Food Sense

16/09/2024

Cooking and eating together is one of the best things you can do to support your child's physical, mental and emotional health 😀

Prioritise family mealtimes in your home. Nurture a healthy relationship with food for better health ❤️

Sign up today - info@mealtimesmatter.org

26/08/2024

Food Sense Sensory Food Play Activities are used as part of the new evidence-based 'How to feed a Dragon' Programme.

Want to find a programme near you? Visit Mealtimes Matter CIC for further details.😁

15/07/2024

Excited to share Mealtimes Matter CIC first impact report from the trial at East Staffordshire Children's Centre.

The programme will be expanding out in the community, early years settings and schools over the next 12 months 😊

Food Sense sensory food play activities were used in each of the 8 week parent and child sessions and provided fun and engaging ways to explore new foods together 🫑🍑🥝🌽🥦😀

08/07/2024

02/07/2024

Food Sense workshops provide evidence-based information, support and guidance on managing fussy eating at home and are designed to help you understand why your child may be refusing foods (the reasons for this can vary). We then support you to put a plan in place that can work in your home, with your family and for you.

🍑Learn how your little one develops food preferences
🫑How to encourage your child to try new foods
🍕How to move your little one from beige foods to a more varied diet
🥦Simple positive responses to use during mealtimes that make a big difference
🥝How to plan meals when everyone in the family wants different foods

Takes a supportive and non-judgemental approach to understanding why your child may be refusing foods.

You will leave with a personalised plan and practical guide to nurturing a healthy relationship with food

Most suitable for parents of children aged 2-6yrs

Run by an experienced Nutritionist and Child Eating Behaviour Specialist

Reduce your food battles at home, create happier and healthier family mealtimes. Book your place today! £29

Stress free, no pressure to eat, ways to explore food... Increase exposure to a wide range of food colours, shapes, sounds, smells and textures through fun and educational play

31/05/2024

Lovely to see this little one spending time fully exploring mushrooms from our Forest Food Sensory Food Play Tots Play Stafford last week.

Mushrooms have a rubbery texture that many children don't like but offering opportunities to explore new foods away from mealtimes is a great way to introduce them 🧅🥦🍅🥕🍠

23/05/2024

It was great to see the families this afternoon so engaged in the How to Feed a Dragon Programme 🙂

They all fed their Dragons breakfast and took home their How to Feed a Dragon Cooking Kit... I look forward to hearing what the Dragon eats at home this week!

20/05/2024

‘Looking forward to bringing sensory food play to Tots Play Stafford this Friday. Join in the food fun while nurturing your little ones food senses and developing their basic cooking skills with stimulating food activities’ 😀🍑🌽🥦

For further information about the Food Sense Sensory Food Play Programme visit www.food-sense.co.uk

17/05/2024

Food Sense activities are now being delivered by Mealtimes Matter CIC

Mealtimes Matter CIC is a social enterprise that serves to empower local communities to create positive food environments and support a healthy relationship with food 😀

So excited to be starting this up and looking forward to working with other organisations with the same vision.

To find out more do Like our page 👍

17/05/2024

The Soil Association has launched Out to Lunch which is their ongoing secret diner campaign that’s improving the standards of children’s food options throughout the UK.

They are looking for parents of under 12s throughout the UK to volunteer for the Out to Lunch campaign. Parents will be taking their kids to restaurants and marking the children’s menu on sustainability, freshness, welfare and healthiness.

They even pay for the kids’ meals!

Working with an army of 'secret diners', Out to Lunch is back and it’s dishing up the truth about children's food. View the 2022 Out to Lunch league table and see how top UK visitor attractions ranked for their children's menus. Find out more.

10/05/2024

Hello!

Looking for 8 families that would love to involve their early years children more in sensory food exploration and gain support and advice around family mealtimes.

Starts...
Thursday 23rd May
East Staffordshire Children's Centre
1.30-2.15pm

Email info@mealtimesmatter.org for further details on how to sign up 😀

22/04/2024

Tapping into your child's interest and curiosity is key to engaging them in play. Finding fun and non-pressurised ways to explore foods is perfect for those that are really struggling with trying new foods at mealtimes.

Mountain Mash is one of 24 activities in our Sensory Food Play Programme - the objective of this activity is to familiarise children with lumpy foods. If lumpy textures are a problem in your house why not add in their favourite toy characters and create a mountain for them to climb!

Involving your children in mashing the potatoes or if you are short on time, using up leftovers...is a great way to get them to explore..

Remember...

Children may need several attempts at the stages of trying new foods before they eat it...sensory food play is one way to move them along this journey..

🍑SAW IT
🌽SMELT IT
🥝FELT IT
🫑LICKED IT
🥦ATE IT

Time for us all to move mountains! 😀