About Magnificent Munchers

Magnificent Munchers, Therapy for Fussy Eaters, is based in Harpenden (AL5). We work with children and parents from all over Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire.

Magnificent Munchers provide food therapy for children who eat a limited range of foods. We work with children with a range of diagnosis including those with ARFID (Avoidant Restricted Food Intake Disorder). We offer both individual and group therapy sessions. We have a holistic approach to assessing eating difficulties. We look at all aspects of the child including their motor skills, behaviour/learning, sensory needs, medical history and nutrition. Our therapy team consists of a Children’s Occupational Therapist, Speech and Language Therapist, Dietician and two Therapy Assistants.

 

Thank you for all your help. It has helped us so much as a family to be less anxious during meal times

Veena

(attended Food School, 11 week programme)

MEET THE TEAM

All the staff at Magnificent Munchers are Mums ourselves so we understand the stresses and joys of family life. We are a friendly, approachable team and aim to make therapy a fun and pleasurable experience for your child. The team are all first aid trained.

Jacqueline Parkinson

Children’s Occupational Therapist
BSc (Hons)

Jacqueline graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 1997 with a BSc Hons in Occupational Therapy and has worked as a Children’s Occupational Therapist in the NHS ever since. Jacqueline created Magnificent Munchers having worked in the field of paediatrics for more than 17 years, treating children with a range of diagnosis, conditions and difficulties. Through running sensory workshops and talking with parents during assessments she realised there was a need for a food therapy service for children who were eating a limited range of foods, often due to sensory difficulties. Jacqueline completed the SOS (Sequential, Oral, Sensory) approach to feeding training, qualifying as an advanced practitioner.

Marian Browne

Speech & Language Therapist
BMEDSci(Sp) Cert MRCSLT

Marian graduated from Sheffield University in 1986 as a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and has practised in paediatrics since then. Following work at Cambridge Health Authority, she joined the staff of the Bobath Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy in 1990. There Marian became a specialist in the field of Paediatric Dysphagia (eating and drinking difficulties), continuing a role as therapist, clinical tutor and lecturer both at home and abroad in the field. For more than 10 years until 2014, Marian worked as a moderator of Postgraduate Dysphagia training at University College London and was involved in developing competencies for training speech and language therapists in the field.

Marian now works in independent practice with children who have a wide range of speech, language and eating and drinking difficulties.

Simon Beames

Children’s Dietician BSc (Hons) in Dietetics

Simon initially graduated from The University of South Wales with a BSc (HONS) in Sports Science in 1999. He then worked in Finance for 10 years before following a dream and returning to University in 2010 to study Dietetics.

He graduated in 2013 with a BSc (HONS) in Dietetics from the University of Hertfordshire. He has since worked as a registered Dietitian in the NHS across hospital and community settings.

For the last 6 years Simon has specialised in the field of Paediatrics. He continues to work across hospital and community settings and deals with a wide range of dietary issues. His main field of interest is food aversions, fussy eating and other eating difficulties especially in children with a diagnosis of Autism.

Clare Moroney

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Clare graduated from the University of Hertfordshire in 1997 after gaining a BSC in Computer Science. After 20 years in the industry, she decided to take a career break to spend more time with her 2 young sons. During this time, Clare attended workshops and courses on sensory processing and anxiety in children. She is an avid home cook & baker, who has experienced different phases of eating difficulties with her own children. Clare has a passion for sharing these skills and having started her career on an IT Helpdesk, has always loved helping others.

Jane Nugent 

Occupational Therapy Assistant

Jane has been in the catering industry since leaving school. She was the Head Cook at High Beeches School in Harpenden for 13 years, leading a team of five cooks. Jane won the Runner Up prize for School Chef of the Year and was nominated for the Hertfordshire Catering School Team of the Year award out of 420 schools.

Holly Bird

First Aid Trainer

Holly has had years of first hand experience of dealing with first aid situations from a career as cabin crew and within law enforcement since 2004. She believes that being prepared is the key to remaining calm when a First Aid incident arises especially when it’s your child. She has been a First Aid trainer since 2018 delivering First Aid at Work qualifications and inputs to Police Officers and Staff.

I wanted to share our success story!
❤❤❤
E had found eating in social situations difficult for a long time and became very anxious when eating with anyone other than close family. I’ve struggled to know how to manage this, especially as sharing a meal with friends & family is one of my favourite things to do! Sometimes just managing other people’s reactions to E’s anxiety has been more difficult than managing the issue itself…

Since coming to Mini Munchers & having lots of fun with food with no pressure to eat it, E’s confidence has hugely increased. We have had such a great time together & I feel I’ve learnt lots too. At the end of every session I’ve told him to look around the room & see how many people he’s eaten in front of & said how proud of him I am. He repeated it back to me without prompting at the end of the last few sessions!

I’m so so pleased that E has found the confidence to eat socially. The change in him is just amazing!  Hannah

Hannah

Mini Munchers