FFK51: Are screens always bad at mealtimes? With Emma Fitzgerald

On today's episode I'm talking to Emma Fitzgerald who's a paediatric feeding therapist with 16 years of NHS experience helping children with their eating and we're talking about whether it's sometimes okay to use screens to help our children with food.When we have children, I think we all have an ideal of what we want our family meals to be like. In previous episodes with dietitians we have touched on lots of good reasons why this style of eating is a good thing to aim for if we can. That family style of eating where people can help themselves from the middle of the table really is helpful for kids to have more agency and chatting about their day and things other than the food takes the pressure off children to eat and it also enables them to communicate about stuff that's going on in their life. So when it's possible and it works, obviously that's great.  But what about when that just doesn't work for you?Emma is a paediatric feeding therapist with a Master’s in Speech and Language Therapy and 16 years of NHS experience. Previously a senior staff nurse, she draws on a strong clinical background to support children with eating, drinking and swallowing needs. She specialises in the assessment, diagnosis and management of paediatric feeding disorders, helping families navigate challenges with confidence and clarity. Her approach is evidence-based, compassionate and family-centred, aiming to make feeding safer, more enjoyable and more fulfilling for every child.Emma posted a great post on Instagram about her professional take on this and especially what she thinks about screens and food. Links in this episode:Emma's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emma_feeding_therapist/Emma's website: https://www.emma-fitzgerald.com/Music "Happy Days" by Simon Folwar via Uppbeat