Foodie days out with the kids

Having fun with food helps children understand where it comes from, why it’s so important and what healthy means. So a foodie family day out is the perfect summer holiday activity.

We’ve put together some ideas for foodie day trips that are fun and educational, to suit all budgets. Check these out...

Food Festivals

Summer is a great time to catch a food festival. Watch demonstrations by local (and often celebrity) chefs, sample local produce and take part in traditional foodie events. To attract families, children are usually well catered for, with professional workshops and the chance to enter cooking competitions. 

Watch the Landing of the Oysters at the Whitstable Oyster Festival this year (27 July-2nd August), the Great Cheese Race at Caerphilly’s Big Cheese festival (27-29 August) and get the kids to make their own noodle dishes and fresh bread at the Kingston Food Festival (main events 10-11 August).

[Help: My child refuses to eat!]
[Little while lies to encourage healthy eating]

At the Clitheroe Food festival (10th August) in Lancashire, they’re hosting an Alice in Wonderland tea party for kids. Festivals often showcase the best of local produce, inspiring youngsters to get involved with smelling, touching and tasting different foods. There will often be live music, children’s entertainers and craft activities too. Check your local press to find a festival near you and if an admission fee applies (although for many festivals, entrance is free).

Farm Days Out

A day out at a local farm is a great way for children to connect with food and farming. Children can feed lambs, pigs and can often collect eggs left by free-range chickens. They might even see cows or goats being milked and some farms offer tractor rides too. Money-wise, you usually have to pay for admission, but many farms will provide a picnic area, saving you money on buying a meal out. Check local press and websites to find out which farms are near you and the activities they offer.

[Amazing food art: How toast beat paint]
[The first ever lab-created burger]

Visit a Chocolate Factory

Probably the ultimate treat for a chocolate fan. Cadbury World in Bournville is putting on entertainment on selected dates over the summer holidays, with Sooty, Sweep and Soo visiting, as well as magicians and ventriloquists. But surely the main attraction is the chocolate. Visitors can learn about the history of chocolate, how it’s made and, if the machines are running, how it’s packed, giving them a different perspective on their favourite chocolate bars. The current price for a family of four is £45.80 and you’ll need to book (there’s also a discount if you book online).

See How Cheese is Made

A survey this year by the British Nutrition Foundation found that a third of UK primary children thought that cheese was made from plants. Eliminate any doubt in their minds with a visit to a creamery, to see cheese being made. Some creameries offer guided tours and others provide a viewing gallery. They also often have a cheese shop alongside so you can buy some of the cheese to take home.

[What to do with an avocado]
[The best ever kids lunchbox]

Creameries that currently open their doors to the public include The Isle of Arran Creamery in Scotland, Dewlay Cheesemakers in Preston, the Davidstow Creamery in Cornwall and Monkland Cheese Dairy in Herefordshire. Check the British Cheese Board’s website for a list of participating creameries. It’s also a good idea to ring the creamery beforehand, to make sure they’ll be open and in case you need to book.

Pick Your Own

Do your children know what an unripe strawberry or tomato looks like? Or how sweetcorn grows? Get them picking their own fruit and veg with a trip to a Pick Your Own farm. They can experience locally grown food and see the fruits at different stages of ripeness.

Fruits and vegetables available in the summer vary depending on the farm, but can include broad beans, courgettes, sweetcorn, strawberries, raspberries and runner beans. Entrance to the farm is usually for a small amount (for example £2-3) that is then deducted from the price of the fruit and veg that you pick. Then get the kids in the kitchen to help you make the dinner when you get home. This way, they’ll have seen the food go from field to plate. Visit www.pickyourownfarms.org.uk to find a farm near you.

Do you know any family foodie goings on we've missed?