The Lil'Epicure

26/01/2020

Teaching 3 - 5 year olds the 'what, how, why, when and where' (the fundamentals of preschool lesson planning); bringing the real world is vital to real learning and unpacking complex ideas, dynamic food education involves previous knowledge, incidental learning and novel information - a mock school market hit all those points.
Previous knowledge 🧠 - child has been to the market/grocery store before.
Incidental learning💡 - seed bearing parts of plants are all fruits.
Novel information 🎯 - manipulation of unfamiliar local fruit using all 5 senses.

Advocate for more food education at schools!

04/01/2020

Our mango trees are blessing us with a bountiful of fruit! Needless to say, I AM IN MY GLEE!

04/01/2020

31/12/2019

The season's bounty! Switch the OJ for some SJ!

23/12/2019

Meal times: Try to have regular meal and snack times each day and include your child in family mealtimes when you can.
Snacking: Offer your child a small, healthy snack like fruit, vegetable sticks or toast fingers with cream cheese, 2-3 times a day. This will allow an opportunity other than meal times to provide important nutrients.
Variety: Children’s food preferences vary from day to day so keep offering your child new foods, alongside familiar favourites.
Appetite: Most young children can regulate their own appetite so encourage them to eat but don’t force them or expect them to eat if they are not hungry

Starchy foods – about 5 portions a day
Fruit and vegetables – 5 or more portions a day
Dairy foods – about 3 portions a day
Protein foods – about 2 portions a day (3 portions for vegetarian or vegan children)

Credit: BNF

22/12/2019

Warms a heart!

19/12/2019

'A mango a day keeps the doctor away'

16/12/2019

Did you know that young children model the food habits of their primary caregivers?

15/12/2019

What I have been working on in my absence!

13/05/2019

~Food Allergy Awareness Week 2019~

WHO? - Affects an estimated 6% to 8% of children under age 3. Fortunately, children typically outgrow allergies to milk, soy, wheat and eggs. Severe allergies and allergies to nuts and shellfish are more likely to be lifelong.

WHY? - The immune system mistakenly identifies a specific food or a substance in food as something harmful.

WHAT? - In children, food allergies are commonly triggered by proteins in:
*Peanuts
*Tree nuts
*Eggs
*Cow's milk
*Wheat
*Soy

SYMPTOMS? -
*Tingling or itching in the mouth
*Hives, itching or eczema
*Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat or other parts of the body
*Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing
*Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
*Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting
*Anaphylaxis - body goes into shock, potentially life threatening.

PREVENTION? -
* TEACH YOUR CHILD AND THEIR CAREGIVERS TO RECOGNIZE SYMPTOMS.
*Notify key people that your child has a food allergy.
*Have your child wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace.

20/11/2018

...because the dreams of babes are nothing short of fantastic!