PARENTS and toddlers were shown how to eat healthily during a cookery demonstration.

Health visitors from Sedgefield Primary Care Trust (PCT) were delighted when chefs Mick Pereira and Paul Kirby volunteered to help them out.

The chefs, from the George Washington Hotel, in Washington, Wearside, visited Tudhoe Moor Nursery, near Spennymoor, to show parents fun and easy ways to cook fruit and veg.

The health visitors were also on hand to explain why it is important to eat at least five pieces of fruit and vegetables each day.

Health visitor Carolyn Wood said: "Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet can have a major positive impact on your health.

"Sedgefield PCT is very keen to see more local people interested in healthy eating, particularly to increase the amount of fruit and veg in peoples' diets."

She added: "The ready, steady, cook session was informative, but very hands-on.

"Hopefully, it will have shown parents that eating and preparing these foods need not be time consuming and costly and will equip them with the confidence to use these cooking skills in their daily lives."

Parents and toddlers are now going to help health visitors produce a recipe book.