Food for thought CIC

This is how tomorrow starts.

Boot packed.
Chocolate fountain ready.
Cocoa, bars, ingredients all in.

No shortcuts. No guesswork.
Everything we bring has a purpose.

Because this isn’t just a session…
It’s about showing young people what food actually is and what it does

We’re using Green & Black’s because it’s easy to find, affordable enough, and lets you actually see the difference in cocoa levels so this isn’t theory, it’s something you can take straight home.

– Available in most supermarkets (Asda, ect)
– Slightly higher price point, but still accessible for everyday choices

From the pod…
To the bar…
To how it makes you feel.

We’ve still got 6 spaces left for tomorrow
Perfect for home-educated young people who learn better by doing, not just listening

Elmwood Family Hub, B36
10am – 12pm

👉 Register:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1m-Ru00uLZ74vAcoNcAmevt7fKolYh9Ub5lK8g4_UHfM/viewform

This is what real preparation looks like.

Really proud to have been part of Soup & Social at Dorothy Parkes Centre.

Sessions like this might look simple from the outside, but they matter. A warm meal, a place to sit, a chance to connect, that’s where real change starts.

Huge thank you to everyone at Dorothy Parkes for the support you’ve shown Food for Thought. Not just as a partner, but the trust and backing you’ve given me personally to build and grow this properly. That doesn’t go unnoticed.

This isn’t the end, just a marker. We’ve got more to come and plenty already in motion across the year.

Nourishing Bodies, Healing Minds.

Chocolate… but not how you know it 👀🍫

We’re back with Nourishing Neuro Bites at Elmwood Family Hub next week and this one’s all about comforting chocolate.

But we’re going deeper than just sweet treats…

We’ll be exploring:

🍫 Why chocolate actually makes you feel good (it’s not just in your head)

🧠 How it links to mood, energy, and focus

🌱 Tasting a fresh cocoa pod – where chocolate really starts

🔥 Creating your own chocolate bars with spices & freeze-dried fruit

This is about understanding food, not cutting it out.

Turning everyday choices into something that actually supports how you feel.

Real food. Real knowledge. Real impact.

📍 Elmwood Family Hub, B36
📅 Tuesday 21st April
⏰ 10am – 12pm

👉 Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1m-Ru00uLZ74vAcoNcAmevt7fKolYh9Ub5lK8g4_UHfM/viewform

Delivered in partnership with Super SEN CIC and supported by Foundation.

Spaces are limited get involved.

We’re back at Hatchford Brook Family Hub tomorrow bringing something simple but powerful…

Eggs & Energy 🍳⚡

This one’s all about showing young people and families how everyday, affordable food can actually fuel mood, focus, and energy not just fill a plate.

We’ll be:

– Breaking down what’s actually inside an egg (and why it matters)
– Teaching foolproof ways to cook them properly
– Sharing quick brunch ideas you can actually repeat at home
– And of course… tasting along the way

Part of our Nourishing Neuro Bites work creating calm, hands-on spaces where food builds confidence, not pressure.

If you’ve got young people aged 13–18 (or are one yourself), this is a good one to get involved in.

📍 Hatchford Brook Family Hub
🕙 10am–12pm

👉 Register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1m-Ru00uLZ74vAcoNcAmevt7fKolYh9Ub5lK8g4_UHfM/viewform

Let’s keep building this properly one session, one skill, one meal at a time.

Big conversations happening around school food right nowand honestly, it’s long overdue.

Banning deep-fried food, limiting the constant cycle of pizza, cake and grab-and-go options… that’s not about restriction, that’s about resetting what “normal” looks like for the next generation.

Because here’s the reality we see every single week:

Children aren’t “fussy” they’ve just been conditioned.

When fresh, properly cooked food is put in front of them in the right way, they engage, they try, and more importantly… they enjoy it.

At Food for Thought, we’ve watched children:

• Eat meals they “don’t like” at home
• Ask for recipes to take back to their families
• Start understanding how food actually makes them feel

That’s the shift.

This isn’t just about obesity or tooth decay it’s about:

Energy
Focus
Mood
Confidence

Food is one of the earliest interventions we have, and one of the most powerful.

But here’s the important bit…

Policy alone won’t fix it.

You can write the best standards in the world, but if the food isn’t:

• Cooked with care
• Properly seasoned
• Culturally relevant
• Delivered in a way that excites people

…it won’t land.

That’s where the opportunity is.

School food shouldn’t feel like a compromiseit should feel like the best meal of the day.

We know it’s possible, because we’re doing it every day with communities across Solihull oand beyond.

Nourishing Bodies. Healing Minds.

Back at MAPA this week for HAF, serving up proper food that actually fuels the kids chilli, nachos, rice, fresh salads, guacamole, sour cream, fruit and a bit of trifle to finish.

Simple on paper, but done right balanced, full of flavour, and made to show what good food can actually look and taste like.

What’s been special lately is seeing the knock-on effect.

More and more parents are coming up to us, asking for recipes, then coming back saying they’ve cooked the meals at home… and their kids are eating things they wouldn’t normally go near.

That’s the real win.

It’s not just about feeding for the day — it’s about building confidence, changing habits early, and showing families that good food doesn’t have to be complicated or out of reach.

Especially in areas where access and exposure isn’t always there this kind of early experience matters.

Nourishing bodies, healing minds one plate at a time.

That’s a wrap on another round of NeuroSpicy.

A space where young people can be themselves, build confidence, and connect through food and this group brought exactly that. Energy, creativity and plenty of laughs.

Big thank you to all the families who got involved this only works because of you.

And to Super Sen CIC, your care and support makes this what it is. Proud to build this together.

Special mention to Keeley from Devilish Bakes for leading our final session she’s now officially our resident (part-time) pastry chef.

This is what Food for Thought is about.

Nourishing Bodies. Healing Minds.

Back at Meriden Adventure Playground Chelmsley Wood this week doing what we do best.

Proper food. Cooked fresh. Served with purpose.

For a lot of these young people, this is early exposure to what real, balanced food actually looks and tastes like not just beige, processed options, but meals that give energy, support mood and actually fill you up the right way.

And that matters.

In areas like Chelmsley Wood, over a third of children are growing up in low-income households. Access to good food isn’t always consistent so when it is, it needs to count.

That’s where we come in.

Hot meals, fresh fruit, proper portions, and a bit of pride on the plate.

Because if we can shape habits early, we’re not just feeding kids for the day we’re setting foundations for life.

Nourishing Bodies. Healing Minds.

Mods, music, and meaning behind it.

Back at The Night Owl for March of the Mods but this one carried a bit more weight. Nadia Dworkin amazing as always!

Proud to be there supporting Teenage Cancer Trust.

Good people, good energy, and a reminder that what we do can always be about more than just food.

On the grill:
The Quadrophenia Quarter
The Brighton Beach Bird
The Vegan Vespa Vibe

Big flavour. No shortcuts. Done properly.

Because whether it’s community sessions or a busy night like this the standard stays the same.

Food brings people together.
And nights like this show exactly why that matters.

Out in Rowley Regis this week supporting HAF provision with Creative Activities making sure what’s put in front of children is actually worth eating.

No shortcuts. No token gestures.

Freshly prepared sandwiches, fruit, proper sweet treats… and yes, something they’ll actually be excited to pick up and eat.
Lemon mousse, compote & yoghurt pots, scones with strawberries and cream simple food, done right.

Because this isn’t just about feeding children.
It’s about giving them a moment something that feels considered, balanced, and a bit special.

Food for Thought is about raising the standard of what community food looks like.
Consistent. Nutritious. Thought through.

And most importantly made with care.

If we’re doing it, we’re doing it properly.

*Tomorrow's opening hours are 1.30-3.30pm*

After that, we switch to our Easter Holiday opening hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 11-3.30pm
Youth Tuesday & Thursday 6.45-8.30pm

PLEASE Check your account before you arrive - if you haven't been since the last school year (ie. since August) you WILL need to update your account.

Please check all your contact details, medical/needs info, next of kin details and school details are up-to-date and add your HAF code if you have one: www.mapa-online.org.uk

We have the fabulous Food for thought CIC with us and providing food again this Easter and we offer parent portions for £1 once all the children have eaten (we can't always guarantee availability but do our best)

Waiting and updating your account when you arrive can be stressful for everyone (especially the kids that just want to get in and play!) but its a requirement of our insurance that everyone is registered and that we do everything we can to ensure all details are correct.