Good Food
type: channel
link: https://www.bbcgoodfood.com
date: 2025-09-30T23:00:18.000Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: 15 birthday ideas for kids at home
items: Top 10 student baking recipes
items: How to make paper mache (papier-mâché)
items: Playdough recipe
items: 10+ Easter craft ideas
items: Autumn crafts for kids
items: 10 top tips for happy family mealtimes
items: Why mindful eating is important for families
items: What is the fourth trimester?
items: Early years nutrition – top tips

15 birthday ideas for kids at home
type: item
creator: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Family
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: activities
subject: Birthday
subject: Kids
subject: Kids birthday
subject: lockdown
description: Celebrate a kids birthday at home with our special occasion ideas. Get creative with our activity inspiration, from fun film nights to DIY spa days and afternoon tea.
encoded: Coming up with entertaining and original kids’ birthday party ideas isn’t easy at the best of times – but deciding on birthday ideas for kids at home is trickier still. Fear not – our round-up has everything you need to make your kid’s party go with a bang, from planning the perfect food and budget-friendly foodie activities to easy cakes with the wow factor and the best mocktails for tweens and teens. All you need do is pick a theme, then get the whole family involved – there’s something for kids of all ages. Birthday activities at home 1. Sweet treat factory What’s the best way to reduce the stress of baking for your kid’s birthday? Getting everybody involved! Set up baking stations for every member of the family with pre-weighed ingredients, you can even go to the effort of hand-writing recipe cards for each of you to follow. Choose from easy chocolate-dipped marshmallows and cake pops or easiest-ever biscuits and thumbprint cookies. Throw in some healthy options, too, like watermelon pops or cherry smoothies. Divide the goodies into homemade boxes so everyone gets one of each. Find more simple bakes to enjoy with the little ones in our kids’ baking recipes, kids’ party recipes and kids’ chocolate recipes. 2. Board game cafe Stack the table with age-appropriate games like dominos, cards, Trivial Pursuit or Monopoly. This idea can run over a few hours so choose food that’s mostly at room temperature, like hummus and crudités. The birthday boy or girl will have their hands full of dice or playing cards, so stick to a grazing platter loaded with nibbles that are easy to pick up and eat – no cutlery required. A pre-prepared dessert buffet works well because everyone in the family can help themselves to a bite to eat between rounds: lay out some popcorn, three-ingredient peanut butter cookies or chocolate bark. 3. Spa day For this kids birthday party idea, you all need to arrive in your dressing gown or onesie. The host sets up stations with fluffy towels and foot-res…

kids-birthday-cf275c3.jpg
width: 3413
height: 3413

Top 10 student baking recipes
type: item
creator: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Family
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: Baking
subject: Budget
subject: Easy baking
subject: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Student
subject: University
description: Improve your baking skills at university with our best ever student-friendly recipes. Whip up a classic loaf of bread or bake a giant cookie to satisfy your sweet tooth.
encoded: We might all want to have our cake and eat it, but baking’s not always easy on a student budget, with limited space and limited cooking kit. These recipes all give you more ingredients for your buck, and will help you make the most of the kitchen in your student digs. Want to know more about baking on a budget? Read Ruby Tandoh’s top tips. Flex your cooking skills with our student recipes and student meal ideas, including cheap and cheerful sharing dinners and wholesome meals for one. Also, make sure you are kitted out with all the right equipment by reading our review of the best student kitchen essentials. Discover recipes perfect for student life – whether you're keen to upskill in the kitchen or just need quick, reliable meals. Hosting pals? Try our easy student dinner party recipes to be the hostess with the mostess. Pressed for time? Our 30-minute student meal plan has you covered. Cutting back on meat? Explore our vegetarian and vegan student recipes for fresh, flavour-packed ideas. 1. Giant cookie Raid the corner shop for toppings for this tear-and-share pimped-up cookie. Don’t worry if you don’t have a baking sheet in your student halls – you can use an oven-proof frying pan. All the other ingredients are cheap and easy to get hold of, so the only question is: What will you put on yours? Bake your own giant cookie with all the trimmings. 2. Double ginger cookies If you’re a fan of ginger nuts, you’ll love these American-style spiced biscuits. Studded with stem ginger and dipped in dark chocolate, they’re made with fewer than 10 ingredients and bake up 24 per batch. Freeze the dough to cut waste, and bake them on demand (though they won’t last long next to a cuppa). Treat yourself without breaking the bank with more budget-friendly baking recipes. 3. Easy white bread Your beginners’ bread-making class starts here, with a simple sandwich loaf made from very basic ingredients in just 20 minutes plus baking. You can make big batches of this and freeze loaves so…

giant-cookie-9645bf3.jpg
width: 200
height: 200

How to make paper mache (papier-mâché)
type: item
creator: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Family
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: activities for kids
subject: craft
subject: crafts
subject: DIY
subject: Emily Kerrigan
subject: how to make paper mache
subject: Kids
subject: kids crafts
subject: paper mache
subject: Paper mache recipe
subject: papier mache
description: Papier-mâché, or what's more commonly searched for as 'paper mache', is the perfect activity for kids. Discover our winning recipe, step-by-step guide and easy video to make your project a breeze...
encoded: This paper mache recipe is the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon inside. It's quick enough to hold a young child's attention and you only need a few storecupboard ingredients. For more hands-on crafts, see how to make playdough, slime, salt dough, bath bombs, oobleck, bubble mixture and moon sand with affordable ingredients and easy steps. Keep the little ones entertained at home with our summer activities for kids, sensory play ideas, fun yoga for kids and birthday ideas for kids at home. See our new Kid's Kitchen series for essential cookery skills, plus easy recipes kids can make and kids summer baking projects. Browse our family & kids hub for plenty of inspiration. How to make paper mache Find out how to make a paper mache balloon and stationery holder in the video below. View Green Video on the source website What to make with paper mache Bowls Lampshades Boxes Masks Earth models Containers Paper mache recipe Makes 1 big batch Prep 10 minutes What do you need to make paper mache An old newspaper, comics or magazines 1 level mug of plain flour 1 level mug of warm water, plus extra tap water for loosening Method 1. Tear or cut strips or little squares from your newspaper, comics or magazines according to the project you're working on. Do this first before you make the paste so that the paste doesn’t set while you’re cutting paper. 2. Stir together the flour and warm water in a large mixing bowl until well combined. Add extra tap water a little at a time to loosen. You want a smooth, batter-like paste with no lumps. You can sift the flour first for a super smooth finish. 3. Cover your work area in more old newspaper. Dip the paper strips in the paste, wipe off the excess on the side of the bowl and stick onto your project. Use a paintbrush to smooth down the paper and remove any air bubbles or excess paste. Repeat to cover and leave to dry before adding further layers. In our video we made a comic-covered tin to use as a pot for storing kids’ cutlery and cov…

paper mache with kids making 400x400-2e438c9.jpg
width: 400
height: 400

Playdough recipe
type: item
creator: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Family
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: craft
subject: crafts
subject: DIY
subject: Emily Kerrigan
subject: how to make playdough
subject: Kids
subject: play dough recipe
subject: playdough recipe
subject: Salt dough recipe
description: See how to make homemade playdough with our easy recipe using storecupboard ingredients. Save money and involve the kids in this thrifty kitchen activity.
encoded: This super-easy playdough recipe is the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon inside. It's quick enough to hold a young child's attention and you only need a few storecupboard ingredients. Little hands can play with the results straight away, so there's immediate gratification for all involved! For more hands-on crafts, see how to make air-dry clay, slime, salt dough, oobleck, bath bombs, and moon sand, with affordable ingredients and easy steps. Keep the little ones entertained at home with our summer activities for kids, sensory play ideas, fun yoga for kids and birthday ideas for kids at home. See our new Kid's Kitchen series for essential cookery skills, plus easy recipes kids can make and kids' summer baking projects. Browse our family & kids hub for plenty of inspiration. Why homemade playdough is the best It requires just a few simple storecupboard ingredients It's convenient and affordable It's easy to make It isn't toxic for kids It can easily be customised with different colours It can be stored in the fridge in an airtight bag for months How to make playdough Makes 1 coloured ball Prep 10 minutes You will need 8 tbsp plain flour 2 tbsp table salt 60ml warm water food colouring 1 tbsp vegetable oil Method 1. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl mix together the water, a few drops of food colouring and the oil. 2. Pour the coloured water into the flour mix and bring together with a spoon. 3. Dust a work surface with a little flour and turn out the dough. Knead together for a few minutes to form a smooth, pliable dough. If you want a more intense colour you can work in a few extra drops of food colouring. 4. Store in a plastic sandwich bag (squeeze out the air) in the fridge to keep it fresh. You can make a batch of colours and give away as kids’ party bag favours or hold a playdough party for your child’s next birthday. Watch our step-by-step video to see how simple this recipe is: View Green Video on the source website For inspiratio…

playdough recipe with young girl 400x400-0da6bf1.jpg
width: 400
height: 400

10+ Easter craft ideas
type: item
date: 2024-03-14T16:24:45.000Z
creator: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Family
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: crafts
subject: east craft ideas
subject: Easter
subject: Easter crafts
subject: Easter crafts for kids
subject: Easter ideas kids
subject: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Kids
subject: kids crafts
description: Discover easy and beautiful Easter crafts for kids and adults alike to enjoy. Try our homemade bird feeder, salt dough decorations, paper pinwheels and more
encoded: Looking for ways to keep the kids entertained over Easter? These fun projects will do the trick, and adults may even find themselves getting stuck in, too. Find everything from Easter egg crafts to salt dough ideas and more. See our general recipe for salt dough here. Want to get little ones in the kitchen? Try our best Easter cakes for kids for decorating with homemade nests or chocolatey mini eggs. For more spring activities, see how to decorate Easter eggs, how to throw an Easter egg hunt and our picks of the best Easter table decoration ideas. If you like these Easter craft ideas, be sure to head over to Gathered, where the craft team has rounded up even more easy Easter crafts for kids. Easter crafts 1. Egg potato printing Kids can make their own Easter greeting cards with this easy craft idea. The printed effect adds a lovely DIY touch to their cards, plus it's low-cost to make. Takes 15 mins To make egg potato printing, you will need: Potatoes Paintbrush Paint Card What to do 1. Cut a potato in half and carefully carve out some shapes – stripes or spots look good. 2. Use a paintbrush to paint your chosen paint colours onto the potato, then use as a stamp to make patterns for Easter greetings cards. 2. Cupcake liner daffodils Kids will love creating these realistic daffodils made using cupcakes liners. Feel free to get experimental with the colours. Takes 30 mins To make cupcake liner daffodils, you will need: Lolly sticks Green craft paint White, yellow or orange craft paper or card 6x white, yellow or orange cupcake liners Glue What to do Paint six wooden lolly sticks with green craft paint and set aside to dry. Cut flower shapes from white, yellow or orange craft paper or card, each with six pointy petals. Take six white, yellow or orange cupcake liners (a contrasting colour to the flowers looks nice) and lightly scrunch the base of them in your hand. Glue one on each flower, then glue the flowers to the lolly sticks. Cut out six long leaf shapes from green…

easter-SHOT1Crafts-1-5cda296.jpg
width: 4480
height: 4480

Autumn crafts for kids
type: item
creator: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Family
subject: Guide
subject: How to
subject: activities for kids
subject: arts and crafts
subject: Autumn
subject: craft projects for kids
subject: Emily Kerrigan
description: Keep the kids entertained during half term with these easy autumn activities – learn how to make a pinecone mouse, apple stamps and more
encoded: Take the kids on a walk to forage for leaves, twigs and pinecones, then kick off your wellies, make a hot chocolate and get stuck in to some autumn crafting together. All of our projects are easy enough for little ones to make, and they're budget-friendly too, as they use either natural materials or bits from the recycling box. For more fun craft ideas great for when the weather starts getting cold, read our guide to indoor activities for kids. Cooking with kids is a great way to entertain your little ones. Check out our kids’ cooking recipes and kids’ baking recipes for ideas on easy meals and bakes that can help kids’ confidence grow in the kitchen. If you want to help your kids learn basic cooking skills, watch our kids' kitchen cooking tutorials to help them learn chopping and pan-frying, to weighing and measuring ingredients. A great way to release kids' creativity and some of their energy is to create instruments from your recycling. Check out our guide on instruments kids can make for inspiration. If you’re looking for a more peaceful pastime, why not help them throw an afternoon tea? Or run through our fun yoga for kids' practice. 1. Upcycled fox This fantastic fox is made from a cardboard toilet roll tube and two cupcake cases – simply add beads or googly eyes to bring him to life.Takes 30 mins plus drying time You will need newspaper orange paint paintbrushes toilet roll tube 2 white cupcake cases 3 black beads glue What to do Lay down newspaper to protect the work surface. Paint the toilet roll tube orange and leave to dry. Open both cupcake cases out flat, fold both in half, then a quarter and then in half again. To make the face, open one of the cases back out so that it is in a quarter-fold with a crease down the middle. Glue the inside folded quarters flat together. To make the tail, glue the second case together so you have a thinner cone shape. Paint the two folded cupcake cases orange, leaving the tips unpainted for the tail and nose. Leave to dry,…

autumn crafts400x400-d414aaa.jpg
width: 400
height: 400

10 top tips for happy family mealtimes
type: item
date: 2023-05-30T10:12:03.000Z
creator: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Family
subject: Family health
subject: Health
subject: Wellness
subject: Budget family recipes
subject: Family recipes
subject: goodhealth
subject: healthy family meals
description: If you're finding mealtimes a family struggle, don't worry. We've pulled together tips to help mealtimes run smoothly and make healthy eating easy for everyone.
encoded: Family mealtimes are an opportunity to come together and share a healthy dinner while hearing about each other’s days. With our busy lives, this is especially important – but it can be hard to get everyone together and avoid rushing. It’s also often tricky to find meals that both kids and parents enjoy, particularly if a little one is going through a fussy eating phase. Catering for different tastes and appetites, especially on tight family budgets, can also be a challenge. Our tips aim to bring a little calm and order to family meals, and give you some ideas for new family favourite meals for those hectic weeknights. Try our family recipe collections, from best family batch-cooking recipes to our speedy family budget meal plan. Tips for family mealtimes 1. Make a healthy family meal plan Drawing up a weekly meal plan and writing a shopping list brings calm to busy weeknights, saving you both time and money while cutting food waste. Plan meals according to ingredients you already have in the fridge, freezer and kitchen cupboards, prioritising those that need using up first. Stick the meal plan on the fridge so that everyone in the family knows what’s for dinner tonight. Take into account everyone’s schedule for the week when planning so that you know who’s eating what and when. Batch cook when you have the time so that you can be one step ahead on nights when you don’t. Plan dinners that can be turned into lunches for some of you, too, the next day. 2. Choose food your fussy child will eat with you Although fussy eating is common in kids, it can put a huge amount of strain on family mealtimes. Making food for you all to share can take the pressure off, giving kids the autonomy to choose those ingredients they fancy from a selection, while also leaving the option to have a small taste on the side of something new. Food to share needn’t be complicated: think one-pan nachos, traybakes or crudités and dips. 3. Look for family budget recipes Read our priceless tips for r…

family-mealtime-cdc7dbf.jpg
width: 440
height: 400

Why mindful eating is important for families
type: item
date: 2023-05-30T09:38:34.000Z
creator: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Family
subject: Family health
subject: Health
subject: family mealtime
subject: goodhealth
subject: healthy eating habits
subject: mindful eating
subject: mindfulness
description: Eating mindfully can help children develop healthy eating habits. Here are five tips to ensure the whole family enjoys mealtimes
encoded: What is mindfulness? Do you ever feel that you’re racing between home, school, work and the kids’ activities, without coming up for air? Mindfulness is an approach, a bit like meditation, that encourages us to pause and take a moment to reflect on what’s going on around us and how we are feeling. Both kids and adults alike can learn techniques that will help them to live more mindfully and become calmer and more centred. Try our mindfulness exercises for kids, or discover more of our health guides, from the benefits of walking, to information on intuitive eating. Why is mindfulness important at mealtimes? When we’re busy, it’s easy to eat on the go, rushing meals before getting on with the next part of our day. Mindful eating centres on trying to slow down at mealtimes, removing distractions and taking time to enjoy the food in front of us. A growing body of research suggests that this more thoughtful approach to eating may be associated with making more nutritious choices. In other words, if we stop to think about it, we’re less likely to refuel quickly on junk and more likely to give our bodies the goodness we need to function at our best. When we slow down to eat, we also help our stomach digest, our minds settle and our tastebuds savour our food. If we can find techniques to help us eat more mindfully, our habits around mealtimes can drastically improve. And, while it’s probably unrealistic for us to adopt mindful eating at every mealtime, we can still reap the benefits whenever we do have the opportunity. Five tips to help your family with mindful eating 1. Eat together at the table Sitting down to share a meal together is one of life’s most straightforward pleasures. Family meals are a simple way to connect, hear about one another’s days and help children both learn about food and build healthy relationships around eating. Furthermore, while we all love family movie night on the sofa sometimes, eating at the table encourages better posture, which in turn aids …

Child-eating-mindfully-f8b2203.jpg
width: 440
height: 400

What is the fourth trimester?
type: item
date: 2023-04-24T09:47:02.000Z
creator: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Family
subject: Family health
subject: Guide
subject: Health
subject: How to
subject: fourth trimester nutrition
subject: goodhealth
subject: healthy baby
subject: healthy pregnancy diet
subject: nutrition tips for new parents
subject: nutrition tips for pregnancy
subject: Pregnancy nutrition
description: What is the fourth trimester and why is it important? Nutritionist and family writer Emily Kerrigan explains what you need to know, and shares advice for new parents
encoded: The postnatal phase following the birth of a baby is sometimes called the fourth trimester. It’s an opportunity for mother and child to be looked after as they recover – and nutrition plays an important part in this. Eating well after giving birth has many benefits, but it can be hard to prioritise alongside the demands of caring for a newborn. This guide explains the value of good nutrition during the fourth trimester, and provides practical tips for eating a healthy diet when free time and energy are in short supply. Discover all you need to know about pregnancy, including what you can't eat, a healthy pregnancy diet and what your food cravings really mean. Why is it important for new mums? Not only does good nutrition support a mother’s recovery after birth, it also boosts immunity, replenishing nutrient stores and supporting overall well-being. New mothers should focus on a balanced diet that's rich in nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables; energy-giving, fibre-rich wholegrains; lean proteins and healthy fats. Fruits and vegetables provide essential vitamins, minerals and fibre to alleviate constipation, which may occur postpartum. Opt for lean proteins such as poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts and legumes, as these are essential for tissue repair and growth. Good sources of energy-rich, healthy fats include oily fish, avocados, nuts, seeds and olive oil. It may seem easiest to refuel with biscuits for a quick sugary fix, especially when you’re exhausted, but processed foods offer negligible nutritional value. It can be just as quick to reach for a piece of fresh fruit or nut butter on an oatcake, and these will provide more sustained energy and nutrients to better support your recovery. Be gentle with yourself though. Now is not the time to aim for the perfect diet – just try to fuel yourself well whenever you can. Why is it important for baby? If you are breastfeeding your baby, you should limit alcohol and caffeine, as these substances can pass into breast milk…

Healthy-pregnancy-51823ef.jpg
width: 440
height: 400

Early years nutrition – top tips
type: item
date: 2023-02-03T09:29:40.000Z
creator: Emily Kerrigan
subject: Family
subject: Family health
subject: Health
subject: goodhealth
subject: how to wean
subject: Toddler recipes
subject: Weaning recipes
subject: weaning tips
description: How do you nourish a child and support healthy eating habits from a young age? Nutritionist Emily Kerrigan explains why early years nutrition matters, and shares top tips to support good habits
encoded: There is strong evidence that nutrition matters during the first 1,000 days of life. We know that the right diet during the early years supports healthy growth and brain development. Feeding youngsters can be challenging and no parent should despair if their child refuses even to try broccoli. The key is to consistently offer healthy foods. After all, your child can only decide to eat broccoli one day if you keep serving it on their plate. Follow these healthy eating tips and your toddler will develop good eating habits for life. Read our tips below, then check out our weaning recipes, toddler recipes and read up on a balanced diet for toddlers. Top 10 healthy eating habits to give your kids 1. Eat together Family lives are busy but making the most of mealtimes together whenever possible teaches the value of sitting down to a nutritious homecooked meal. You are your child’s role model, so demonstrate how to eat a balanced diet full of variety. And bring your baby to the family table during weaning so they can learn from you. Read our guide to find out when your baby will be ready for weaning. 2. Help your child explore Get your child involved in cooking and explain where food comes from. Their curiosity about ingredients will grow and they’ll enjoy trying new meals they’ve had a hand in preparing. Even the littlest cooks can help with simple tasks like growing herbs in pots or washing veg. We have lots of easy recipes to make with kids. 3. Make meals enjoyable Picture your favourite restaurant. Is there always friendly chatter, buzzy music, and, of course, delicious food? We all appreciate relaxed mealtimes so remember this when feeding your toddler. Take the time to natter, play music and serve food on appealing plates (try letting them pick one at the shops). 4. Be realistic A survey of UK parents found 79% offered toddlers bigger-than-recommended portions. In other words, we may be worrying that our toddlers are eating too little if they don’t clear their plates …

Baby-eating-in-high-chair-958b034.jpg
width: 440
height: 400