By Obegi Malack
@obegimalack
Good nutrition is essential for keeping people healthy across the lifespan, People who have healthy diet grow and develop properly and reduce their risk of lifestyle diseases.
The increase of lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart diseases, cancer and many others have pushed a Kajiado County nutritionist to reduce these conditions by giving chefs a platform to share with the public how to prepare nutritious meals.
The nutritionist Selah Jerusha started a You Tube channel dubbed Foods 254 in 2019 to give chefs platform to showcase their skills in preparing Kenyan healthful meals.
The chefs who are mostly from Kajiado County are invited to the nutritionist’s home to record the show.
Jerusha says Kenyan meals are nutritious but people do not know how to cook, in parties people hire any chef without checking their experience and nutritional knowledge.
She says poor nutrition is a big challenge, it has reduced ability of many people to lead and enjoy life.
Jerusha who is a certified clinical nutritionist and has been unemployed for long and had to apply what she learned through chefs.
“Have been looking for a job for long and I thought is better to empower chefs and educating the public on nutritious foods,” she said.
She says it’s high time people learn what they should eat than eating anything in their houses, hotels or in the streets, she said it is important for the public to find out how certain foods are cooked not to fall victims of chronic diseases.
“Our house is my studio we record the show and upload it online, we have been having positive response, we have been invited in few TV shows to talk about nutrition,” she said.
Apart from the nutrition lessons, we offer catering services, people have started to build trust in us since we explain step by step what need to be done in our kitchens.
One of the chefs who has benefited from Selah show is Chef Richard Onderi a chef from Ongata Rongai. He says is delighted that Selah gave him a platform where he shares his skills and what he loves most.
Onderi a procurement graduate started as a waiter and is now a professional cook.
“I nowadays get invited to events to cook, I would not like to be employed since I want to be my own boss, to plan my work and share my skills,” he says.
The chef also participates in charity projects he holds cooking events in children homes, prisons and other centres,
He has held events in Faraja Home in Ngong Kajiado North and Nangole Children’s Home in Kajiado East constituency and donated food to prisoners in Kamiti Prison
Onderi says they also hold mentorship programs in the centres in partnership with other well-wishers; they are planning to have kids from each children home to attend Maasai Mara National Reserve short training on hospitality.
The training will empower children in homes to support themselves not to rely on donations.
Am glad to be part of Foods254. Indeed we appreciate the support from our funs and we promise a lot in store for our all time loyal followers!