First Helpings: A history of children and food

What should children eat and why? How should they eat it and what should they learn about food?

Speakers: Deborah Albon and Amy Palmer

What should children eat and drink? What table manners are appropriate and how should they be taught? What should children learn about food in terms of cooking and ethical food choices? These are just some of the food-related questions that people have wrestled with throughout history: they are hotly debated topics to this day!

Join authors Deborah Albon and Amy Palmer as they discuss the relationship between children and food in history, giving a flavour of the many different topics they cover in their new book, First Helpings. Deb and Amy will focus particularly on the history of table manners – what was considered appropriate behaviour and how ‘proper’ comportment was taught over time. They will also look at teaching children to cook – something which has happened in many different settings, including the home, the school and community groups such as the Scouts and Guides.

Book sales

You can buy copies of many of our speakers’ books from Fox Lane Books, a local independent bookseller and Festival partner. In some cases, author signed bookplates are available too.

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