Junkies often eat poorly, as most of their time is spent feeding their drug addiction. Cook It! A Cookery Book for and by Drug Addicts is a new cookery book with 44 simple but nutritious, affordable recipes. From traditional “poor man’s mash dishes” to Indonesian “gado-gado with the kitchen kettle”.

The recipes are from seven women, all addicts, who share their favourite dishes with us. Their message is clear: even in a badly-equipped kitchen, you can still put a healthy meal on the table. A meal that will help boost your immune system.

“Dope is of first and foremost importance for most addicts, but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat well and have a tasty meal,” says the Mainline Foundation in Amsterdam – which has published the book.

Anneke Willemse, 56, has a mere 20 euros left over for food each week. She contributed the recipe for the “poor man’s mash” – with mashed potatoes, fried onions and macaroni herbs.

Suitable for no teeth
Each of the 44 recipes has an icon indicating whether a meal is “super healthy”, “spicy”, “ready in a jiffy”, or “suitable for toothless” like mango mousse or lentil soup. The gado-gado with kettle is a “no cooker needed” recipe.

Many recipes are sickly sweet or strong-flavoured, as addicts’ taste buds often don’t work well anymore, particularly if they drink a lot of alcohol.

Obesity
The recipes aren’t only meant for preventing undernutrition among addicts. More and more junkies have problems with obesity. Dutch addicts use fewer drugs and have more means of coming by their drugs, without having to search for pushers out on the street. Their lifestyle is starting to resemble that of non-users – eating too much fat, drinking too much beer and getting too little exercise.

Cook It! has a light tone, but a serious message. Besides the recipes, there are also contributions from doctors and nutritionists, the most important being: Eat your meal before taking drugs; otherwise your appetite will be gone.

(jn/rk/imm)