1st May
4u2 is a new brand that is on a mission to add some pizzazz to foods for expectant and new mums by injecting a little glamour and vitality into healthy eating.
Created by two mums – mum of three, Jane, and mum-to-be/food technologist Liz – who know that sometimes it’s a real effort to maintain a balanced diet when you’re pregnant, working, have other children and a busy life.
4u2 is a range of healthy snacks for expectant mums that are not only tasty and filling but also includes those essential vitamins and minerals woman’s body needs as she prepares for motherhood.
So far, 4u2 boasts four oat bars: Apple & Cranberry and Raspberry & White Chocolate bars for expectant mums and Chocolate & Fruit and Blueberry & Cranberry bars for new mums.
26th Mar
Toddlers can be picky eaters – before they have even tried something their noses are already turned up.
My daughter had (and occasionally still has) an aversion to anything green. The first time I fed her a green vegetable, I was sure that the colour had offended her in some way – she was automatically suspicious.
Whether it was peas, broccoli or spinach, the same look of horror would appear on her toddler face when green veg was placed in front of her.
I am pretty persistent, and with an uncompromising attitude (and a little bit of skilful ‘hide the greens behind the butternut or in the stew’) my two-year-old now embraces her green veg as part of the meal.
Interesting new research, released by Ella’s Kitchen in conjunction with Reading University, suggests that little ones who play with their food using all their senses are more likely to eat their greens!
So, if the greens look, smell and taste delicious… feel interesting (yes, it is okay to let your child play with his food – with limitations specified by you) then maybe your little one is more inclined to an attitude of curiosity, as opposed to one of apprehension. Maybe a good way to get toddlers to eat greens.
Written by: Andrea Zanin
25th Mar
I am a big fan of the Organix brand. My two-year-old daughter loves Organix snacks and I trust the brand’s “no junk promise”. And all of the ingredients are organic.
Organix cereal bars, aka ‘oaty bars’ to my toddler, are delish (yes, I have had a cheeky taste). The five flavours (Blackcurrant, Raspberry & Apple, Apple & Orange, Cocoa & Raisin, Carrot Cake) are made with wholegrain oats and packed with fruit.
And now there’s a savoury oaty bar that is sure to be a hit with kids.
The new healthy snacks for toddlers, Tomato & Carrot Veg and Oat bar is the first to join the new Goodies Savouries range, which includes a variety of toddler snacks that offer an alternative to sweet flavours.
The bars are made with dried tomato and carrot juice concentrate with the goodness of wholegrain oats. Then they are gently baked for a soft savoury taste.
Written by: Andrea Zanin
13th Mar
Just how can you get kids to eat their five a day? It can be easier than you think, if you follow our ‘sneaky’ tips on how to give kids their five a day.
* Take advantage of peer pressure: in my experience, kids eat better when they are with their friends, so stick an apple, orange or some grapes in their school lunch box and they might be more likely to eat it than if you offer it at home when they can the biscuits in the jar next to the fruit bowl!
Some schools also offer free fruit at break time, so try sending them without a snack or money to buy food and see if they gravitate towards the pears instead!
* Try making a smoothie part of your breakfast routine: you can add as many different fruits (and some veg, if you’re brave enough!) as you like, and you can even add yoghurt and some oats, seeds or a granola mix to make it a complete breakfast. They are even great for drinking on the school run if you are running late!
* Mix them in: bubble and squeak, carrot and potato waffles, or even vegetable-based muffins are a great way to hide vegetables in kids’ food.
You can also make your own pasta sauce with tinned tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, mushrooms, herbs and anything else you want to add – then puree it so none of the veg is visible to the naked eye, freeze a few portions, and serve as normal – they’ll never know…
Written by: Claire Smart
18th Feb
We all know that most kids are bananas, and most kids I know also love to eat bananas, which is why it is really good to know that there is a long list of unique benefits of bananas, not just to your children, but to you as well:
* Bananas are a good source of potassium, which is essential for maintaining heart, nerve and kidney function.
* They contain an amino acid called tryptophan, which is needed for the production of serotonin, a brain chemical that regulates mood.
* Bananas are also a good source of vitamin B6, which is needed for the production of serotonin, as well as being important in maintaining a healthy immune system.
* Bananas are a source of fibre, helping to maintain a healthy digestive tract.
* They are also a great source of energy on the go, essential for active, growing children. That’s why they are often seen on the courts at Wimbledon!
* Bananas are good for replacing lost energy and minerals such as potassium after a stomach upset.
* They are also a great weaning food for babies, and you can carry them anywhere – simply mash with the back of a fork and you have an instant, nutritious and tasty puree.
* Bananas are said to aid sleep, making them a good night-time snack for you and the kids.
* And best of all, you get to buy one of these funky gadgets, a banana guard, to carry it to work or school in!
Written by: Claire Smart
Written by: Andrea Zanin