RSSCategory: Weaning & Mealtime

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Week

| July 1, 2013

The first week of July is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Week. It is a time when leading organisations aim to highlight the impacts of childhood obesity and request the Government take action to focus on reducing obesity in children, for the health of our nation.

Awareness of childhood obesity and the risks it brings can help parents make better choices for their children. There is a much greater chance that overweight children will become overweight adults, when compared to children who maintain a normal weight throughout adolescence.

Childhood obesity heightens the risk of serious illnesses during childhood and increases the risk of developing long-term health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and several types of cancer.

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As a parent there is plenty that you can do to help your child maintain a healthy weight with the support of healthcare professionals and schools. Many teaching institutions now provide an environment where your child can learn about nutrition and health.

Healthy living starts at home and children learn first and foremost from their parents.

Here are some easy ways to assist your child to achieve a healthy weight:

1. Monitor your child’s weight. The ‘red book’ you are given when your baby is born contains useful charts for reviewing your child’s weight, height and development. Always seek professional help if you are concerned about any aspect of your child’s health and development.

2. Encourage your child to exercise and have fun outdoors every day.

3. Feed your child a healthy diet high in vegetables, fruit and unprocessed foods. Minimise the amount of packaged food, fresh is best.

4. Enjoy food in moderation and limit sweet treats to special occasions.

5. Have fun teaching your child about nutritious foods and show them how to cook healthy meals so they are prepared to make the best choices in life.

6. Be a role model for your child and encourage physical activity and healthy eating.

If your child is overweight, you can do something about it. The earlier you act the sooner your child will reap the health benefits, both mentally and physically.

mummy and me magazineLydia Oliver – Nutritional Advisor Only Best For Baby

This article was published in the July 2013 edition of Mummy and Me Magazine

I offer one to one nutrition programmes for breastfeeding, post pregnancy weight loss, weaning, weight management and health. Contact me.

You Are What You Eat

| June 3, 2013

The range of baby food available in my local supermarket is vast. You can buy everything from baby porridge to pasta to purees to toddler meals to rusks and every imaginable snack in between.

There is a greater choice of baby food available now than there was a few decades ago, with many brands producing organic baby purees and toddler meals. Despite this growth in the selection of baby food, it is still better for your baby to eat fresh homemade purees and meals.

As tempting as it can be to buy ready made baby food, it is important to be aware that some baby food contains artificial additives, salt and sugar. These added ingredients are unnecessary and are of no nutritional benefit to your baby. Sugar can lead to your baby developing a habit for sweet tasting foods as well as increasing the risk of tooth decay. Salt places strain on your baby’s immature kidneys and can lead to dehydration.

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When you make your own baby food you know exactly what is being eaten by your baby. You can guarantee the freshness of the ingredients and you know the amount of each food type that has gone in to your baby’s puree or meal. As well as being a healthier option for your baby, it is also more cost effective to make your own and will save you and your family money.

I always think of the importance of what my baby is eating for her health and wellbeing. A healthy diet from the outset will give your baby the best start in life. Fresh, natural food is full of nutrients that provide us with nourishment and energy. These nutrients assist us to grow, aid in the repair of cells and help to fight off disease.
Developing your baby’s tastes and their enjoyment of the natural texture of food is vital for when baby is ready to eat family meals.

It takes less than 15 minutes a day to make a healthy meal that will give you and your family vital nutrients to keep you healthy. As a healthy and cheaper alternative to buying ready made baby food and to save time, I often make more than enough for one meal and save a portion for the following day. Another easy way to have fresh homemade baby meals available is to freeze small portions of puree or a freshly made family meal. These can then be defrosted and served when you need a meal for your baby that is quick and nutritious.

Experiment with new recipes and enjoy cooking for you and your family. Good nutrition is one of the key building blocks to your child’s development, growth and health.

mummy and me magazineLydia Oliver – Nutritional Advisor Only Best For Baby

This article was published in the June 2013 edition of Mummy and Me Magazine

I offer one to one nutrition programmes for breastfeeding, post pregnancy weight loss, weaning, weight management and health. Contact me.

Only Best For Baby

| May 3, 2013

It’s exciting to experiment with new foods when weaning your baby. Whilst most foods are safe there are some foods that should only be introduced when your baby is of a certain age to allow for the development of your baby’s digestive system and immune system.

When weaning my baby I found it helpful to follow these simple guidelines for the safe introduction of different foods to ensure my baby was getting the right nutrition at the right time and to minimise the risk of food poisoning.

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When can my baby eat …?

Gluten
Gluten is found in grains such as rye, wheat, barley and oats. It can be hard for young babies to digest and should not be introduced before your baby is six months old.

Cow’s Milk
From the age of six months full-fat cow’s milk can be used in cooking and with baby’s breakfast cereals. Cow’s milk can be introduced as a main drink from the age of 12 months.

Cheese
From the age of six months you can offer cheese to your baby but avoid giving blue cheese or soft unpasteurised cheese, such as Camembert and Brie, until your baby is at least one year old. Blue cheese and unpasteurised cheese contain live bacteria which carries the risk of food poisoning.

Eggs
Your baby can eat well cooked eggs with the white and yolk of the egg being solid from the age of six months. Do not give raw or undercooked eggs to babies under the age of 12 months old.

Fish
From six months you can give your baby white fish and oily fish, such as tuna and salmon. No more than two portions of oily fish should be eaten per week. Shark, swordfish and marlin should not be eaten by babies as these may contain traces of mercury.

Shellfish should not be given to babies under the age of nine months and must always be well cooked to minimise the risk of food poisoning.

Nuts
If there is no peanut allergy in your immediate family you can give your baby peanut products from the age of six months. Due to the risk of choking whole peanuts and other nuts must not be given before your child is five years old.

Honey
The bacteria in honey can cause infant botulism and although rare, to be on the safe side honey should not be given to babies under 12 months as their digestive system is too immature to cope.

I always advise parents to stay clear of food additives such as salt and sugar which hold no nutritional value for babies. Salt can cause dehydration and strain a baby’s immature kidneys and sugar can increase the risk of tooth decay.

Enjoy introducing foods and create a happy and healthy weaning experience for your baby.

mummy and me magazineLydia Oliver – Nutritional Advisor Only Best For Baby

This article was published in the May 2013 edition of Mummy and Me Magazine

I offer one to one nutrition programmes for breastfeeding, post pregnancy weight loss, weaning, weight management and health. Contact me.