Strong Voices

Cath Jeffares believes everyone deserves good food on their plate. Food that is healthy, affordable and easy to cook. But when Cath read the findings in the 2025 IHC Data to Dignity report, she was deeply troubled.

The report showed people with intellectual disabilities were four times more likely to say they couldn’t afford a meal with meat or a vegetarian protein equivalent every second day. They were also three times more likely to cut back on fresh fruit and vegetables because of cost. For Cath, these were not just numbers. They reflected stories she had been hearing.

Cath’s life mission these days is to support people in cooking their own simple, affordable meals. Alongside her husband Shayne, she travels the country delivering Happy Healthy Me and Cooking with Cath workshops funded by IHC. These free workshops focus on healthy cooking for people with intellectual disabilities and the people who support them. They are practical, fun and always full.

“We meet the best people,” Cath says.

Still, Cath and Shayne felt there was an ongoing challenge. At the end of each workshop, people would say goodbye feeling excited and motivated. “They’d say, ‘See you tomorrow!’” Cath explains. “And that’s when it hit us. We couldn’t just drive away. We weren’t reaching enough people.”

That feeling, combined with the Data to Dignity report, pushed Cath and Shayne to take the next step. With Shayne’s skills as a photographer and designer and with further IHC funding, they launched “The Happy Healthy Kitchen”, an online community cooking school.

The Happy Healthy Kitchen makes cooking as easy as possible. The website offers simple recipes with clear instructions, photos and videos to follow along with. Each recipe shows the utensils and ingredients needed and can be printed out for easy use. There are also cooking tips and techniques to help build confidence in the kitchen.

While the platform prioritises people with disabilities and their support networks, Cath is clear that it is for everyone. “It’s about building skills and confidence,” she says. “Anyone can cook. Anyone can eat well.”

Cath’s own health journey, including switching to a largely plant-based diet, strengthened her belief that good food should be accessible to all. The Happy Healthy Kitchen isn’t strictly vegetarian, but it gently encourages people to add more plants to their plates. “It’s not about taking things away,” Cath says. “It’s about adding.”

When we speak with Cath and Shayne, they’re enjoying a rare day off in their camper van with their two dogs, Lulu, the chihuahua, and George, the labradoodle. They’ve been criss-crossing the country delivering workshops, from home in Hawke’s Bay to Auckland, Whangārei and beyond.

And with plans to reach 100 recipes and grow a supportive cooking community, The Happy Healthy Kitchen is just getting started. And Cath is determined to make sure no one gets left behind.

Above: Cath Jeffares and friends cooking up a storm: L-R California Poipoi, Cath, Timoti Schweizer-Marunui, Eddie Stalker and Scott Taare.

Join the Happy Healthy Kitchen community