Step into any playgroup, pre-school or nursery and you’ll find regular food-based play and activities. Why? Because it provides excellent sensory food exposure to help children become more familiar with different foods and textures.

Whilst there is so much we can and need to do at mealtimes to support our children, a lot of the groundwork can be done away from the table. By including food in fun activities, where and when there is no pressure to eat, we can support our child to eat better at mealtimes.

Here are just some of the ways you can support your child away from the table to develop a love of food.

• Get them involved in the kitchen
• Go to the shops
• Get growing
• Arts and crafts with food
• Role playing in the play kitchen
• Teddy Bear picnics
• Reading books about food and how the body works
• Watching programmes about food
• Looking at recipe books
• Food-based board games