Pop up shop gives food for thought on Type 1 diabetes

Rachel’s personal journey leads to educational Degree Show project

A pop-up shop being showcased as part of Edinburgh Napier’s Degree Show is providing food for thought to attendees as it aims to debunk the myths and stigma surrounding type 1 diabetes.

“Food for Thought” has been created by Edinburgh Napier fourth year graphic design student Rachel Cartledge.

The speculative shop is stocked with fun, eye-catching products that aim to address specific issues relating to type 1 diabetes, including some of the misunderstanding around diagnosis, hypos, carb counting and more.

Cereals called ‘Dia-wheaties’ and ‘Hypos’ bury some of the myths around the condition alongside providing information on what to do if a diabetic is experiencing low sugar levels.

‘In A Pickle’ jars provide information on what you can do to help someone with type 1 diabetes and drink cans called ‘Shots’ share more on type 1 diabetes and drinking alcohol.

‘Myth Milk’ again looks into some of the different myths around type 1 diabetes and tins called ‘Can you carb count’ provide knowledge on the importance of weighing out portions of food – something that is vital when using insulin.

Rachel – who is 22 years-old and from Edinburgh – was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was just four years old.

The project, and its items, have been created as a direct response to some of the misconceptions and stigma that Rachel has experienced being a type 1 diabetic throughout her life so far.

Rachel said: “I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 4. As I grew up, and as I started to understand more about the condition myself, it became obvious that there wasn’t a great deal of information out there that gave people knowledge on what type 1 diabetes is and its causes and symptoms.

“People kept on telling me that I had it because I ate too much sugar, which simply isn’t true. I remember visiting the hospital and the diabetes posters were quite extreme. People don’t realise that type 1 is vastly different from type 2 diabetes.

“Type 1 is an auto-immune condition. There is no way of preventing it and it can happen to anyone.

“This led me to creating Food for Thought. I wanted to catch people’s attention and use design to express how I feel about the stigma and misinformation surrounding the condition. Creating it has been a bit like therapy – but it has been a lot of fun too.

“I’m in a lucky position that I’ve grown up with it. I’ve had a supportive family and friend network around me, and I’ve adapted my lifestyle – it hasn’t stopped me from doing anything that I’ve wanted to do. However, if you were in your mid 20s and got diagnosed with it tomorrow, I’m not sure the resources would be there to help you understand the condition and how to live with it. That’s been a key driver behind the whole project.”

Alongside exhibiting at Edinburgh Napier’s Degree Show, Rachel’s Food for Thought project has also been in display at a recent diabetes discovery day organised by the JDRF charity in Aberdeen.

If you would like to see Rachel’s project, and others from the University’s School of Arts and Creative Industries, the Edinburgh Napier Degree Show runs from 24 – 30 May at Merchiston campus.

More information on the show can be found here.

Sun comes out for Granton gardeners’ BBQ

What a difference some sunshine makes!

A steady stream of local residents – and at least one wee visitor from Pilton! – popped into the Granton Community Garden this afternoon to enjoy a barbecue. Much of the food was grown in the community garden – doesn’t it always taste better when you’ve grown it yourself?

The garden’s looking good and it’ll look even better with a few more days sunshine. Here’s hoping …

Sun comes out for Granton gardeners' BBQ

What a difference some sunshine makes!

A steady stream of local residents – and at least one wee visitor from Pilton! – popped into the Granton Community Garden this afternoon to enjoy a barbecue. Much of the food was grown in the community garden – doesn’t it always taste better when you’ve grown it yourself?

The garden’s looking good and it’ll look even better with a few more days sunshine. Here’s hoping …

Food for Thought …

Pilton Community Health Project’s ANITA AGGARWAL tells us about North Edinburgh’s new food forum … and rhubarb!

‘Food for thought’ – Pilton’s community food forum 

It’s a winner of a name and an idea that is starting to bear fruit. The newly established community food forum is now called ‘food for thought’.  John Muir, who works at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre, won the competition to name the group and a shiny new recipe book.  We had plenty of other good entries, we thought this one summed up our ideas best.

Lots of people have told us they are interested in food and either want the chance to get involved with food projects or are already involved.  The food forum aims to link up work which is already going on and work together to make more ‘foody’ things happen in the area.

At the next meeting we will be planning food events in the summer.  Come along if you are interested in getting involved.  It will take place on Thursday 24 May at 10am at Pilton Community Health Project.  Call Anita on 0131 551 1671 for more information or to book a crèche space.

Watch out for more information from the food for thought forum. 

Food things for you to get involved with:

Mondays for 6 weeks from 1 May 7 – 9pm Mexican Cooking course Craigroyston High School  538 7285

Every Tuesday, 10 -12     Barri Grubb’s cooking club Pilton Community Health Project  551 1671

Every Tuesday, 10.30      Granton Community Gardeners  Meet at Salvation Army.  gardengranton@gmail.com

Every Tuesday, 10 – 12    Food co-op West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre  551 3194

Everyday:

Food blog Drylaw cooking group http://drylawcookinggroup.wordpress.com/

Community Cafes – North Edinburgh Arts, Royston Wardieburn and Muirhouse Millennium Centre.

Rhubarb Recipe

We have still got a way to go before there are lots of good fruit and vegetables growing in Scotland, but I have a friend who lives in Granton who is eating rhubarb from his garden already, so here is a lovely rhubarb recipe from the Love food, hate waste Scotland website http://scotland.lovefoodhatewaste.com

Rhubarb, Apple and Orange Compote

Serve this compote for a delicious breakfast with yoghurt and a bowl of muesli. This recipe also works well with pears instead of apples. Recipe author: Caroline Marson, Banbury.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

  • 250g rhubarb, sliced
  • 1-2 apples peeled , cored and bruises cut away, cut into cubes
  • 50ml orange juice
  • 25g caster sugar
  • Yoghurt

Method:

  1. Combine the rhubarb, apples, orange juice and sugar in a pan. Bring to the boil over a medium heat. Reduce heat, and simmer for 3 minutes or until fruit is tender.
  2. Remove from heat and cool. Serve spooned over muesli with fruit juice and yogurt.

Gardening tips – Rhubarb grows like a weed in Scotland; you don’t even need to look after it and it is happy in a shady corner.

Healthy fact – It’s a great source of fibre, but don’t eat too much as it acts as a laxative!

Strange but true Rhubarb is the only vegetable used as a fruit.