Feeding the family

THE debate about children's diets has never been fiercer. Childhood obesity, dealing with fussy eaters, how to bring the family together round the meal table - all these have been discussed at length over recent months.

Now Dorset-based chef Lesley Waters has waded into the fray with some of her own ideas to get the kids eating properly.

She has teamed up with Hovis to show parents that there are some great, fun and simple ways to get their families eating the right things - and eating together.

From encouraging children to cook to getting the family round the table at the same time, she has come up with some easy and common-sense ways of boosting the nation's diet, alongside some quick and tasty recipes to tickle those developing taste buds.

Lesley, who has two children aged seven and 10, admits that her family doesn't always have the time to sit down and eat together.

"We are like most families," she says.

"We don't sit down and have a meal together every day, but we do as often as we can.

"Once or twice a week we will have an evening meal but we always have breakfast together, and I think that is the most important meal because it fuels you up for the day ahead. Give a child a good, healthy breakfast and they will do better during the day.

"We have cereal or toast and on a Friday I may make scrambled eggs on toast or pancakes. Weekend breakfasts are more leisurely, of course."

There are lots of reasons why family mealtimes are important.

Seeing the family eating can cajole an unwilling child into trying their food and give them the opportunity to sample new flavours.

The meal table is also the place where social graces are learned and in today's busy times, is often the one time where families can come together to chat about their day and share any worries and good news.

"The whole thing about sitting down for a meal helps," agrees Lesley.

"Sitting and talking and teaching children basic social skills such as how to use a knife and fork.

"Children also get to talk about school and open up about any problems or worries they have."

And getting a faddy child to eat more is one area where positive peer pressure can come in handy.

"If your child is a bit fussy but they have a friend with a wider palate, get them round for a meal," suggests Lesley.

"When they sees a mate tucking into what you have given them, they are more likely to eat more as well."

Another great way to encourage food interest in a fussy child is to get them helping with the family's weekly food, before it even gets to the kitchen.

"Take them shopping," says Lesley. "Let them put the vegetables in bags and weigh them. Take them to your local farmers' market.

"Kids love them because they are so real and earthy and so much fun.

"Cooking is the best game ever. You have great fun, you get messy and then you can eat the results. It's perfect!

"And you needn't always do it in the kitchen. If the weather's good, go out into the garden and have a go. It doesn't matter, as long as the children feel they have made a contribution in some way. Get them to lay the table or fill cups with water, anything.

"I held a school cookery class where we made a stir fry with every vegetable imaginable in it. The children helped and then they ate it - they cleared their plates.

"Afterwards one of the mums told me that their child would never have eaten that at home, but they ate it with me because they enjoyed preparing it."

With the summer months getting under way, why not make your evening meal a picnic in the garden, on the beach or in the local park? Why not go the whole hog and have a barbecue?

After all, it is true what they say that food tastes better out of doors!

But it is not just the children who need to be educated in the ways of good diet.

In these days of working parents and fast food, it is all too easy to stick something in the microwave for supper or pop down the chippy, so Lesley's main dream is to get children cooking in school so that they can share their new skills with their less culinary parents.

"If you start them young, hopefully by the time they grow up they will have the food culture and it will continue," she says.

"Cooking is terrifying for people who have not done it before, but show them the way and a few simple dishes and they are fine.

"Maybe we could start getting the children to teach the parents.

"They would love that - and it would be great, wouldn't it!?"