FFK104: Why school food matters even if your child doesn't eat them

My child invited a coeliac friend home for tea, with Nicky Chilvers, how to provide a safe gluten free inclusive playdate. (Food For Kids 2026)

Today is part of our series called “Help my child is bringing someone home for tea”. These episodes are intended to give families who don’t have a special diet themselves the basic information they need to be able to be inclusive for other people’s children who do have a special diet. This episode is about hosting children who need a gluten free diet either because they have coeliac disease or just because they react badly to gluten. I think this is one of the ones that frightens people a lot because, like dairy, gluten is in a LOT of foods that you wouldn’t immediately think of. So for this one I asked Nicky Chilvers from Gluten Free Little Cook to run through some of the basics of coeliac symptoms and some practical ways to make sure that everyone has a child friendly tea without the worries of anyone getting sick, including less obvious things about cleaning utensils and oven tray position. It's a quick and reassuring guide to having a coeliac child to tea and of course bring their parent in on the planning. Nicky is mum to two teens; one of whom has coeliac disease. It was a shock diagnosis in 2018. There seemed little support for parents; mums especially, to understand the disease & help their child adapt. The only way to help her child was to learn about a gluten free diet & fast. Nicky then wrote a book helping parents from her own experience so they didn’t have the same struggles. A kids book was written to celebrate 5yrs of diagnosis & one for teens in 2024. When not on Instagram, she can be found in the kitchen cooking, working on her latest DIY project or out eating! Nicky's website: https://www.instagram.com/gluten_free_little_cook/ Nicky's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glutenfreelittlecook Music "Happy Days" by the fabulous Simon Falwar via Uppbeathchi

Is it my fault if my child is a fussy eater? What the science says about the real reasons behind picky eating.

In this episode of the Food for Kids podcast, we're looking into the science behind why children can be fussy or anxious with food, especially with new foods. As parents we usually decide that it's our fault whenever our kids struggle and there are lots of messages in society and from family and friends that reinforces that guilt. But the science says that lots of other factors are involved, and hopefully by the end of this episode you will feel a bit better about your child's eating and that you do have the ability to help them. Links in this episode: The Foodies Food Familiarity workshop: https://thefoodiesbooks.com/resources/intro-food-familiarity/ Episode on sensory issues: https://thefoodies.org/ffk12 Episode on relaxed mealtimes: https://thefoodies.org/ffk34 Episode on food chaining: https://thefoodies.org/ffk76 Episodes on your own relationship with food: https://thefoodies.org/ffk60 and https://thefoodies.org/ffk84 Episode on food games away from the table: https://thefoodies.org/ffk39 Episode on how to talk to children about food: https://thefoodies.org/ffk71 Music "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat

Growing food with kids - how to keep a toddler busy in a garden, with Susan Hodkin

In this episode we are talking about how to keep a toddler busy in a garden, with Susan Hodkin from Two Dots Garden. This conversation explores the joys and challenges of gardening with children. Susan is the person behind the Two Dots Garden instagram account, formerly Two Dots Allotment, which grew an enthusiatic following of her fun, laid back and joyful images of growing food with her daughter and having fun with gardening projects and wildlife. One of the things The Foodies has always been about is getting children more in touch with where their food comes from, and so gardening and growing your own has always been a big part of that. But the reality of gardening with a toddler in tow isn't always easy and smooth, keeping them amused while you get on with essential jobs can be tricky and so any ideas for extending their interest is always welcome. Susan now has two children and grows food with them in their garden, but this interview took place a couple of years ago when her oldest was only three. She gives some tips for all of us on keeping a toddler amused in the garden for so many hours and what life skills she thinks can be learned in a garden. In particular the part around letting go of control is a useful conversation for us to have with ourselves as parents as well as gardeners. Links in this episode: Two Dots Garden Instagram feed: https://www.instagram.com/two_dots_garden Music "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat

Berry Tips: How to store berries to make them last longer, how to freeze them and recipe ideas to use them up.

This episode is part of a monthly series where Joanne runs through some ideas to reduce food waste and save money by storing foods well and using them up effectively. This episode is about all kinds of summer berries so there are some ideas about how to store berries to make them last longer, and stop them going off. This includes how to store them in the kitchen, how to freeze them and how to dry them. There is also a suggestion for what to do if your berries have started to go mouldy, and how to rescue what you can. And then there are a few good ideas on how to use up excess berries before they go off - either some from the shops that are going a bit squishy or harvests coming out of the garden. The episode includes our monthly Q&A with Kate Hall from The Full Freezer on how to freeze berries and different ways to use them. Links in this episode: Inverting punnets to drain https://www.tiktok.com/@nickskitchen/video/7494069903494745375?q=storing%20berries&t=1750244714876 [https://www.tiktok.com/@nickskitchen/video/7494069903494745375?q=storing%20berries&t=1750244714876] Storing with a lemon wash https://www.tiktok.com/@parrisandhallie/video/7493077298581703958?q=storing%20berries%20uk&t=1750244906290 [https://www.tiktok.com/@parrisandhallie/video/7493077298581703958?q=storing%20berries%20uk&t=1750244906290] Vinegar water wash to reduce mould https://www.tiktok.com/@irishbudgeting/video/7515151754334424342?q=storing%20berries%20uk&t=1750244906290 [https://www.tiktok.com/@irishbudgeting/video/7515151754334424342?q=storing%20berries%20uk&t=1750244906290] Blogger who experimented with different storage methods https://coastalbend.momcollective.com/in-the-kitchen/do-strawberries-last-longer-in-glass/ [https://coastalbend.momcollective.com/in-the-kitchen/do-strawberries-last-longer-in-glass/] Kate's "Can I Freeze It?" reel on raspberries https://www.instagram.com/canifreezeit/reel/CFjVqdgAsUK/ [https://www.instagram.com/canifreezeit/reel/CFjVqdgAsUK/] Kate's "Can I Freeze It?" reel on blueberries https://www.instagram.com/canifreezeit/reel/CQ0XmenIxGx/ [https://www.instagram.com/canifreezeit/reel/CQ0XmenIxGx/] Kate's "Can I Freeze It?" reel on strawberries https://www.instagram.com/canifreezeit/reel/CDDsYPmA4xy/ [https://www.instagram.com/canifreezeit/reel/CDDsYPmA4xy/] Kate's "Can I Freeze It?" reel on blackberries https://www.instagram.com/canifreezeit/reel/Cpn2Oh7oDAK/ [https://www.instagram.com/canifreezeit/reel/Cpn2Oh7oDAK/] Kate's reel on eating frozen fruit as a snack https://www.instagram.com/p/CYZC9nIBBt9/ Recipe links are all in the shownotes at https://thefoodies.org/storing-berries [https://thefoodies.org/storing-berries] Music "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat

How to store leftovers safely with Jenna Brown the Food Safety Mum. Keep family leftovers and takeaways safely, and avoid food poisoning. (Food For Kids Podcast 2026)

In today’s show, I asked Jenna Brown, who goes online everywhere under the name Food Safety Mum, about how to make sure that we handle our leftovers safely so we can waste less food but not worry about anyone getting sick, especially little ones with their less established immune systems. Jenna is an experienced Environmental Health Officer with over 14 years of experience in food safety and public health. She started the Food Safety Mum business when she became a mum herself. That understanding of how much you think differently when you have a little one to think about too, Jenna became passionate about promoting food safety in the home. She is on a mission to help parents to safely save time, money & food! Links: Jenna's website: https://www.foodsafetymum.co.uk [https://www.foodsafetymum.co.uk] Jenna's guides to baby food and party food: https://www.foodsafetymum.co.uk/shop [https://www.foodsafetymum.co.uk/shop ] Jenna's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodsafetymum [https://www.instagram.com/foodsafetymum] Guide to keeping rice safely: https://www.foodsafetymum.co.uk/handling-leftover-rice [https://www.foodsafetymum.co.uk/handling-leftover-rice] Music "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat