“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea”
— Buddha
Truly Tasty cookery book adds zest and variety to specialised medical diets
Kidney transplant recipient Valerie Twomey launched her cookery book on Tuesday April 13th in Fallon & Byrne, Dublin and on Thursday April 15th in the Maryborough House Hotel, Cork. This book was warmly welcomed by Irish adults living with kidney disease. Valerie underwent a kidney transplant in 2006 after a number of years on dialysis. During her period on dialysis she managed the challenging dietary restrictions necessary to maintain her health with the help of diet sheets and her renal dietitian. Following her transplant, to honour her donor and her donor’s family and also to build continuous organ donor awareness, she set about compiling a not-for-profit cookery book entitled Truly Tasty - for people in Ireland living with kidney disease and for their family and friends.
More and more people need dialysis treatment every year. They face not only the challenge of the treatment but also a dramatic change of lifestyle. Adhering to a specialised renal diet brings a further challenge- but help is at hand with Truly Tasty.
Dietitians often struggle to develop new and interesting recipe suggestions; now there is a cookery book that is perfect for entertaining or for planning that special family meal for adults with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or those on dialysis.
Truly Tasty will provide a wide selection of up to date recipes that also will be appropriate for the specific nutritional needs of the patient. The cookery book offers a host of delicious recipes, created by Ireland’s top chefs and meticulously analysed by dieticians from the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute.
This project has been endorsed by Dr. Liam Plant, National Clinical Director of the H.S.E., National Renal Office. Generous financial support was provided by the main sponsor - Abbott Ireland - as well as by Bosch, the National Lottery, Shire Pharmaceuticals Ireland, Amgen Ireland and Shamrock Foods.
In September 2009, Minister for Health & Children Mary Harney stated “The figures show the importance of people applying for and carrying an Organ Donor Card”. Valerie’s book will carry an Organ Donor Card in each edition to encourage this and to maintain Organ Donor Awareness.
Commenting on Truly Tasty, Mr Craig Skelton, General Manager from the main sponsor Abbott,stated “Abbott Renal Care is a dedicated partner in the fight against kidney disease and we are delighted to be involved in bringing Valerie’s new renal recipe book to patients across Ireland” said Craig Skelton General Manager Abbott Ireland “This has never been as important given that the number of patients on dialysis is growing each year. Through our involvement with such inspirational projects as this, we aim to increase the awareness of living with chronic kidney disease in Ireland”.