Members of the Tackling Food Poverty research project celebrated International Older People’s Day with an interactive cooking demonstration at the Manchester Food and Drink Festival recently.

The event brought together researchers from the University of Manchester, older people and local cookery school Cracking Good Food to share cooking skills and to highlight the risks of under-nutrition in older age which can lead to poorer health outcomes.

Dr Purdam, lecturer in social statistics and expert on food insecurity, led the Tackling Food Poverty project for the University which grew out of a MICRA Seedcorn Project.

He explains: 

“Many older people live on their own and may not be motivated to eat or get the help they need. Under nutrition is linked with delays in recovery from illness and to longer periods in hospital.”

“Bringing older people together to talk about their circumstances and to share their favourite recipes can have a really positive impact on their wellbeing.”

The food was supplied by Fareshare Greater Manchester.

 The research team helped develop an under-nutrition risk tool currently being piloted in East Manchester through an ESRC Impact Accelerator Award.

Further details about the project and event are available:

• Older people and under-nutrition risks – scoping study
• Cracking Good Food
• Manchester Food and Drink Festival
• Fareshare Greater Manchester