Dundee families cook up global flavours and fight food waste at Signpost International's community kitchen

Dundee families are getting the chance to “eat their way around the world” this summer as a local charity unveils its free programme of holiday activities.

Signpost International runs a community kitchen at The Roundhouse in the city’s Whitfield area, where surplus food donated to the charity by supermarkets, bakers and allotments is being made into fresh meals.

This project works to close the loop between food waste and food poverty by showing families how to transform ingredients into healthy dishes from across the globe.

Mum Dianne Hutton comes to the cooking classes with her daughter Emily.

Children have been tasting cuisine from all over the world at the community kitchen STV News

“She’s really enjoying learning to cook different foods and being hands-on,” she said. “It’s encouraged her to try different foods that she maybe wouldn’t try at home with us encouraging her.

“You feel like you’re part of something meaningful in the community as well.”

Dozens of families have been attending the centre over the summer holidays for various activities, all aimed at developing children’s skills and confidence.

The kitchen programme not only teaches life skills but also helps families spend quality time together, according to community education worker Stephanie Dolan.

Mum Brogan Blann with Isla making tzatziki together STV News

She said: “A lot of children are quite fussy eaters and parents can find that quite challenging. They don’t always like it, but it’s good to explore new food in a relaxed environment.

“It’s important to introduce new foods and cooking skills early on so they get used to new foods and how to work with them.”

So far, families have sampled Italian, Indian and Greek cuisine, with children recently making tzatziki and chicken gyros.

It's Greek Week at the Signpost International community kitchen — It’s Greek Week at the Signpost International community kitchen STV News

Communications officer Rafael F. de Jesus said the sessions also help teach families to make the most of fresh produce.

“Waste sometimes happens because people don’t know what to do with the food they get from the supermarket, like fruits and vegetables,” he said.

“We want to be able to show them how to make healthy meals – it’s about having something that is going to sustain you.

“We’re often so rushed at home that we don’t give opportunities for the little ones to learn; to be able to have this place to support the kids is very important.”