- NYHS home
- Wider needs
- Health and well-being
- Healthy eating
National Youth Homelessness Scheme
Healthy eating
There is wide spread concern about the diet of young people and supported housing providers have a key role in promoting a healthy diet and developing young people's skills in preparing food including shopping and menu planning. Accessing and maintaining a balanced diet contributes to better physical and emotional health. Unless they develop the skills and knowledge to eat healthily it can be easier for young people to rely on cheap take-aways and ready meals that are high in fat, sugar and salt and low in nutritional value. Many young people do understand the principles of healthy eating, but need support to prioritise this and budget effectively from low incomes, or identify affordable sources of fresh fruit and vegetables. Some providers could work with primary care services and commissioners to offer subsidised access to fruit and vegetables.
Supported housing projects that provide young people with meals should ensure that food serviced reflects a commitment to healthy eating and young people should have choices about want they eat and be involved in planning and designing menus as much as possible. In self-catered accommodation it is important that young people have access to good quality kitchen facilities.
Healthy eating, cooking and shopping are frequently found in the life-skills training provided by many supported housing providers. Some providers run a structured life-skills training programme and this will include sections on healthy eating, meal preparation and shopping for a healthy diet.
Other providers have also made the link between healthy eating and behavioural issues and emotional and mental well-being. Some providers have made links with health professionals that run sessions at their schemes on such topics as healthy eating and hygiene.
Good practice by supported housing providers includes:
- Using group sessions such as house meetings to prepare and cook healthy meals
- Accompanying young people on shopping trips
- Running cooking workshops
- Ensuring that young people in self contained accommodation have basic equipment for cooking and distributing recipe cards
- Helping young people to buy healthy food and cook healthy meals on a budget.
