Author Biography
Valerie GradyB.Sc. (London) P.G.C.E. (Warwick) E.Y.P.S. (Oxford) Valerie is passionate about re-instating and revitalising basic cookery skills within our homes and schools and believes that we should start this within the curriculum for very young. In order to make healthy food fun for this age group she created Mr. Willow (The Bear Chef) as a healthy children's food hero. Mr. Willow now appears in his own children's books which have been specifically written for children and adults to share. They provide a wealth of educational material and lots of activities to inspire, enable, interest and extend a child's learning. Each book has a practical and healthy recipe to make, to encourage early cookery and healthy eating. Valerie is Founding Director of Education and Child Development at Willow Cottage Nurseries, Oxford, England where she has over 28 years experience in successfully developing suitable recipes, delivering healthy food and fun-food- education for young children. She is a post graduate home economics teacher (Warwick University) with a Food Sciences honours degree (Kings College, London) having recently gained her Early Years Professional Status in Oxford in 2009. As such she has an in-depth knowledge and understanding of a child's nutritional needs and 28 years experience of leading teams of inspirational nursery practitioners to deliver excellence within in the early year's curriculum.As a nation I believe that we are letting our children down in the very way that we are currently feeding and training them. We have childhood obesity at record levels and affiliated diseases like diabetes rapidly on the rise. Mr. Willow's healthy food campaign Nursery Food Matters is set to help fight childhood obesity and to educate children about healthy food right from the start . In 2012 Mr Willow and his dedicated team at Willow Cottage Nurseries, Oxford gained a Leading Aspect in Education Award for their cutting-edge performance and practice in early year's food education. www.willow-cottage.com The Bear Chef Children's Books, Recipe Books, Fun- Food- Activities and other foodie resources are published in order to share and promote this practice. www.nurseryfood.com
