Community
20 June, 2025
Helping families battle cost of living
AFFORDABLE and healthy eating can be a challenge for many families battling the rising cost of living.
But two new initiatives delivered by South West Healthcare, West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House and Portland District Health are helping overcome that challenge.
The ‘Easy Eats’ recipe cards offer user-friendly cards and short cooking videos while ‘Chop ‘n’ Chat’ is a hands-on cooking program delivered to primary school students through the Neighbourhood House.
‘Chop n Chat’ sessions use the Easy Eats cards for their recipes, which Students can use and replicate at home.
Originally developed in partnership with Portland District Health service to support food relief recipients, the Easy Eats cards are now available to the wider community and continue to be distributed through Western District Food Share and other local food relief services.
The colourful, step-by-step cards feature simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, helping families prepare healthy meals on a budget.
“With the rising cost of living, we know many people are doing it tough,” health promotion officer at South West Healthcare Natasha Kohlman said.
“Easy Eats is about helping people feel supported in the kitchen with recipes that are healthy, budget-friendly, and achievable.
“The combination of our simple Easy Eats cards and real-world kitchen practice helps bring healthy eating to life for the next generation.”
West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House Coordinator Jill Bourke, who developed the Chop ‘n’ Chat program, said students from St Pius X Parish School and West Warrnambool Primary School were enjoying the experience of learning valuable kitchen skills, trying new foods, and discovering the joy of healthy eating.
“Chop n Chat is about more than just cooking, it’s about building confidence, connection and lifelong habits,” Ms Bourke said.
“We love seeing the kids light up when they realise they’ve made something delicious themselves. It’s a small moment that can have a big impact.”
South West Healthcare health literacy team member Ashleigh Philpott said children were discovering that cooking was not only a life skill, but something they could enjoy and feel proud of.
For individuals or families in need of food assistance (including Easy Eats recipe cards), support is available through Western District Foodshare.
The Easy Eats cards and cooking videos are also freely available online via South West Healthcare’s website.
In addition, the health promotion team at South West Healthcare has updated the Warrnambool and Corangamite Community Food Guides, which provides information on where to find free or low-cost food, including food relief services, community kitchens, and affordable local produce.
For more information or to explore hosting a food literacy workshop, contact the health promotion team at healthpromotion@swh.net.au.
