Paula McIntyre shares budget cooking ideas with Antrim families

Pictured (L-R) is Paula McIntyre, Pamela Minford (Castle Mall centre manager), Shona Burke (Head of Customer Service Operations at Choice) and Robin Swann MP. 

Families from Stiles Way in Antrim picked up ideas for making nutritious meals on a budget during a community cooking event with television chef Paula McIntyre.

The demonstration, organised by Choice Housing as part of Shared Housing Week, focused on affordable, hearty food and practical advice residents could use in their own kitchens.

Antrim Community Fridge, which redistributes food to prevent it going to waste, supported the event alongside Castle Mall Shopping Centre.

Affordable ideas for everyday meals

Paula, known for her BBC Northern Ireland series Hamely Cooking, shared advice aimed at helping individuals and families keep meal costs down.

“I was delighted to be taking part in Choice’s Shared Housing Week,” said Paula.

“From my experience, cooking good food does not have to be expensive, and I was happy to get the chance to share simple, affordable and tasty ideas that everyone can enjoy!”

The event also brought residents together around food, combining the cooking demonstration with an opportunity to spend time with neighbours and local organisations.

Jonathan Blakely, Community Development Manager at Choice, said:

“Food has a fantastic way of bringing people together, and this community event is a great example of how community partnerships can create positive experiences for our residents. Paula’s focus on cooking on a budget will provide practical ideas that people can take away and use at home, while also celebrating the value of sharing food and enjoying time together.”

Support for the Stiles Way community

Stiles Way is supported by the Department for Communities and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s Housing for All Shared Housing Programme.

Choice said the scheme could see a potential investment of £2.14 million across the housing development and its associated five-year good relations plan. That figure relates to the wider scheme, rather than the cooking event alone.

The programme forms part of the Executive’s Together: Building a United Community Strategy, which aims to improve community relations and support a shared society.

Practical help beyond housing

The demonstration was among several events Choice held during Shared Housing Week, with activities intended to help residents meet, share experiences and learn from one another.

Jonathan said:

“At Choice, we want to be much more than just a landlord. We have a responsibility to play a positive role in the communities where we operate, to listen to what matters to local people and, wherever we can, provide practical support that makes a difference.”

For those attending from Stiles Way, the focus was on something they could take home: ideas for preparing affordable, nutritious meals and making better use of food.