Does my child have sensory issues with food? With Kirsty Porter. What sensory food issues look like and how to help a sensory eater. (Food For Kids 2026)

Three summer holiday gardening activities for kids, growing food and good for novice gardeners. Food for Kids Podcast 2026

In this episode Joanne gives you three easy growing projects to choose from that can still be done at this time of year, work well with children helping, and don't need any special equipment or knowledge, literally just a cheap grow bag of compost. Idea one - windowsill pea shoots Idea two - rescuing supermarket herbs Idea three - Christmas potatoes Links in the episode: Growing peashoots: https://www.thefoodies.org/how-to-grow-pea-shoots/ Growing basil cuttings in water: https://youtu.be/y0f5yl2ZMqM?si=TlRgohFJQBMVyJ1q [https://youtu.be/y0f5yl2ZMqM?si=TlRgohFJQBMVyJ1q] Rescuing supermarket herbs: https://www.ruralsprout.com/keep-supermarket-herbs-thriving/ [https://www.ruralsprout.com/keep-supermarket-herbs-thriving/] Growing Christmas potatoes: https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/potatoes/growing-for-festive-season [https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/potatoes/growing-for-festive-season] Video on growing potatoes in bags: https://youtu.be/Tu3Ob2KtLy8?si=aF0keQUmhYJHQvXN [https://youtu.be/Tu3Ob2KtLy8?si=aF0keQUmhYJHQvXN] - Music "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat

How we teach food and cooking at secondary school and why it matters, with Chris Lord

This interview with Chris Lord took place a couple of years ago, when we were discussing the changes in the UK secondary school food curriculum. Chris has taught food for over twenty years in both the UK and Hong Kong and has some thoughtful insights in to the changes of emphasis in the way food is taught. Our conversation explored the need to move away from teaching as food technology to a more integrated approach that emphasizes nutrition and cooking skills. In addition I go through the interesting results of a survey by the Food Teachers Centre about teachers' attitudes to how food should be taught in school. And there are some useful resources linked for educators and families alike with helpful nutrition and recipe sites. Links mentioned in the episode: The survey by The Food Teachers' Centre: https://foodteacherscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Food-Education-fit-for-the-future.pdf [https://foodteacherscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Food-Education-fit-for-the-future.pdf] Food Teachers Centre Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/foodteacherscentre [https://www.facebook.com/groups/foodteacherscentre] Food A Fact Of Life: https://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/ [https://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/] Let's Get Cooking: https://www.bda.uk.com/food-health/lets-get-cooking.html [https://www.bda.uk.com/food-health/lets-get-cooking.html] Licence to Cook: https://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/11-14-years/cooking-11-14-years/licence-to-cook-11-14-years/licence-to-cook-recipes/ [https://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/11-14-years/cooking-11-14-years/licence-to-cook-11-14-years/licence-to-cook-recipes/] Chris's website about food and travels: https://www.lordysguide.com [https://www.lordysguide.com] Music "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat

Five July seasonal meal ideas, easy and family friendly, with suggested swaps for fussy family members. Food For Kids Podcast (2026)

IIn this episode of the Food for Kids podcast, Joanne shares simple, family-friendly July seasonal meal ideas using seasonal produce available in July. The focus is on easy-to-make recipes that require minimal prep time, making them perfect for busy families. Joanne discusses three main meals, a dessert, and a quick snack, all utilizing fresh ingredients that are in season. She gives suggestions on adapting recipes to suit children's tastes and some swap ideas too. Links to the recipes: Veggie slice: https://recipepocket.com/zucchini-and-carrot-slice [https://recipepocket.com/zucchini-and-carrot-slice] Squished tomato pasta: https://www.thefoodies.org/squished-tomato-pasta/ [https://www.thefoodies.org/squished-tomato-pasta/] Fajitas or tostadas: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/summer-veg-tostadas [https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/summer-veg-tostadas] Summer fruit traybake or cake: https://www.sewwhite.com/summer-fruit-cake-tray-bake [https://www.sewwhite.com/summer-fruit-cake-tray-bake] Creamy beetroot dip: https://www.eatsamazing.co.uk/family-friendly-recipes/party-food-ideas-recipes/3-ingredient-easy-beetroot-dip-recipe [https://www.eatsamazing.co.uk/family-friendly-recipes/party-food-ideas-recipes/3-ingredient-easy-beetroot-dip-recipe] For more seasonal food ideas go to: https://www.thefoodies.org/seasonal/july-food-ideas/ [https://www.thefoodies.org/seasonal/july-food-ideas/] Music "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat

Does my child have sensory issues with food? With Kirsty Porter. What sensory food issues look like and how to help a sensory eater. (Food For Kids 2026)

On today’s episode I am talking to Dr Kirsty Porter from Nutrition For Kids in Northern Ireland. Kirsty is a registered children’s dietitian with over 15 years of experience helping parents overcome mealtime and feeding challenges. She specialises in supporting fussy and sensory eaters, and offers evidence-based but practical advice that fits real family life. When we’re talking about why children can be hesitant around new foods or have a limited repertoire of foods, there are obviously a whole bunch of reasons that come up, and over time we are looking at lots of them here on the show in more depth and seeing how we can help our children, but one of the ones that comes up regularly is around sensory issues with food. Kirsty does a lot of work in her practice with sensory issues, and has a specialist programme about it in partnership with an Occupational Therapist, so I thought she’d be a great person to ask about sensory eating. Kirsty's website: www.nutrition4kidsni.com [http://www.nutrition4kidsni.com] Kirsty's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutrition4kidsni [https://www.instagram.com/nutrition4kidsni] Kirst [https://thefoodiesbooks.com/resources/intro-food-familiarity/]y's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nutrition4kidsni [https://www.facebook.com/nutrition4kidsni] Instagram page for sensory issues advice: https://www.instagram.com/sensoryeaters [https://www.instagram.com/sensoryeaters] The Sensory Eaters course mentioned in the episode: https://sensoryeaters.thinkific.com/courses/sensoryeatersprogramme [https://sensoryeaters.thinkific.com/courses/sensoryeatersprogramme] Music "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat

July seasonal foods - fruit and veg in season in the UK. Food For Kids Podcast (2026)

In this episode, Joanne runs through a list of fruits and vegetables which are in season in the UK in July, and offers tips for getting children to try each of them. There is also a short list of tropical imports that are currently in season. This will be useful if you want to increase your intake of seasonal fruits and vegetables, and want some ideas for helping to build your child's familiarity with them, whether they eat the end result or not! For a full list seasonal July foods, go to https://www.thefoodies.org/seasonal/july-food-ideas/ [https://www.thefoodies.org/seasonal/july-food-ideas/] Printables for summer seasonal foods: https://thefoodiesbooks.com/product/summer-seasonal-food-printables/ [https://thefoodiesbooks.com/product/summer-seasonal-food-printables/]lyMusic "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat