Do you find it busy to get time to cook? Could your food choices be a little healthier? Should you be eating more fruit and vegetables? If your answer is yes to any of these questions then the Local Heart & Stroke Charity, Croí and Mayo PCCC, HSE West are inviting you to a healthy eating cookery demonstration in association with Bord Bia during May as part of the ‘Mayo Healthy Living Month'.

This cookery event entitled ‘Quick & Easy Meals' will take place in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar on Wednesday 16th May at 7.30pm and is kindly supported by two local Butchers, Sean Hopkins Meats, Market Square, Castlebar and Sean & Brian at Kettericks Fine Foods, Market Square, Castlebar. Cooking up a storm will be Máire Dufficy, Bord Bia Food Adviser, as seen on TV3, who will be demonstrating just how quick and easy a selection of delicious healthy dishes can be prepared. Claire Kerins, Croí Cardiac Dietitian will also be on hand on the night to share some tips on how we can make simple changes to what we cook and eat, to help manage weight, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure and improve our overall health.

Tickets are only €10 and are available now in the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar, Aramark Hospital Shop in Mayo General Hospital, Hopkins Butchers, Market Square, Castlebar and Kettericks Butchers, Market Square, Castlebar. You can also purchase your ticket by calling Alma on 091 893506 or book online at www.croi.ie/cookingdemo.

Croí Cardiac Dietitian Claire Kerins cautions that "Many people can be hard pressed for time which means cooking from scratch has become less common. In addition people are turning to unhealthy processed foods during the recession because they are perceived to be cheaper. In fact these foods increase the intake of empty calories, sugar, saturated fats and salt - all of which are bad for heart health."

Announcing details of this event Croí Nurse Lead for the ‘Mayo Action on Heart Disease & Stroke' programme said "I welcome everyone to come along on the night - you do not need to be an expert in the kitchen! You may be cooking for yourself or for a family and so this cookery demo is about offering you an opportunity to learn more about how to make healthier food choices which is a key part of living a longer and healthier life"

For more information on the ‘Mayo Healthy Living Month' contact Ailish Houlihan, Croí Nurse Lead, ‘Mayo Action on Heart Disease & Stroke' on 094-9049172 or email ailish@croi.ie or log onto www.croi.ie