Feeding Kids on Set

04 Oct Feeding Kids on Set

It can be stressful trying to plan what to pack for your child when away from home. This situation only becomes more difficult when it comes to feeding kids on set where breaks and meal times may be outside of their normal routine. Although food is usually provided to performers on sets, kids may be hungry outside of meal breaks and picky eaters or those with dietary restrictions may find comfort in knowing familiar favorites are readily available if needed.

If your child is doing  a T.V. commercial or is an extra on a movie set, familiarize yourself with the following guidelines when feeding them.

1. Pack healthy snacks

Kids are not always hungry at meal times, so it’s smart to bring snacks to keep them calm and happy. Choose healthy options you know your kid will like and avoid sugary treats that can lead to energy bursts and crashes. It can be long hours on set and keeping kids alert and focused and well behaved is key to getting called back for future work and making it an enjoyable experience for you and your child.

 Choose healthy snacks such as whole grain crackers and apples with sunflower seed butter, dried fruit, whole grain cereals, and raw mixed veggies and humus.  In addition to providing your child with the most needed energy boost, these foods will keep your child’s blood sugar balanced and their focus on what is required of them. The following are some examples of healthy snacks you can make yourself and are easy to pack for long days on set:

• Raw energy balls
• Cheesy kale chips
• Crunchy dried chick peas
  

2. Check on their food choices

Make sure you monitor the foods your child is choosing while on set. Most kids love sugar, and when not supervised, they’ll load up on sweets leading to crashes and behaviour issues on set and in background holding. If your child has special dietary restrictions, remember to bring your own food to avoid complications.

3. No take-aways

As a parent, do not succumb to the urge of carrying food away from the set. Only take what your kids will eat on site from craft services. It is not there to fill your purse to take home for later. Food quantities are predetermined based on the number of performers on set and over indulging will result in shortages for others and lose of future bookings for .

Finally,

It can be exciting to be a parent to a child on set.  However, keep in mind that even the most talented, calm and experienced child actor will not be at their best when they are not well fed.