One of the components of the Active Families support here at Sport Northland, is nutrition. A great way to explore nutrition is through fun taste testing and creating a rainbow of flavours.  That’s exactly what our participants Adam and Keira Crump have been doing with Sport Northland’s Active Families Coordinator Samantha Jones.

The best way to truly be mindful of our eating is blindfold right? Well, that was our first challenge. Eating different types of food blindfolded focuses whanau’s' sensual awareness of the food, enhancing their experience of the food and of course is a bit of fun. Adam and Kiera were asked if they could name the food, describe the texture, taste, and smell.

From this session the family learnt that mindful eating is an approach that helps be present while eating and focus on their experiences with food. This practice has many benefits for children of all ages including developing a healthy relationship with food and building awareness of body cues, like hunger and satiety.

Mindful eating looks a little differently at each age. For younger children, it means encouraging them to play with their food, to touch and smell it. As children get older, involving them in the food preparation process and keeping screens away at mealtime can further their connection to food and their bodies.

The added plus - you can have some fun with it like the Crump family.

If you or your whānau would like some support with your activity goals, give us a call on phone 0800 GET ACTIVE …. we are here to help!