Garima – Guest

Meet mum Garima, a regular guest at the FoodCycle school community meal at her daughter’s school in Birmingham.

Garima comes to the meal at Ark Tindal Primary Academy with her husband and daughter, aged nine, and son aged four. The family have enjoyed trying lots of new fruits and vegetables at FoodCycle, and new dishes such as blueberry crumble, as well as learning about how to reduce food waste and connecting with other families.

What attracted you to the FoodCycle community meals at your school?

Initially I didn’t know what it was, but after the first time we attended, I realised this is a good thing, for my kids to have the variety of food, plus the social connection.

Now I think  we all go mainly for the social interaction, and I’ve learned quite a few things from FoodCycle. I’m passionate about cooking, so I’ve learned quite a few things to cook, and that that has helped us, holistically.

What was your first impression of coming to a FoodCycle meal?

Initially I was hesitant, but when it started I was impressed with the idea of arranging this in a school, and supporting the cause of preventing food waste, and helping families. There are some families who might be struggling, and this school has taken an initiative to support social causes, and one of them is this. After I attended FoodCycle for the first time I encouraged other families to attend.

It’s a good way for my kids to explore different cuisines. We are from an Indian household, and now we are living in the UK I wanted my kids to learn the ways and get used to different foods. It’s a good way to get hints. FoodCycle has helped us get used to a diversity of foods.

What do you and your family think about the food at FoodCycle?

I really love everything that is served. There is no favourite meal. In our family we have loved the roast potatoes, bread pudding and blueberry crumble.

But to be honest, we like everything.

What difference has coming to FoodCycle made to your life?

Me and my family enjoy exploring the different cuisine that’s offered in FoodCycle. At home, sometimes my little one would cry and say: “I don’t want to have veggies”, but when he’s in school doesn’t scream, he just has it.

Because FoodCycle and the school are working towards the concept of minimal food wastage, my kids have learned not to waste any food. They eat whatever is on their plates, we never leave FoodCycle until the food on our plates is finished.

It is definitely helping with the cost of living too. We haven’t worked out on how much it has saves us, but definitely, considering we use whatever we get from FoodCycle it definitely helps. And I’m not cooking that night, so it’s a relief knowing I don’t have to cook tonight.

My kids also enjoy it because they get to play with the other kids. It’s in their routine now. My little one is very enthusiastic about attending FoodCycle – he always knows when it’s FoodCycle day. It’s become a routine.

Have you or your children experienced anything new because of FoodCycle?

We have started making some new things at home with the fruit and vegetables that are offered from FoodCycle. There are a few things that we never saw before in the supermarket, but with the idea of not wasting any food I have learned new recipes of what to make with those things.

Like for example, celery roots and parsnips. We’ve never had that in our home, but because we got it at FoodCycle, we support the idea of no food wastage and we have explored new ways of incorporating into our routine as well.

I made cutlets out of celery root. It was just an experiment, and it turned out to be good. I grated the celery root (celeriac) and then I mixed it with some other veggies and binding agents – you can use some potato or gram flour, and I added some spices. It’s all healthy. Then I made some cutlets. I partially cooked them on the oven, and in our family, we like crispy cutlets so I basically cook them in the oven and then I pan fried them on, in a shallow pan just with a brush of oil. It was tasty.

FoodCycle has also introduced us to new recipes. I had a gathering a couple of weeks ago at my home and I made blueberry crumble. I had never made that before. As we are an Indian household we are used to spending a lot of time cooking desserts, so one thing that I have learned from FoodCycle being passionate about cooking is some recipes for dessert, which can be just baked so you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen and they turn out really tasty. All my guests loved the crumble. I usually use minimal sugar and some alternatives to make it healthier, so instead of refined flour, I use wholemeal flour or semolina.

Do you think FoodCycle is making a difference in your school community?

Yes. There are few friends that I’ve made only after attending FoodCycle. I think school is doing a wonderful job encouraging parents to come to FoodCycle – we have had people playing piano and guitar during the meal, so it’s enjoyable. Getting used to something new isn’t easy, but my when people come once they do often come again, we explore, and we make connections. It’s a holistic thing.

What would you say to anyone else thinking about coming to the FoodCycle meal?

Just come, get into the routine, come at least for four to five times and then you will be integrated and you will come back!