University of Herts to host free family cookalong event

As part of this year’s Festival of Social Science, the university has joined forces with Stevenage Football Club Foundation and The Let's Cook Project to deliver the Hertfordshire Full of Beans Cookalong. 

The live-streamed event will take place on Thursday, October 31, and will run from 12.30pm until 1.30pm, allowing attendees to participate from the comfort of their homes.  

The event is being led by James Shepherd, a PhD food insecurity researcher at the University of Hertfordshire and also the director of The Let’s Cook Project, and supported by Stevenage Football Club Foundation Community Kitchen programme, run by the Stevenage FC Foundation. 

James said: “This will be a really fun, interactive and educational activity for children of all ages and their grown-ups to do together during their half-term break.

“Beans are a delicious yet simple and affordable ingredient that provide a fantastic source of protein, are far lower in fat than most meat alternatives – so better for your body - and far better for the environment." 

The event will showcase simple and delicious bean recipes, including homemade baked beans and "mean bean balls," as well teaching attendees about the benefits of incorporating more beans into their diet.

Hannah Marsh, head of health and wellbeing at Stevenage FC Foundation, said: “We want to help you put the fun back into mealtimes with this quick, easy and nutritious recipe, cooking together as a family. 

“Cooking and eating together has so many benefits and we hope you enjoy doing so in this special event!”  

The first 25 families that sign up by Friday, October 18, will get a free recipe box delivered to their door ahead of the event that will include recipe cards and the main ingredients needed, except for one egg and 45ml of cooking oil. 

The cookalong received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).