Local dad of three and family food specialist Adam Shaw is hosting two new pregnancy and weaning workshops in Tunbridge Wells next month. The popular Instagrammer, who published his first book last year, tells the Times what’s cooking…
Adam Shaw runs the successful At Dad’s Table Instagram account, which boasts more than 55,000 followers. The former conference and events manager, who is Le Cordon Bleu-trained, came up with the idea for launching his blog when his wife fell pregnant with their first child back in 2017.
“We were both surprised at how official food advice focused so much on what you can’t have, and not what you can. We both felt like we’d failed as parents before we’d even started! So instead I started designing food-positive recipes for each trimester to make my wife and baby feel good and things grew from there.”
Eventually Adam gave up his day job to concentrate full-time on At Dad’s Table.
Over the past six years, the father of three young boys has seen his social media following consistently grow and last year published his first book, ‘How To Grow Your Family’. It’s been a bestseller and was voted The Top Family Cookbook of 2022 by BBC Good Food.
On the back of all this, Adam has just announced he’s launching two brand-new foodie workshops in Tunbridge Wells for both expectant and new parents.
Running on April 18 and 21 at Bubba & Me baby and toddler emporium on Mount Pleasant, the idea of the workshops is to equip parents, who are either expecting their first child or who have recently welcomed a newborn into the world, with all the nutritional information and culinary techniques they’ll need in order to cook and eat with confidence at this exciting – yet often exhausting – stage of parenthood.
“We are dividing the workshops into two categories,” explains Adam, whose children are aged five, three and under one.
“The first workshop, on April 18 is all about feel-good food ideas for expectant and new parents, while the second one I’m hosting on April 21 is a simple crash course on how to start weaning.”
Adam adds that the first workshop will cover all the basics anyone starting on their journey to parenthood will need to know.
“I’ll discuss all that your body requires nutritionally in pregnancy, share recipe ideas for each trimester, suggest energy-rich meals to get ready for birth and give some snack ideas for the hospital.
“I will also give some ideas for batch-cooking hearty dishes so sleep-deprived, new parents aren’t stuck at the stove, plus some suggestions for snacks to get you through the day – and the 1am feed!”
Adam goes on to say that the second workshop on April 21 will revolve around the next stage of weaning and will be just as comprehensive.
“I’ll talk about when to pick up on signs your baby is ready to be weaned, the merits of baby-led-weaning and getting started with first foods. I will also discuss introducing allergens and proteins, plus share general safety advice.
“I’ll also go beyond first foods a little bit by suggesting easy breakfast, snack and finger food ideas and how to make general family meals more baby-friendly.”
Adding there will be plenty of samples to enjoy at both classes, Adam tells the Times that these classes will be really useful for any new or soon-to-be parent: “Both will cover all aspects of your pre- and post-pregnancy nutritional journey – and there’ll also be time to ask any questions you may have about anything.”
Adam will also be signing copies of his cookbook ‘How to Grow Your Family’, which was also awarded Best Healthy Cookbook, in the Health and Wellness Awards of 2022 and has been endorsed by celebrity super mum Giovanna Fletcher.
To book a place visit: bubbaandme.co.uk, or you can contact Adam directly via his Instagram @at_dads_table
