“I have a lot more energy than before and am much happier. I’m definitely on the right tracks now, when it comes to what I eat.”

Doris, 68, of Trinity Close in North Shields, has never looked back since taking part in the Age Concern Healthy Eating Course.

“I'm now on my second course, of the class I mean, not my dinner! During that time I've learnt a lot about food." 

The first healthy eating course was held earlier this year at the Rudyerd Court Sheltered Housing in North Shields. It was run by a nutritionist and dietician from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust and proved something of a revelation for Doris. 

She was shocked to discover, as the six week course progressed, just how little she really knew about food and its impact on health and well-being. It led to a fundamental re-assessment, by Doris, of the food she ate. 

"I used to be a real pie and pasty addict and virtually lived on pre-packaged and convenient foods. But not anymore.” In fact, Doris, who is a volunteer on the reception desk for Age Concern in North Shields, adds. “I haven't had a pie or a pasty in twelve weeks. And I feel a lot better for it!

"One of the big things I’ve learnt is that I was consuming too much salt, which wasn't doing my high blood pressure any good. And my consumption of sugar and fats was also way too high.

“I don’t cook with salt anymore and now my family are also looking much more carefully at what they eat. When the grandbairns come round to visit me, there’s no crisps or fizzy drinks for them!

“Something else I'm pleased to have learnt about is that when it comes to dieting, you have to be careful, don’t just dive in. Before I started the healthy eating course I was on a diet which cut out potato and bread, all wheat based foods basically. But I was told in the class that no, these things are good - but in moderation."

The current healthy eating class is held at St Aidan’s Hall on Billy Mill Lane. The course is run by Sue, a Food and Health Advisor from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust, and part funded though Age Concern North Tyneside. The emphasis is not primarily on dieting but learning about what foods are good for us -and which are not so good.

The class has built on the success of the first and Doris's eating habits have changed dramatically - and she feels much better for it.

"Oh, I have a lot more energy, as I say," Doris explains. "I've lost a little weight and at my last check-up at the doctor’s, my blood pressure was fine. As to whether that's a direct result of the healthy eating course, well its early days yet to say that. 

"I certainly enjoy my food more. There’s something very satisfying about preparing your own meals from scratch as it were. And they taste better than the pre-packaged stuff I used to live on.

“It's been quite challenging because it's meant big changes. I was brought up on mince and dumplings, dipping bread and fish and chips. Now I don’t have a frying pan or a deep fat fryer in the house. And I wouldn't go near a fast food place. But I still love me biscuits, digestives especially!

"When shopping, I check the ingredients of everything I buy – though I have to take my glasses because the print is so small! The manufacturers should do something about that. How can people inform themselves about healthy eating when they can't read the print on the packaging? 

"I buy fresh food and eat a lot more fruit and salads. I make my own chili con carne for example, and my own soups and salads and enjoy fish dishes, which could be cod, haddock, salmon or tuna with say a baked potato. Chicken and turkey are part of my diet too but I avoid red meat. 

"Rice and pasta are other favourites and I make my own pizzas. One of my speciality dishes are crumpets or muffins topped with tomatoes, sweet corn and mushrooms, baked in the oven. The one drawback is the cost of some things. Vegetarian mince, for example, used in making chili con carne, is not cheap. 

"Basically, what I've learnt is how to make good healthy meals quickly.

“I worry about the bairns though, I mean bairns generally, eating junk food and crisps and stuff. I’m a pain in the neck with my grandbairns. I make sure they drink sugar free pop when they come round to see me - and there’s no junk food!”

Attending the healthy eating classes has benefited Doris in more ways than one. She has made lots of new friends. 

"I love it," says Doris. "We all stand at the table, working on our dishes, kneading dough for bread buns or preparing a salad and we chat while we work. We go for coffee together and have quizzes. There's a lot of laughter."

In fact, the social side of the healthy eating course has proved so successful that the class are planning to keep their weekly cookery sessions going when the course ends.

"In fact", chuckles Doris. "It's been food-tastic!"