14 DAY TRIAL // The world's first sensory restaurant aimed exclusively at babies has opened to the public in Clapham, London, today, June 5. It is called Weeny Weaning Restaurant, and its creators aim to help children develop healthy eating habits from an early age.
The new and unique eatery is the brainchild of Ella’s Kitchen, a company that makes organic baby and toddler food, and it promises to offer kids the opportunity to explore delicious new foods, tastes and textures.
Kim Gelling, of the Ella’s Kitchen making friends team, says, “Our research has shown that giving babies the chance to explore food with all their senses helps them grow up to be good eaters.”
“Babies aren’t built to like vegetables or bitter things and refusing to eat enough fruit and veg can often stress their parents out. Coming into the sensory area first means that when it comes to the actual meal, fruit and veg are not so overwhelming because they are already familiar with it.”
The purpose of the new restaurant is to help families with fussy-eating kids transform mealtimes into funny experiences through sensory play and expert advice. The location features a sensory play zone where babies can smell and play with a variety of fruits and vegetables before taking their seats to eat their meals.
Also, it includes digital menus and interactive eating areas. Kids basically order their food by touching a high-tech tablet menu that uses pictures instead of words. Staff and parents closely observe the babies and the picture they show the most interest in becomes their order.
The Daily Mail has spoken to Consultant Infant Nutritionist Claire Baseley, who worked on the menu for the Weeny Weaning Restaurant, and it has found out her expert opinion about the new place. She has explained that it is very important that parents involve their toddlers in the food preparation process, because if kids are given the opportunity to explore ingredients before tasting them, they will become more engaged from the start.
“Letting them see, touch and smell the food will make them feel involved and in return they will be more likely to try new tastes,” she says.
Weeny Weaning is located at 68 Northcote Road, Clapham, and parents must register beforehand if they want their kids to attend a dining session and try lots of delicious new flavors in a really fun, sensorial way.
Ella’s Kitchen was founded in the UK in 2006 and is a member of The Soil Association and The Organic Trade Board. The company's products contain no added sugar, salt or water, no additives, E numbers or GM products.