Books Help Kids Explore New Foods
Dundee pre-schoolers are exploring new foods through an innovative partnership with the National Literacy Trust.
Local charity Signpost International has just completed a six-week block of food-based activities with children from Quarry View Nursery, alongside their parents or carers.
Held at the charity’s base at The Roundhouse, the sessions combined hands-on cooking lessons with interactive nutrition-based games and activities. Families explored a variety of new foods, from quesadillas and vegetable muffins to banana scones and cheesy broccoli bake, while also learning basic skills such as mixing, measuring and kitchen safety.
While their meals were cooking, children enjoyed story time with Jenni Leigh, Manager at the National Literacy Trust in Dundee. She introduced books with a food theme and relatable characters, such as Dragons Love Tacos and I Will Not Ever Never Eat a Tomato, encouraging both curiosity and enjoyment in stories. Each week, books were gifted to the families to enjoy at home.
Steph Dolan, Education and Community Worker at Signpost International, said,
“We all know that some children can be fussy eaters, and introducing healthy foods can be a challenge. But we’ve seen firsthand that when children have fun with food, whether exploring where it comes from or learning how to prepare it, they’re much more open to trying new things, especially when they’re with their peers and families. By creating positive food experiences from a young age, and helping them relax around food, we can encourage lifelong healthy habits for children, parents and carers alike.”
Jenni Leigh, Manager at the National Literacy Trust in Dundee, added, “The partnership with Signpost International is a fantastic way to engage young children and their parents with books and reading. It’s never too early to share books with your little one and sharing stories together can be a lovely bonding experience and can foster a love of reading which will benefit children’s confidence, wellbeing and future opportunities.”
Ashley Lonie of Quarry View Nursery added, “We have seen firsthand the incredible impact of the family learning cooking group. This initiative has provided a unique and engaging environment where families can develop essential cooking skills while reinforcing literacy and numeracy in a practical way.
“The use of The Roundhouse café’s professional facilities and equipment has given children the opportunity to experience a real kitchen setting, building confidence in their cooking abilities from a young age, laying the foundation for lifelong good habits.
“A particularly inspiring element of the programme has been the inclusion of storybooks related to the recipes, which children could take home. This thoughtful addition has helped to spark a love of reading, linking the joy of cooking with literacy development and encouraging learning beyond the sessions.”
Signpost International, based at The Roundhouse in Dundee, collects surplus food from supermarkets, greengrocers, bakers, and allotments. The charity then transforms it into nutritious frozen meals, which are distributed to those in need through foodbanks and larders.
Through a range of activities, the charity also works with community members, meal recipients, school pupils and young people to build their confidence, skills and understanding of growing, preserving and cooking fresh and nutritious foods.
As well as Dundee, Signpost International supports people across the world to be the drivers of their own change, empowering them to tackle poverty and injustice and build communities where people can thrive and flourish. Focusing on four key themes (Food security; Sustainable livelihoods; Water, sanitation, & hygiene; and Global citizenship), the charity supports around 30-35K people through global partnerships each year.
For more information, visit https://theroundhouse.scot/
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The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that empowers children, young people and adults with the literacy skills they need to succeed. Reading, writing, speaking and listening skills give you the tools to get the most out of life, and the power to shape your future. Since 2022, the National Literacy Trust in Dundee has worked with early years settings, community partners, schools and families across the city to ensure that every child starts school with language and communication skills to grow and learn.