Jamie Oliver's ministry of food classes headed for coast

JAMIE Oliver's Ministry of Food will hold community cooking classes on the Gold Coast from early next year.

Jamie Oliver's ministry of food van is headed for the Gold Coast. Picture: Contributed - Network Ten publicity website

JAMIE Oliver's Ministry of Food will hold community cooking classes on the Gold Coast from early next year.

The mobile kitchen will arrive on January 11 to conduct basic 90-minute classes for 11 weeks.

Half of the program will be held at Country Paradise Park, Nerang while Oxford/Coomera Community Centre will host the remaining weeks of the cooking classes.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said was confident the mobile kitchen would be successful.

"I look forward to hearing of the success of the mobile kitchen which will be based in the north of the city during its tour early next year."

Queensland chief health officer Jeanette Young said that obesity was rising and the courses at the mobile kitchen would help people choose healthier options.

"Only 7.4% of adults consume the recommended levels of fruit and vegetables each day," she said.

"Programs like this can help Queenslanders get in the habit of cooking more nutritious food with simple produce instead of buying takeaway."

The Queensland Government was the first state to join Jamie Oliver in his crusade against unhealthy eating and has contributed $2.5 million to The Good Foundation to allow the ministry to travel Queensland.

About 240 aspiring cooks are expected to take advantage of the opportunity.

Ministry CEO Alicia Peardon said the classes were a practical solution to obesity and diet related disease, and a response to the lack of food skills in communities.

"Jamie's Ministry of Food is about getting people cooking again, teaching them the basics; how to cook, how to shop and how to enjoy food in a way that benefits not only individuals, but also their families."

Contact the Gold Coast City Council for course bookings.