Learning to give thought to healthy food

Rotorua is getting a new generation of foodies - and they are on a mission to take healthy cooking into their own communities.
Pataka Kai is a two-year programme aimed at teaching members of Rotorua communities healthy meals on a budget.
They will then take their knowledge back to their communities and share what they have learned.
It was an idea Waiariki Institute of Technology food safety and nutrition tutor Rosie Shand saw at work in Australia.
"I saw there were all these community foodies in Adelaide," Mrs Shand said. "They had quite a successful programme there so I brought the concept back."
For the past six weeks, eight students have been learning new dishes, nutrition tips and discovering new tastes.
They have been reworking traditional Pacific Island recipes to make them healthier, finding foods to suit lower budgets and cooking up healthy snacks for children.
They have one more session in the community kitchen at Selwyn Primary School before they start the mentoring stage. For the next two years they will take their knowledge back to their communities and be mentored by Mrs Shand.
Two students of Pataka Kai are Leonie Rahurahu, 46, of Ngongotaha, and Chrissy Walker, 41, of Kawaha Point. The duo are both Waiariki students training to be chefs.
"I've learned heaps," Ms Rahurahu said.
"I'm looking forward to taking back lots of knowledge. I'm helping a kapa haka group at the moment and we've been finding ways to keep their stamina up on low-fat options. They have to be sharp on stage.
"From this course I've got a lot more enjoyment from making things from scratch, such as chicken nuggets."
Ms Walker is a member of the Rotorua Revival Centre and said she was keen to take her new-found knowledge back to the church group as well as to mothers and schools.
"I want to share my knowledge," she said.
"I think it's really great to be a part of Pataka Kai. I don't want to change people but give them advice on healthy choices. I've got young children and just knowing they've got better nutrition than a packet of Twisties, such as a slice of pumpkin loaf.
"When I first heard of pumpkin loaf I thought 'yuck' but it's probably at the top of my list [of all we've cooked]."
She said she has stopped frying foods, which she did because it was quick and easy, and started cooking baked potatoes.
"It's about cheap and easy foods," Mrs Shand said.
"Part of the course is about learning new tastes. Making it affordable is a core component."
Another group of six are already lined up to become Pataka Kai "foodies" and Mrs Shand hopes the healthy eating message will spread through the different communities.
Everyone on the course has been referred to Mrs Shand by community agencies, such as after-school children's care and the Pacific Island communities.
Pataka Kai is run in partnership with Waiariki, Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, Te Papa Takaro O Te Arawa and Health Rotorua primary health organisation.