The sisters teaching Aucklanders how to use food parcels

Thousands of food parcels are being packed for people in need this winter but not everyone knows what to do with the ingredients.

The Kaitiaki Sisters have taken it upon themselves to give lessons in south Auckland about how to use the ingredients.

Marcial Keesing, one of the sisters, says whilst there are plenty of carbohydrates in the packages, it's important to get the protein in the meals.

"That's why in these food parcels they actually do give you a load of chickpeas or beans that hold that type of goodness in it," she says.

Their ideas have gone down well in a community with higher than average unemployment and low household income, a community where kitchens are often unconventional.

Pride Project Community House manager Melissa Atama says a lot of people are not well-equipped for lots of cooking.

"Some people don't even have fridges, so it's actually being creative and trying to do things," she said.

"Outside or a cooker in a garage or whatever it might be, trying to utilise minimum things, reusing things, using tins - but actually making it tasty, so you can actually feed your whanau and it's not going to be yuck."

The city mission says its current demand for food parcels is through the roof and that they support the kaupapa.

Newshub.