Commissioned as part of the We Are Food Secure 11-19 project, aimed at improving food security for young people, Jenny Martin shares learning from this initiative delivered by Nutrition Kitchen, a leading food education organisation based in Newham.
Many young people struggle with building positive relationships with food, often feeling nervous about trying new ingredients and lacking the confidence or awareness to identify unfamiliar foods, which can hinder their willingness to explore and eat a balanced and nutritious diet.
In a creative partnership between Newham Council and Nutrition Kitchen, the Sensory Stars project has brought food to life for secondary school students across Newham. 14 secondary schools received a masterclass, where students took part in sensory-based activities designed to make food education interactive and fun. Engaging young people through the multi-sensory experience of food, the initiative helped students explore how their senses—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell—shape their perceptions of food. By engaging in hands-on activities, students were encouraged to deepen their understanding of the things that make food good. Using the senses actively so that when they see, hear, taste, smell and touch food that is full of nourishment (or encounter food that isn’t) they are better placed to see the clues! Perhaps most important of all is training the senses to enjoy food as much as possible.
A sensory journey through food
The core of the project was a school-based masterclass that challenged students to identify various foods and drinks through their senses in a friendly, competitive setting. Each table in the classroom focused on one of the five senses, allowing students to explore how each sense influences their experience of food. Students identified foods by touch, by the sounds they made when cut or bitten, and even by tasting foods while blindfolded, testing how texture and temperature affect flavour perception.
This immersive experience not only made the learning more engaging but also helped students build confidence in their ability to explore new foods. For many, it was an eye-opening experience that helped them overcome a reluctance to try unfamiliar ingredients.
As the competition progressed, the students’ sensory skills were tested and scored. Two outstanding students from each school were invited to represent their school at the Grand Finale.
Building confidence and overcoming food barriers
The feedback from teachers and students was unanimously positive, with many noting a significant boost in students’ confidence. One teacher remarked, “The students loved it, they had a great time and were so engaged figuring out the different foods.” Another teacher highlighted how the session provided a “very stimulating” environment that encouraged curiosity and exploration. Many schools expressed interest in integrating sensory development into their regular food technology lessons, with all involved keen for the programme and the competition to become an annual event.
A key outcome of the Sensory Stars project was its ability to help students overcome hesitation they had about trying new foods. In a diverse borough like Newham, where food cultures vary widely, stepping outside one’s comfort zone and engaging with unfamiliar foods is a crucial life skill. The inclusive nature of Sensory Stars ensured that students of all backgrounds, abilities, and learning needs could participate. By focusing on food and the senses—a universal topic—the project created a level playing field where all students, regardless of their ethnicity, age, or ability, could engage and compete together.
The Grand Finale: A celebration of sensory skills
The excitement culminated at the Grand Finale, held at East Ham Leisure Centre in December 2024 attended by Deputy Mayor Sarah Ruiz and Cllr Charlene McLean, along with public health team members, school staff and students. The event was a true celebration of sensory learning and friendly competition.
Andy Gold, Head of Food Strategy, LB Newham hosting the event said:
“It was exciting to see the learning that having this programme has inspired – and perhaps most of all the friendly competition. Seeing young people talk about how they were waiting to eat the lunch, provided at the finals, until after the competition because it would dull their senses was just one practical example of the knowledge gained. A goal of the work is to enable students to approach food with their senses fully engaged and able to appreciate and critique food, building on the evidence that this can be part of identifying and eating less ultra processed foods.”
The competition was friendly but fierce with the first Sensory Stars winners named as Plashet School, with Stratford School Academy taking Silver and New Directions School receiving Bronze.
Prizes allowed students to continue exploring the sensory world of food even after the competition and included copies of The Flavour Thesaurus by Niki Segnit, a sensory cooking workshop for students and their families, and a visit to the award-winning, Newham based Union Coffee Roastery.
Looking to the future
The success of this year’s programme means the future of the Sensory Stars project looks bright. Newham Council aim to expand the initiative in the coming years, hoping to involve even more schools across the borough. By developing additional resources and support, they aim to make food education and sensory exploration more fun, interactive, and accessible.
The project has not only given young people in Newham the opportunity to explore food in a new way but also helped them build confidence, develop life skills, and appreciate the diverse world of food. As one student put it, “It was an amazing session, and I can’t wait to come back and compete again next year!” With the future of the project already being discussed, it seems that sensory exploration through food is here to stay.
Author: Jenny Martin
With a background in Community Nutrition, Jenny has worked in the food education and school food improvement sector for the last 10 years and has more recently joined Newham’s Public Health team on improving whole school approaches to food.
January 2025