'It's important young people know how to cook' (From Watford Observer)
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TV presenter Ben Shephard cooks signature dish at West Herts College
4:02pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News
By Rebecca Perring, Reporter
Celebrity TV presenter Ben Shephard, MP Richard Harrington and students from Kids Count Charity cook up a storm
Celebrity TV presenter Ben Shephard rustled up his very own signature dish ‘Ben’s Shepherd’s Pie’ today in front of excited youngsters at a Watford college.
Ben visited the catering kitchens at West Herts College , in Hempstead Road , as part of a nationwide tour by 5by25, a campaign calling for young people to learn five healthy recipes by the age of 25. He joined the group of 16-25-year-olds, from Kids Count Charity, to encourage them to cook his dish from scratch.
Ben is going head-to-head with former politician and Strictly Come Dancing star Edwina Currie who has whipped up ‘Edwina’s Curry’, to gain the most votes in the south of England.
At the event, Ben told the Watford Observer he had become more interested in healthy eating and cooking since becoming a father to his two sons, Sam, 7 and Jack, 5.
He said: "This is a great opportunity to encourage young people to cook and eat healthily.
"It is so important to teach them how to cook and eat healthily when they plan to go to university or are going on to live by themselves. "The facilities here at West Herts College are great and we want to get young people away from the eat and heat habit of putting food in a microwave.
"It is all about the quality of produce and once upon a time I used to be very nervous when cooking beef and lamb.
"But this is such a simple, cheap and tasty recipe to make and my sons, Jack and Sam love helping out in the kitchen.
"They love the idea of having a pie named after them. It is their pie."
MP Richard Harrington also donned a chef’s apron at the event to rustle up Ben’s Shepherd’s Pie.
Mr Harrington said: "A lot of young people tend to get in to the habit, when living away at university, of eating fast food or cooking ready meals.
"So it is important to get them involved with cooking from a young age."
The Red Tractor beef and lamb 5by25 campaign was founded by EBLEX last year, after researched showed almost 60 percent of British 16 to 25-year-olds were leaving home without the ability to cook a simple dish.
To vote for Ben’s signature dish, visit www.5by25.com.
