Designed by a Mum for everyone!

Fussy Food Plates - Our Story

Fussy Food Plates — Our Story

As a busy mum of three, I know how stressful mealtimes can be. We all want our children to be happy and healthy but between tired evenings, endless mess, cost-of-living pressures and very real fussy eating phases, feeding a family can quickly feel overwhelming.

With over 18 years’ experience across STEM and nutrition, I’ve seen first-hand how science, psychology and sensory learning shape a child’s relationship with food. But it wasn’t until I became a parent that I realised what my own children needed most wasn’t more pressure to eat, it was more freedom to explore, play and build confidence around food.

That insight changed everything.

After 18 months of research, product development and hundreds of real-life mealtime trials, I created Fussy Food Plates, a playful, sensory-led mealtime tool designed to turn stress into smiles.

Each plate is thoughtfully designed to spark curiosity, creativity and confidence at the table. It’s not about perfect plates or clean finishes, it’s about progress, one bite (and one smile) at a time.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple: to take the pressure out of mealtimes and help families rediscover joy around food.

Through science-backed strategies, sensory exploration and a big dose of fun, we’re transforming how children experience food — and how parents feel about feeding.

What We Do

Fussy Food Plates is a nutrition-led brand and educational platform, supporting families, schools and organisations across Ireland, the UK and beyond.

We combine playful physical products with practical, evidence-informed support, helping children build positive food relationships and empowering parents with realistic, guilt-free tools.

How we support families and organisations:

1:1 Parent Coaching
Personalised, science-informed support to help families understand eating behaviours, improve routines and create calmer, more connected mealtimes at home.

Schools & Early Years Workshops
Interactive, sensory-led workshops designed for preschools, schools and after-school settings — helping children explore food in a pressure-free, engaging way.

Corporate Wellness & Parenting Talks
Bespoke talks and lunch-and-learn sessions for workplaces, focused on nutrition, family wellbeing and realistic feeding — supporting parents while strengthening employee wellbeing programmes.

You can learn more about each of these on our Work With Us page.

Samantha Forrest Fussy Food Plates owner pic

Fussy Food Plates - Success to date

Since launching in 2023, Fussy Food Plates has grown from a kitchen-table idea into an award-winning, internationally recognised brand, supporting families across Ireland, the UK and globally, from San Francisco to Sydney and everywhere in between.

Our products are used in homes, schools and sensory-friendly dining initiatives, and are consistently praised by parents, educators and child-feeding specialists for their practical impact, thoughtful design and evidence-led approach.

In August 2023, Mrs Hinch shared Fussy Food Plates with her 4.7 million Instagram followers, sparking significant awareness and growth across Ireland and the UK.

Our story and work have been featured across national media including RTÉ News Today, Ireland AM, The Ray Foley Show and Newstalk, highlighting the growing conversation around realistic, pressure-free family feeding.

Celebrity chefs and family food creators including Donal Skehan and Lili Forberg have used Fussy Food Plates in their own family kitchens, further cementing the brand’s credibility and reach.

We’ve partnered with leading food, wellness and family brands including Piccolo, Vivio Junior, Keelings, Flahavan’s, Green Isle, Nua Naturals, Linwoods and True Goodness, collaborating on campaigns that make healthy eating feel fun, achievable and relatable for modern families.

Stockists

Arnotts – Dublin

The Organised Store - Dublin

Meaghers Pharmacy – Dublin

Stock – King Street, Dublin

Mira Mira – Sandyford, Dublin

Funfetti – Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

Daisy Chain – Wexford

Eakins Pharmacy – Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan

Kaliedy – Bray, Co. Wicklow

Otavo – Online

Awards

National eComm awards - Product finalist

National Startup Awards - Pitch 2025 Winner

The Irish WIBN Awards – Retail & Product Winner

IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards – Start-Up & STEM Finalist

Goss.ie Women of the Year Awards – Local Businesswoman of the Year Finalist

Mums & Tots Awards – Top Mum in Business Finalist

Network Ireland Awards – Emerging Business Finalist

LEO Awards – One to Watch Finalist

Arnotts Pitch 2023 – Shortlisted Startup

Media & Press Coverage

  • Mrs. Hinch Headshot recommending Fussy Food Plates

    “I never knew I needed a Fussy Food Plae but I love 'em!

    Mrs. Hinch

  • Ray foley fussy Food plates

    “These plates are a game-changer for parents.”

    Ray Foley - Today FM

  • Aakanksha Surve Dublin Live Fussy Food Plates

    “A creative way of feeding kids, while minimising food waste”

    Aakanksha Surve - Dublin Live

  • “Give children the freedom to play with their food.”

    Sharon Ni Chonchuir - Irish Examiner

“A game changer!”

The Fussy Food Plate actually works so well! We take it on the road with us and it turns snacks and raisins into a simple game and always delivers what we all want - EMPTY PLATES!

- Sarah Louise Jones (Mum of Frankie!)