The big question Should you use in play?

As reducing our costs, carbon footprint and food waste becomes even more of a priority, is it appropriate or necessary to use food in play?

As Food Waste Action Week approaches on 6 to 12 March, many of us are consciously trying to reduce the amount of food that we waste – both at home with our families and in childcare settings.

Providing food for children to use in play can set up great sensory activities while offering a creative way to use food that’s past its best.

Equally, some see it as wasteful and a negative impact on the environment and the ever-growing cost of living.

So what’s the answer?

Some of our members got involved in the Instagram debate…

‘‘Great tool for learning and creativity’’

@e_mcdowell88

‘‘Until prices come down we will not waste any food!’’ @mrsvillzon ste then use od rker ill

‘‘If making soup or biscuits for a snack then it is fine, but if it is for sensory play we use best past date food. We use donated food past its use-by date. Parents, my co-worker and family members give it to us. We will ask for people to think of us when they discover lentils in the back of the cupboard two years past their best!’’

@home_from_homechildminding

‘‘Food can be explored while helping to prepare meals. It doesn’t need to be wasted for play’’

@hobbit_wrangler

‘‘I love it! A huge learning curve for the children’’

@hayleyhooker16

PACEY’s tips

If you want to use food in play, we’d recommend: Using food past its best and food that can be reused. For example, dry pasta or lentils rather than cooked pasta or fresh vegetables. To make sure you understand the important differences between best before and use-by dates, go to bit.ly/food-hygiene-info

Incorporating sensory development with food as part of making a snack or making lunch with the children. Growing a child’s understanding of where food comes from: see page 18 for tips around supporting gardening in the early years.

Our Inspiring Environments Toolkit has suggestions for sensory play, go to pacey.org.uk/resourcesmaterials-experiences

The big question

Why is reducing our food waste important?

1Research estimates that wasting food costs the average UK family more than £700 a year.

2We throw away 6.6 million tonnes of household food waste a year in the UK. This food waste is responsible for nearly 25 million emissions, UK’s territorial emissions. The majority, 4.5 million tonnes, is food that could worth approximately for 25 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent to 5.4% of the

The majority, 4.5 tonnes, is food that could have been eaten and is worth £14bn (or £60 a month for an average family with two children).

Source: wrap.org.uk

Find d out more

Watch PACEY’s ebi

“Food poverty, a growing n”: ey.org.uk/ food-poverty-webinar

MyPACEY food and drink ey.org.uk/ food-and-drink-resources

MyPACEY food safety and hyg ey.org.uk/ food-safety-and-hygiene

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