30th Jun 2009 - 00:00
Abstract
Top chefs such as Raymond Blanc gathered at the 2009 Children’s Food Festival last weekend to encourage kids to eat new, healthier dishes.
Parents who also attended the event, which was held this year at the Northmoor Trust estate and farm, were delighted to see their youngsters eager to try out new foods and recipes. More than 20 top chefs and cookery writers – including Blanc and Sophie Grigson – gave talks and hands-on demos. TV's Stefan Gates even got children eating fried grasshoppers. Meanwhile film actress Greta Scacchi, BBC Radio 4's Food Programme's Sheila Dillon and teenagers took part in a lively debate about whether celebrities should promote junk food. Festival Director Eka Morgan said: "We have been overwhelmed with highly positive feedback from happy parents. Our hope was that whichever way you looked in the Festival fields there would be something compelling to do – and that really was how it turned out." Over 14,000 people attended the Festival.