Despite the drizzle, this year’s Sports Day — held at the Jack Kane Sports Centre on Halloween itself — was a frightfully good time, feeding the crowds and kicking off the night’s festivities in spooky style. The event brought together families, friends and neighbours for a full afternoon of sports, crafts, cooking, and bike repairs.
Apples and monkey nuts
Up to 200 people came along, with the buzz (and the toots!) echoing through the grounds. The day was organised by Police Scotland, along with the sports centre itself and local community groups. Edinburgh Food Social rolled up in our trusty food truck, ready to fuel the festivities with warming bowls of chilli, served with tortillas and fresh salsa. It went down a storm — one parent even asked for the recipe after her son went back for seconds (something, she said, never happens!). Packed with hearty pork, beans, roasted aubergine, and romanesco broccoli, it was the perfect way to warm chilly fingers and tummies, whilst also being a powerhouse of protein to keep everyone moving!
Inside our spooky mystery machine — otherwise known as the food truck — we somehow managed to fit three interactive counters, so that kids could come and have a go at making their own food:
A Vietnamese summer roll–making station
A bircher muesli/overnight oats station
A build-your-own magic potion counter
Overnight oats with fresh fruit
Witches, ghouls and K-pop demon hunters alike dared to enter and mix up their own smoothies. Channelling their inner wizards, they chanted hilarious spells, such as:
“Hubble, bubble, toil and trouble,
Turn this fruit to smoothie, not rubble!”
Frozen fruit chunks whizzed into glowing, gory-looking brews — blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, bananas, watermelon, yoghurt, and orange juice that we had been saving up from donations especially for this event — all blended by our magician’s assistant, Harley the apprentice.
Over 40 young people got hands-on making smoothies, wrapping translucent rice paper rolls, and grating apples for takeaway bircher muesli pots. Another 30 or so stopped by for a hearty bowl of chilli to share with their families. For Edinburgh Food Social, the goal was to inspire young people to get creative with fruit and vegetables, exploring simple, tasty ways to bring them into everyday meals. It was wonderful to see that idea come to life.
As the afternoon drew to a close, festoon lighting twinkled against a harvest-coloured sunset — the perfect backdrop for a day full of laughter, colour, and connection.
It was the first big outing for our food truck in the Craigmillar and Niddrie community this autumn, and we couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome. Here’s to many more magical meals and moments to come.
If you would like to help Edinburgh Food Social continue to help feed the community and broaden people’s culinary horizons, please consider donating to our organisation. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and Bluesky to keep up to date with our programs, classes and news.
