Croí, the west of Ireland heart and stroke charity, this week announced a health and lifestyle partnership with Galway Food Festival 2013.
The festival, which will take place on Easter Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday March 28 to Monday April 1, aims to promote Galway as a good food destination and to highlight the importance of food provenance, sustainability, and healthy eating.
Speaking at the announcement of the partnership, Croí chief executive Neil Johnson said: “More people in Ireland die from heart disease and stroke than any other disease and up to 90 per cent of these deaths could be prevented by making simple lifestyle changes and controlling risk factors. Small changes to eating habits can make a big difference to a person’s weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes control. This partnership with Galway Food Festival will provide Croí with an additional and welcome platform to communicate our healthy eating message and to highlight the work of the newly established Croí Heart and Stroke Centre at Newcastle here in Galway’’.
Croí will have a public information stand in the festival village at Fishmarket Square throughout the Easter weekend where its new Healthy Ways and Lifestyle Guide cookbook will be on sale. The book contains more than 100 delicious recipes that are heart-friendly and easy to make and offers a unique blend of cooking and lifestyle tips which demonstrate how small changes can have a huge impact on our health and wellbeing. All proceeds from the sale of the book will directly support the fight against heart disease and stroke.
Claire Kerins, specialist cardiac dietician with Croí, will participate in the festival’s series of food talks at the Galway City Museum during the weekend and will (in partnership with West Restaurant, Twelve Hotel Barna ) co-present a healthy eating cookery demonstration in the festival’s demo tent.
Galway Food Festival chairman JP MC Mahon welcomed the partnership with Croi saying, “One of the festival’s key objectives is to promote healthy eating for all ages - we are thus delighted to work with Croí, in promoting this important message and in highlighting Croí's innovative and life-changing programmes.’’
Last year more than 50 restaurants, food outlets, and food producers participated in the Galway Food Festival and more than 70 individual events, food demonstrations, and talks were held. The festival is a citywide event involving outlets and locations throughout Galway and its environs. Full programme details will be announced in the coming weeks on www.galwayfoodfestival.com
