Cultivating Healthy Eating Habits in Children

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. From the screwed-up face of a baby tasting mashed carrots for the first time to the tantrum of a toddler who lands up with tomato pasta in their hair, nobody wants a fussy eater. Cultivating good mealtime habits and a positive relationship with food early on can pave the way to a healthy approach to eating as they grow up. But how to achieve this seemingly unachievable goal?

Encouraging Adventurous Eating: How Tockington Manor School Helps Children Expand Their Palates

At Tockington Manor School, we believe that healthy eating is about more than just nutrition—it’s about fostering a spirit of curiosity and adventure in every child – very much in keeping with our school ethos! Encouraging pupils to explore new flavours and ingredients broadens their culinary horizons, making mealtimes more exciting and ensuring they receive a well-balanced diet.

One of the biggest challenges for parents is persuading their children to try unfamiliar foods, especially fruits and vegetables that may seem a little out of the ordinary. Rhubarb is a perfect example. Often met with wrinkled noses and sceptical expressions, this vibrant vegetable is underappreciated—until, that is, children have the opportunity to explore it in the right setting. That’s exactly what happened at our recent Rhubarb Taster Table in the dining hall.

A Taste for the Unexpected: The Rhubarb Taster Table

Understanding that children’s tastes develop through positive experiences, our catering team from Thomas Franks set up our Rhubarb Taster Table to introduce pupils to this tangy ingredient in fun and delicious ways. From tarts to crumbles and salads to smoothies, the selection of rhubarb-based dishes offered a tempting spread for the children to choose from.

“The smoothie and the brownies were a hit! Well done, what a spread!!” commented one parent when we shared some pictures on our social feeds. “V was talking all about it yesterday,” commented another parent. “He had rhubarb pie, iced tea, salad, etc. He really liked the pie.👏.” It was brilliant to see the children (and even some of our grown up staff) discovering they actually enjoyed rhubarb’s unique flavour when prepared thoughtfully.

We also used the opportunity to teach pupils a little more about this often-unloved vegetable, masquerading as a fruit. Rhubarb is packed with nutritional benefits including high levels of fibre, vitamins, and antioxidants. There were so many fans we might have to plant it in our Kitchen Garden next year as part of Gardening Club so pupils can enjoy homegrown treats in the Dining Hall, as is often the case.

How your School Can Help Fussy Eaters

When the dinner table becomes a battleground for parents, particularly over unfamiliar vegetables and untried meals, we like to try and help. At Tockington Manor School, we want to make mealtimes an enjoyable and communal experience, creating an environment where children feel encouraged—not pressured—to try new things. Our approach includes:

• Engaging, Interactive Experiences – Events like our Rhubarb Taster Table turn food discovery into an exciting activity rather than a chore.
• Positive Peer Influence – Children are more likely to try something new when they see their friends enjoying it.
• Creative Preparation – Offering familiar and approachable ways to enjoy new foods, such as incorporating rhubarb into brownies or smoothies, makes all the difference.
• Understanding and Encouragement – Our teachers and dining staff gently guide pupils towards exploring different tastes, ensuring they feel in control of their choices.
• Start Early – We encourage table etiquette from a very early age – Owls children in our Nursery watch how the older children observe table manners, try different foods and flavours, and also clear up after themselves. Since we brought the older (3-4 years old) Nursery children into the dining room around six years ago, it has helped enormously with their transition into ‘big’ school.

Thomas Franks Rhubarb Recipes to Try at Home

For parents keen to encourage adventurous eating at home, please click on the text below to view the recipes for some of the most popular rhubarb items from our Taster Table:

Cultivating Healthy Habits for Life

At Tockington Manor School, we believe that fostering an open-minded approach to food in childhood lays the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating. By creating positive, engaging experiences around food, we help children overcome fussy eating tendencies and develop a genuine enthusiasm for trying new things.

For parents seeking a school that nurtures curiosity—not just in the classroom, but at the dining table too—our approach to food education is just one of the many ways we support holistic child development.

Would your child be willing to give rhubarb a second chance? If the success of our Rhubarb Taster Table is anything to go by, the answer might just be yes!

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