Measuring Our Success: Statistics
Bags of Taste is built on data. Having worked with 14,000 participants, we have the detailed feedback and numbers to see what works and what doesn’t. All components of our course were A/B tested and the programme is constantly updated based on feedback from participants on an ongoing basis. Our long term evaluation showed:
- 86% of participants cooked more frequently after the course
- 68% said that they feel more confident to cook
- 70% of people identified ways of reducing food costs
- 77% of all students completed the programme
- Average saving on takeaways and ready meals of £800 a year
- Decline in takeaway consumption highest in those that ate the most takeaways.
This independent thematic evaluation of 60 programme participants was performed 6 months after the end of the programme, by professional nutritionists, to see the long term impact of the programme.
I used to cook years ago and I loved it, and I stopped cooking due to health problems. I will be cooking a lot more going forward. I cooked the chana masala again the other day as I really liked the recipe. My husband and my son enjoyed the food too. I used to eat ready microwave meals, so now that I will cook more I know I will save some money. I realised cooking is easier that I thought and it doesn’t need to be a chore, it can be fun.
I struggle with my mental health so some days are pretty rough, which is why I cook the same things as it’s in my comfort zone but this course helped me get out of that. I was really impressed with the Channa Masala, I would present it differently next time but it smelled amazing. I’m proud that I did that and I just want to say thank you to you all too.
I had forgotten how good freshly cooked food can taste. I struggle with my osteoarthritis but will make more of an effort to start cooking now. I have been shopping and stocked up on chickpeas and other ingredients so I can cook less expensive meals. The mentoring was great and I felt supported and it was nice to send pictures of my food and have lovely comments back.
I thought the recipes were really well laid out and easy to follow. My mum helped me as I am blind. They were very tasty and I loved them. It was nice to try something different. I am looking forward to getting more recipes to try.
Improved Diets and Overall Health
Our programmes are proven to help people
- improve their diets – we see a reduction in take-aways and an increase in vegetable consumption
- by supporting overall health and well-being – people reported feeling more confident, that they had lost weight and have more energy. Some with pre-existing conditions like arthritis and diabetes saw improvements in their symptoms
- improve their mental health – some participants reported feeling ‘better within themselves, more confident and more adventurous; willing to try things themselves’
Other family members also reported health benefits resulting from changes to their diets, These will benefit their children, and their children’s children.
Kim has type 2 diabetes and was referred by a social prescriber. From what she told me her cooking and eating habits were pretty chaotic and not helping to improve her health. The course has given her the structure and the motivation to make dramatic changes to how she shops, cooks and organises food. She was in the middle of cooking the afternoon I called her for feedback.
“Doing the course has opened up conversations with my children about what meals we eat as a family. They’ve become much more interested in what they’re eating and what goes in to their dishes. They’ve been open to trying new things even when they’ve not liked them but have made suggestions for what they would substitute and how they would amend the recipes to suit their tastes. Having always felt the responsibility for cooking was mine alone, it now feels more collaborative as a family even if I still do the bulk of the work.”
Social Connection
Creating connections for those who are socially isolated
People often view the world through their own lens, assuming that everyone shares their capabilities and desires. However, for some, even leaving the house can be a significant challenge, and attending face-to-face events may seem nearly impossible. It’s crucial to recognize that taking small, incremental steps is important for these individuals. Simple actions like a daily call or message on WhatsApp can make a big difference, helping them feel less isolated and gradually building the confidence needed to venture out in the future.
I liked interacting with others and seeing the variety of how people cooked. Every person’s dish was different and it was really interesting to see. It was fun wondering ‘is she going to do this or that?’ and ‘what did they serve it with?’.
This was an awesome journey I really enjoyed the course, the meals and seeing everyone’s meals. This was the most fun I have had in a very long time and best of all it was for me. My friend challenged me to do one thing for myself that I am truly excited about. I feel really excited to have finally done something that was only for me.
Empowering, Motivating and Sustaining
Participants told us that:
- The programme made them feel more in control of other aspects of their lives. It motivated one participant to apply for a job as a chef and encouraged another to apply for an online course. He told us it gave him ‘confidence about life’.
- People tell us they loved doing the mentored programme with their children, saying they felt that they bonded while they cooked
- Independent, long term evaluations of our Mentored Cooking programme showed that 86% had made lasting changes to the way they eat