Families for Life newsletter - summer 2021

Families for Life

                              MAY 2021

Families for Life newsletter

As lockdown is easing and we are going into summer, we have more opportunities to be outside and be physically active. See our feeling good tip for a suggestion about how to be physically active with your child(ren). 

This newsletter also gives you information on how you can become a Families for Life community champion and get involved in our programme; our living well tip and healthy recipe gives you suggestions on how you can get your child to eat more vegetables and fruit. 

We hope you enjoy the newsletter. If you have any suggestions or feedback please do get in touch. 

Email Families for Life


In this issue


Families for Life update

Natasha Miller

Welcome to Natasha

We are very pleased to let you know we have a new member in the Families for Life team; Natasha Miller. If you book on a Families for Life programme you will most likely talk to Natasha. Natasha is also our Families for Life community champion coordinator and she is recruiting community champions now for online training in June and July 21. We’re looking for inspirational volunteers to encourage families in Islington to get active and eat well.

As a community champion you will be available to volunteer two to three hours a week.

It’s a fun way to enhance skills, meet people and boost personal development.

What’s on offer?

An opportunity to learn about health and wellbeing

Ongoing support and further training opportunities

Flexibility to fit volunteering around your daily routine

See our webpage for more information or contact Natasha directly. 


Feeling good tip

Islington Families Community Fun Run

Be active with your children

During the pandemic, many families have become more inactive as we have been confined to our homes for long periods of times. We spend more time on screens for (school) work and entertainment. What we now need is some family active time to stay healthy. Children in particular need physical activity to develop their muscle mass, motor skills, bone density and for their mental health. For more information on the importance of reducing sedentary behaviour, listen to the podcast, Is sitting still slowly killing us? 

To reverse the trend of inactivity, try and build in fun regular physical activity into the daily routine of your family. Any time is a good time to start; take part in the Family Community Virtual Fun Run during the summer half term holiday: Saturday 29 May – Sunday 6 June 2021.  The deadline for families to enter is Monday 24 May 2021. Don't be put off by the word 'run', you can run, jog or walk, as long as you keep moving!

Register


Living well tip

Asian girl showing bored expression with plate of vegetables and glass of milk

Can children and vegetables mix?

We've all been there, hiding veggies in children's food, hoping they will eat the healthy food you have made for them. A popular strategy, but it doesn't solve the problem of your child saying that they do not like eating vegetables. If your child likes a 'hidden vegetable' food without knowing what's in it, they won't make the connection between the yummy food you give them and the vegetables they 'don't like'. If discovered, your child may become distrustful of the food you serve. The best way is to be open about the vegetables in the recipes. For example try the oven baked popcorn cauliflower and get your child involved in making it. That way you can celebrate together if your child discovers that they actually like cauliflower. If you would like more help with recipes, why not join a Family Kitchen programme

More recipe ideas


Oven baked popcorn cauliflower

Popcorn cauliflower

Oven baked popcorn cauliflower is a great variation to the popular popcorn chicken.

Ingredients

  • 1 cauliflower, cut into small florets
  • 1 egg, whisked
  • 75g panko breadcrumbs or normal breadcrumbs
  • 60g grated parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Method

  1. Preheat oven 210 degrees C. Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
  2. Place cauliflower in a large pot with water. Bring pot to the boil and cook cauliflower for 5 minutes or until it is just tender.
  3. Drain cauliflower in a colander and leave to cool while preparing the rest of the ingredients.
  4. In a bowl combine breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, paprika and thyme.
  5. Transfer cauliflower to a large bowl and mix through beaten egg.
  6. Add breadcrumb mixture to the cauliflower and egg. Mix well to coat the cauliflower florets.
  7. Place cauliflower on the lined baking tray and drizzle with a little oil. Place tray in the oven to bake for 25 minutes or until cauliflower is golden and crisp. Turn the cauliflower 2 or 3 times during baking to ensure they crisp up well.
  8. Serve immediately as it is best eaten when hot.

Popcorn cauliflower recipe


Services and web links

Families for Life

Families for Life

FREE Family Kitchen programmes for families with children aged 2 – 11. The programme focusses on cooking a delicious yet simple meal with your child. Ingredients are paid for. New programmes will be starting  this summer term. Book now and we'll be in touch for organise attendance at the next programme. 

Families for Life


Active Spaces

Active spaces

FREE Online Health and Wellbeing Activities for Everyone! Join the Active Spaces community to improve your health, wellbeing and connect with others. All from the comfort of your home.

Active Spaces


Get Set 4 PE

Get Set 4 PE

A range of family games to do at home, including sock games, creative fitness to help your children to be active at home. Your child can create their own calendar to record their activities across the month.

Get set 4 PE


Child Feeding Guide

Child feeding guide

Award winning tools and support to tackle fussy eating and create happy mealtimes.

Child feeding guide


Families for Life

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