Development of specialist lifestyle and well being service for the South Asian Community

Cooking Lessons: Dieticians worked with the cooks at the Leamington Sikh Temple (Gurdawara) to teach them how toproduce healthy and nutritious meals. Training sessions were conducted with up to six women who voluntarily cook for the Gurdawara community on a regular basis. At that time some dishes at theGurdawara were made with Ghee (clarified butter), which makes the food high in fat and cholesterol.The aim was to use olive oil or pure rapeseed oil instead - but still remembering only to use a little.

Low Fat Low Sugar Sweets: Traditionally, Asians exchange sweets, which are very high in sugar and calories, during festive celebrations. Through Apnee Sehat and under the guidance of the Dieticians, the cooks at the Gurdawara and chefs developed recipes for the healthier sweets for the 2005 Diwali and 2007 Eid celebrations.

Calendar: A Diwali health calendar for 2006 was developed and made available free of charge. Themed around health and lifestyle, the calendar gives clear messages about health within the south Asian community.

Shopping trips: A healthy shopping coach trip from Foleshill, Coventry to Sainsbury's in Leamington was remarkably successful and oversubscribed!

Personalised Risk Factor Testing: Simple, personalised risk factor testing, such as blood pressure, cholestoral, and sugar levels were arranged at all events to raise awareness of an individual's risk

• Health fairs at religious festivals to opportunistically screen.
• Screening and lifestyle education at work place, factories and schools to reach those who find it hard to take time out during the day for health matters.

Diabetes Structured Educational Programme: Stuctured education tailored to South Asian lifestyles was developed.

• Healthy lifestyle DVD - bringing together messages conveyed by the programme in the form of an educational DVD in Bollywood Hindi to allow for key messages to be disseminated to a wider target group which overcomes language difficulties.
• Posters on healthy eating.

Educational Tool Kit: DVD 1 "Your Guide to Healthy Living"

Educational Tool Kit: DVD 2 "The Essence of Life"