Butlins is teaming up with Annabel Karmel MBE, the UK’s leading author and expert on children’s food, to help mums encourage their kids to eat a more balanced diet – even if it’s sometimes health by stealth. The idea is to help families enjoy healthy eating with recipes having a well balanced nutritional value. Wherever possible, ‘hidden vegetables’ (vegetables pureed into sauces) will be included to make it easier for children to achieve their ‘5 a day’ and make healthy eating fun AND delicious. Annabel’
Annabel Karmel said “I’ve really enjoyed the challenge of creating a range of healthy freshly prepared meals for children at Butlins that taste so delicious the children will prefer them to junk food. It can be really difficult getting fussy eaters to eat vegetables so on the menus will be dishes like my hidden vegetable pasta and freshly prepared pizza with a veggie topping. My aim is to broaden the range of food that children enjoy as well so there will also be dishes such as Pad Thai Noodles, Paella and Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli. Instilling a love of healthy food at an early age is so important for children’s future wellbeing”
Gary Johnson, Head of Food and Beverage at Butlins added “A little bit of what you fancy is OK when you’re on holiday but we think it’s important that people have a healthy choice. Annabel’
The new children’s meals complement Butlins’ existing healthy eating campaign ‘Eat Well, Feel Good’, which has proven highly successful since its introduction 3 years ago. Aimed primarily at 5 to 11 year olds the campaign encourages them to eat five pieces of fruit or vegetables per day during their holiday rewarding them with a special Butlins badge at the end of their stay. So far almost 300,000 children have been awarded badges.
Dishes such as hidden vegetable lasagne, mild fruity chicken curry, sweet and sour meatballs and rice, baked macaroni cheese with ham (Annabel’s paella) and Chinese style rice with chicken and sweetcorn will be available in the Resort buffet restaurants. Noodle bars are being trialled in the premier dining room, the Yacht Club, with chefs preparing food in front of guests. So even though Annabel’s meals are focussed on children, adults can also enjoy the healthy fayre with some of her delicious recipes like Singapore Noodles with tender chicken and vegetables. Annabel’
Annabel’s books on cooking with children as well as cookery for kids will also be sold at the Resorts to complete the Butlins children’s food experience.
Prices for February half term start from just £45pp per break based on a family of four sharing a Silver self-catering apartment, 20th – 23rd February, at all three Resorts. To book a Butlins break call 0845 070 4730 or visit www.butlins.com (The maximum call charge is 2p per minute from a BT landline. Calls from other networks may vary).
