Students cook gluten-free meals for charity

Food technology students at Waimea College had to think outside the square when they offered to make a range of gluten-free meals to hand over to Bellyful Nelson.

The organisation delivers meals to families with babies and young children who need support, so when the level 1 food technology class produced gluten-free options labelled manaakitanga, or kindness, they were welcome additions to offer families.

Waimea’s food technology head of department, Melanie Brown, says the students had to spend time researching and trialling different ingredients before cooking their dishes and the end result was about 50 meals from meat and savoury dishes to desserts and baking.

“Often only one person in a family is gluten-free, so the meals had to be single serves that could be heated and served. The kids are really proud with the end result and it’s important to know that it’s not all about you. Often, they come and cook some food they like and go home, but this is for a good cause.”

Bellyful Nelson coordinator Tracey Marvin praised the creativity of the meals and says they will supplement standard meals given out to whanau with newborns and young children, including the special care baby unit at the hospital where the organisation has a freezer for meals.

“It’s a great idea.” she says. “They really came through and I was surprised at the variety of meals.”