After speaking to a friend who is the head chef for the Barcelona Academy I was interested to see what the eating habits in a European Football Academy is like and how it compares to what we do at IFS.
One particular area that surprised me was in the Barcelona academy if the children don’t eat their lunch the training staff will sit with the child and practically spoon feed them (they had smoked Ox tongue yesterday!). WOW, quite extreme. In the European academy’s the children are strictly banned from any ready made meals at home and having any fast food is totally forbidden.
The food we are serving at IFS is prepared to a high standard by myself and the volunteers that help put a lot of effort and pride into what we make. We taste it to make sure there is plenty of flavour, it always has heaps of good vegetables, herbs, garlic and olive oil in every meal and there is usually a variety of textures to make the meal interesting too.
We know how challenging these new foods can be for some children and it is such a thrill to see our students trying new flavours and foods and we encourage our students to continue pushing their comfort zones as the benefits to developing a healthy palette will be life long.
If any parents male or female want to come and help just send an email to Larissa at volunteer@ccsc.nsw.edu.au and ask about being a volunteer.
One area to reflect on, which informs the types of food we prepare at IFS, after intense physical exercise the child’s body is screaming out for proper nutrition and proper food energy. As carers of possible professional football stars we think about the food we serve at IFS very carefully.
The food that we make is the type of food that would be served to them at any top academy in Europe and ideally healthy food is a major part of our children’s diets. Even sitting down at a table to dinner is something we are trying to put in place, food can be a social thing and we are witnessing some wonderful moments in our cafe at lunch times at IFS!
We at IFS understand how busy life can get and we are aware of the difficulties in achieving the ideal lifestyle. We thank you for trusting us enough to provide what we can during the college day for your children!
Beverley Chapman says
I have just watched a video of the opening of the college and the food prepared for that day (We were sad not to be able to be at the opening of the college), and the food looked fantastic.
We will contact Larissa to see if we can help volunteer also.
A huge thank you for your hard work, and for making such delicious meals. I am so happy two of my grandchildren are attending this college.
Winnis says
Can’t say I agree with the extreme methods used at the Barcelona Academy about feeding and making decisions on what children eat at home but nice to hear about the preparation of foods at IFS and the concept of making meal time more social.
Winnis says
I feel the Barcelona Academy may be a little extreme as far as making decisions on what food the children have at their own home or when outside college hours and so pleased that our IFS has a more relaxed and student friendly outlook. So nice to hear the
matt stocks says
Food at Barcelona is prepared by a team of tops chefs and is to a very high standard, and the methods are used in a most of the other accedemy’s.
What they are trying to get into the children is that any form of processed food contains lots of additives and get into the children that they are there to be athletes and athletes simply dont eat bad food, at home or not.
The food in most acedemy’s is also classed as a social event, which is what we are trying to promote at IFS, the children get a bottle of cold water and sit together, its not one persons water but to be shared.
It will take a while but the food we are making will begin to make a difference in their lives.
I have already had comments that childrens habits at home are changing, its the small things like that which to me make a big difference.