Healthy Eating
Eating healthily is a huge part of looking after our general health and keeping ourselves well. Cooking simple nutritious meals for ourselves and our families is the best way to ensure that we meet all our nutritional needs to stay healthy. Read more about eating well this winter here.

Healthy Eating information for all the family is also available from the following sources:
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Healthy Ireland – Eat Well
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HSE – Healthy Eating and Active Living: Nutrition
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Safefood – Healthy Eating information, Food Safety advice, Recipe ideas and lots of useful resources for parents on healthy eating and active living for children.
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Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute – Fact Sheets
Safefood Community Food Initiative 2019-2021
The purpose of the safefood Community Food Initiative 2019-2021 is to promote healthy eating among families with children up to the age of 12 years. Through the Healthy Galway City programme, Galway City Partnership was successful in securing funding under this initiative, which will allow for the delivery of two community events and two small projects, each year, for three years. This is of significant importance as Healthy Eating is a key theme of the Healthy Galway City Strategy.
The Healthy Food Made Easy Programme
Healthy Food Made Easy (HFME) is a 6-week programme which provides participants with practical information on healthy eating, including, reading food labels, budgeting and meal planning. Participants also have the opportunity to improve cooking skills and experiment with dishes that are quick and easy to prepare.
As COVID-19 restrictions have prevented us from delivering HFME programmes in the community, we have developed an online version to support participants to prepare healthy and nutritious meals for themselves and their families, from the comfort and safety of their own homes.
Online HFME programmes will be rolled out from February 2021. For more information contact Ashling on 085 8217547 or email healthygalway@gcp.ie.
Upcoming Programmes:

Let's Get Galway Growing
Let's Get Galway Growing is a network of community gardens in Galway City that are organised and run by local community volunteers for the local community. There are currently eight gardens in the network situated across Galway City. The gardens are important community spaces that enable people to get involved in gardening and community events throughout the year. Each garden hosts various free activities and workshops on healthy cooking and eating, growing and harvesting organic food and other community health initiatives. The gardens are open to everyone and family friendly. If you would like to find out more about the community gardens contact the garden in your area directly or contact Galway City Partnership on 091 773466 or email info@gcp.ie.
Follow Let's Get Galway Growing on Facebook and Twitter.
Find a Garden Near You
Ard Community Garden
Location: | ARD Family Resource Centre, Ardaun, Roscam and Doughiska |
Days & times: | Wednesdays 7-9pm |
Contact details: | Caroline Stanley caroline@ardfrc.com |
Supported by: | Galway City Partnership, Galway City Council, Galway Healthy Cities Project, HSE West, GRETB |
Ballybane Community Garden
Location: | The garden is located on Castle Park Road, Ballybane across the road from the Library near the church. |
Days & times: | Thursdays 10.00am to 1.00pm Saturdays 2.00pm to 4.00pm Wednesday evening 7.00pm-9pm (June-September) |
Contact details: | Galway City Partnership, Ballybane Office - 091 768305 or Find us on Facebook |
Supported by: | Galway City Partnership, Galway City Council, Galway Healthy Cities Project, HSE West, GRETB |
Ballinfoile Mor Community Garden
Location: | Located off the Headford road at the rear of Lus Leana and Cluain Fada estates. Look out for the signpost and take the first right hand turn after Ballinfoile church. The garden is at the end of this road. |
Days & times: | Saturdays 11.00am to 1.00pm |
Contact details: | Brendan Smith 087 2935106 |
Supported by: | Galway City Partnership, Galway City Council, Galway Healthy Cities, HSE West, GRETB |
Westside (Seamus Quirke Rd) Community Garden
Location: | Site identified is beside the Westside Resource Centre, which is located opposite Westside Library on Seamus Quirke Road. |
Days & times: | Wednesdays 10.00am to 12.00pm |
Contact details: | James Coyne - 091 528325 Find us on Facebook |
Supported by: | Galway City Partnership, Westside Resource Centre, Galway City Council, Galway Healthy Cities Project, HSE West, GRETB. |
Bridge House, Community Garden, Cope Galway
Location: | Location Bridge House, Dyke Rd,Galway City |
Days & times: | This garden is closed to the public but open to residents full time. |
Contact details: | Ben Igoe or Claire Kelly on 091 730969 / 091 533959 |
Supported by: | Galway City Partnership, Galway City Council, Galway Healthy Cities Project, HSE West, GRETB. |
Eglington Community Garden
Location: | Eglington Hotel, Salthill |
Days & times: | The garden is closed to the public but open to residents full time. |
Contact details: | Suzanne McKane 091 773466 |
Supported by: | Galway City Partnership, Galway City Council, Galway Healthy Cities Project, HSE West, GRETB |
Westside Edible Forest Demonstration Garden
Location: | 1. The community garden is located beside the Westside running track and playing fields nearest the Letteragh Rd. 2. Canal Commons Food Project- Gardens planted all along the canal in Galway City. |
Days & times: | |
Contact details: | Martina Finn 087 2201972 |
Supported by: | Galway City Partnership, Galway City Council, Galway Healthy Cities, HSE West, GRETB |
Scoil Croi Iosa
Location: | Scoil Croí Íosa, Presentation Primary School, Newcastle Road, Galway |
Days & times: | Wednesdays 9.30am-12pm |
Contact details: | 091 525904 |
Supported by: | Galway City Partnership, Galway City Council, Galway Healthy Cities, HSE West, GRETB |
Healthy Eating Supports in Galway City
Supermarket Tours - The HSE Community Nutrition and Dietetic Service offer FREE Supermarket Tours in Galway City. The tours equip participants with the skills needed to make healthier choices when shopping. Themed tours are also available, including ‘Food choices for diabetes’, ‘Healthy food for the family’ or ‘Shopping for one’. For more information, or to register your interest please call 091 861186
Breastfeeding Support Groups- click here for a list of Breastfeeding support groups in Galway. For further information on breastfeeding visit the mychild.ie website.
Free online talks on feeding your baby - The introduction of solid foods is an important development stage for your baby both nutritionally and socially. These free online talks offer helpful advice on moving from milk to solids. Parents will have an opportunity to have any questions they may have answered. Registration is essential. For more information contact Kathleen on 083 0274858 or email earlyyears@gcp.ie.

National and Local Policies and Plans
Resources
Safefood 101 Square Meals Cookbook - Easy recipes for everyday life
Useful websites: safefood.eu; makeastart.ie; mychild.ie, gov.ie/together
A range of printed materials, including information in relation to healthy eating, are now available to download, or order, through healthpromotion.ie/publications.