About Us

Food Quest began as a single father’s way of helping his son rebuild confidence with food — gently, playfully, and without pressure.

I’m John Daniels, the creator of Food Quest and the parent of a remarkable 14-year-old boy. Like many families navigating eating or feeding challenges, we suddenly found ourselves in the middle of something far bigger than we ever expected. My son 11 years old at that time was seriously struggling with an eating disorder. The journey brought overwhelm, fear, confusion, isolation and long stretches where progress felt impossible.

What we needed wasn’t another lecture about nutrition — or another serious meeting with doctors, psychologists, or specialists. We were already having plenty of those, and whilst very important, they didn’t give us what we needed most in daily life: something that made food feel safe, approachable, and even fun again.

Drawing on my 25 years as an educational toy designer, I began creating small cards at home — simple prompts, playful mini-challenges, and interesting food facts that could gently spark conversation during stressful mealtimes.

Those tiny moments became something more. The cards helped rebuild trust between us — giving Marley a safe way to share how he felt, and giving me a way to support him with calm and patience. They shifted the energy around food. They helped Marley talk, think, and laugh again. They made room for hope.

What began as a handful of homemade cards slowly grew into Food Quest — a gentle, imaginative learning game designed to help children build a calmer, healthier relationship with food, and to strengthen the connection between kids and the people who care for them.

Our Mission

Food Quest exists to support families, children, and caregivers in a way that feels human, warm, and empowering.
We believe:

• Food should feel safe — not stressful.

• Kids learn best through curiosity and play.

• Small daily conversations about food can create big shifts in confidence.

• Support should be accessible, practical, and backed by thoughtful design.

Food Quest doesn’t claim to replace therapy or professional guidance — it simply adds a much-needed bridge: a way for kids to explore food in a relaxed, positive, and engaging way.

Why Food Quest Works

Food Quest turns food education into small, manageable steps.
Every card blends three simple elements:

• A playful multiple-choice question that encourages thinking without pressure

• A mini challenge that sparks conversation and discovery

• A fun and interesting food fact that keeps learning light and engaging

This gentle rhythm of thinking, communicating, and discovering helps children explore food in a way that feels safe and empowering. And just as importantly, it gives parents and caregivers meaningful insight into what a child is thinking — their understanding of food, their fears, and even their likes and dislikes.

For me, the game became a quiet window into Marley’s inner world. His answers, reactions, and moments of hesitation revealed things he couldn’t always put into words. That understanding helped me support him with more patience, clarity, and confidence.

Food Quest works because it shifts the focus from “getting food right” to creating connection — helping children feel understood, and helping caregivers know how to support them on their journey.

Who We’re Here For

Food Quest is for any family wanting to:

• Make food feel more fun and less stressful

• Build confidence and curiosity around eating

• Support a child who feels anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck

• Create relaxed, meaningful conversations around food

• Complement existing therapy or professional care with something calming and playful

• Gain gentle insight into what their child is thinking and feeling — their fears, hesitations, and understanding around food — so they can offer more informed, compassionate support.

It’s also a supportive tool for teachers, therapists, dietitians, and anyone working with children who need a gentler pathway back to positive food experiences.

A Heartfelt Medical Disclaimer

I want to be completely honest: I’m not a doctor, psychologist, dietitian, or any kind of medical professional. I’m just a dad who was trying his very best to help his son through an incredibly tough and frightening chapter of his life. Food Quest grew out of love, hope, and many moments of trial and error — not medical training.

The support we received from doctors, psychologists, dietitians, and specialists was incredibly important. Their guidance played a vital role in my sons recovery, and nothing in Food Quest is meant to replace that kind of professional care. It was simply something I could offer at home — a small, gentle way to bring more calm, connection, and understanding into our daily life.

If your child is struggling, please rely on the expertise of qualified health professionals. Food Quest is only a companion tool, created by a parent, to support conversation and connection along the way.

From Our Family to Yours

Creating Food Quest has been a labour of love — born out of real need, guided by lived experience, and shaped by a deep desire to help children feel safe in their own bodies again.

If Food Quest brings even one child a little more confidence, one family a little more ease, or one moment of connection around the dinner table, then it has already served its purpose.

Thank you for being here.
Thank you for exploring Food Quest with us.
And most of all — here’s to small steps, gentle learning, and brighter days ahead.