ALTON Foodbank will be launching ‘Eat Well Spend Less’ courses in September, looking at how to cook quick, healthy meals on a low budget.

Taking place at Bushy Leaze Children’s Centre on Eastbrook Road in Alton (next to Anstey Junior School), there will be six free sessions teaching people cookery skills and household budgeting tips to help make tight budgets stretch further.

It is an entry-level course so participants don’t need to know how to cook beforehand. Each session lasts two-and-a-half hours, covering two basic recipes as well as activities on the session’s topic. Each recipe will be demonstrated to participants before they attempt to make it themselves, and the course will cover dishes such as a quick soup, basic tomato sauces, as well as treats like crumbles.

Participants will cook with the course organisers in a relaxed environment and take home what they make.

The course will also cover a range of subjects surrounding cooking and budgeting, including menu planning, portion sizes, money planning, supermarket psychology, and tips on picking up bargains.

Alton Foodbank manager John Jacobs said: “We all learn together in a small group, so people can share their own skills and experience too. The course is fun and informal, and it’s a great way to discover new tips and techniques on how to cook quick, healthy meals on a low budget.”

The first course will be held on six Fridays from September 16 at Bushy Leaze Children’s Centre. To book a place, call e-mail John Jacobs at [email protected] or call him on 07773 034447.