Katikati Community Centre is introducing a new course to teach people “cooking on a budget”.

Under the Good Neighbour umbrella, centre volunteers regularly visit Woolworths Katikati for “food rescue” which is shared with Kura Kai, Tamawhariua and Katikati Christian Food Bank.

Kura Kai community co-ordinator Megan Branks will take the classes.

Branks said the course will look at smart shopping (seasonal produce), meal planning, recipes, easy cooking techniques and tips and tricks to save on ingredients.

“With the price of groceries, a lot of people are struggling to put together meals in a cost-effective way,” she said.

They may run a pumpkin session (frittata, pumpkin and chickpea curry and pumpkin soup) as they are cheap at the moment.

“The idea is to learn to use produce multiple ways - to take one thing and turn it into three different dishes.”

Tight budgets

Katikati Community Centre adult education co-ordinator Sonya Mischewski said just about everyone was on a budget at the moment and the idea was to share knowledge with the community.

“We’re living in an area where produce is quite seasonal so the course will let you know what you can cook with what’s affordable at the time.”

Branks looks after Kura Kai in Katikati with area co-ordinator Sara Elliot.

They’ve wanted to run a cooking class in Katikati, Branks said, so jumped at the chance to run the class.

Kura Kai started in 2020. Volunteers give their time, money and resources to cook nutritious family meals. Funds are raised to purchase chest freezers which are donated to high schools.

Local high school leaders then help to identify people in the community who may need some help. The meals can be for high school families or anyone in the community.

Not every session will involve cooking at the Cooking on a Budget course. Participants can contact www.katikaticommunity.nz to enrol.

The details

What: Cooking on a Budget

Where: Katikati College

When: Wednesdays, 6.30-8.30pm from May 7

Cost: $20