be a very special experience. We sat around a table using brightly coloured knives and boards preparing fresh produce together whilst chatting and enjoying each other’s company. What differentiates this from regular cooking is the mindful nature of the activity. It feels very nurturing to take time over cooking, enjoying the process and perhaps stopping for a moment to smell and taste the food as you go. Cooking together is a tradition as old as time and is a great way to build positive relationships and connect with others over a meaningful activity and a shared goal. In my opinion, eating healthy, home-cooked food with others is one of the best things about life! I hope that the project continues to inspire this way of being together with friends, children and loved ones.

Claudia Rigby from the Children's Community Kitchen