A Plymouth woman is on a mission to help children and families make better choices about the food they eat and the lifestyle they lead.
Michelle Leslie has set up a community interest company called 5+5 A Day CIC with the aim of providing a free educational programme promoting healthy eating alongside five other core messages relating to mental health, climate change and sustainability, exercise, nutrition and hand washing.
Michelle, who is 54, is currently in the final year of a youth and community work degree at Marjons and during much of the pandemic has been working alongside the Devonport Help A Neighbour community group, and will be collaborating with them in rolling out 5+5 A Day.
“Devonport Help A Neighbour was set up by three awesome volunteers in response to the pandemic, offering support to the local community. They are primarily a food bank but offer other support such a listening ear and picking up and dropping off prescriptions for people who are housebound,” said Michelle, who lives in Greenbank.
“As part of the programme we will be developing a scheme called the Kit Bag Project, which reflects the fact that the food parcels are being carried in children’s PE kit bags. However, the kit bags won’t be limited to carrying food, but also used to provide jackets and shoes, school stationary and other items to support children and families,” she added.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed supporting the Devonport group while undertaking my final university placement and am very grateful to be allowed to launch a pilot initiative with them.
“We aim to launch the Kit Bag Project in the near future and it will also be available to other food banks who support socially disadvantaged children and families in low socio economic areas.”
“However, this will depend on funding and sponsorship secured so please support the CIC if you can so we can reach more people.”
Michelle’s determination to make a difference in Plymouth stems from her ground-breaking work in New Zealand, where she lived for 20 years before returning to the UK and her home city in 2016.
She helped pioneer the introduction of eco domes in schools across New Zealand, enabling schoolchildren to grow organic and chemical free fruit and vegetables all year round. The scheme was called ‘Dome to Dish’ and she hopes to see domes appearing in schools and other settings in Plymouth, as well as polytunnels which will be aptly named ‘Tunnel to Table.’
“In my second year at Marjons I witnessed a lot of poverty and the reluctance of young mums and dads to use food banks. It is important to eradicate the stigma which may be associated with food banks. I hope to be working with food banks in the city and further afield to promote my work.
“My vision is to nourish and educate socially disadvantaged children, families, and the wider communities about making better choices by incorporating their daily intake of five fruit and vegetables and my other five core messages.
“Therefore, rather than food banks and community groups distributing bags of food to those in need, the food banks and I will provide menus and recipes to support families in the preparation of healthier meals with the foods allocated to them.”
The healthier recipes will be developed from existing products that are held at the food bank and will predominantly contain no added sugar or salt.
These will then be added on a lanyard which can be worn while the families are preparing their meal. The project will run initially for a five week period and the recipes will rotate every five weeks.
Families will be provided with new recipes based on what is available at any given food bank and there will be additional cards on the lanyards with details of the 5+5 a day other core messages.
Families will be encouraged to take photos of the food they have prepared, then upload them to the food bank who provided the food parcels social media platforms.
“Therefore, sharing their experience with the community and other people keen to learn about healthier options and in many cases teaching other people how to cook.”
Michelle would welcome sponsorship and donations for the new project. She can be contacted by e-mail at kitbagproject@gmail.com or via the 5+5 A Day CIC Facebook page.
