Tag: learning

Healthy First Birthday Cake Recipe

| December 3, 2013

If you’re like me you will be very conscious about what you feed your baby and the effect it can have on their health. Good nutrition is key to your baby’s development. Feeding your child a natural wholefood diet will set them up for life by providing the best foundation possible for their health and learning.

Baby’s first birthday or Christmas is an incredibly exciting time. The temptation to introduce artificially sweet foods may be high but these could lead to your baby developing a taste for sugar and can cause tooth decay.

healthy first birthday cake

Feeding your baby natural foods will ensure that no artificial sweeteners, colours, preservatives or additives are consumed, all of which have adverse health effects. You can celebrate baby’s special day with a healthy cake that is naturally sweet and contains no added sugar.

The main ingredients of this healthy first birthday cake or Christmas celebration cake are bananas and apples which are both sweet and good for baby. The fruit in this cake makes it really moist so it’s perfect for babies to eat.

Bananas are rich in potassium, a mineral that is necessary for normal growth, metabolising carbohydrates and promoting mental alertness by helping to deliver oxygen to the brain. Apples are very nutritious and provide a good source of vitamins A and B1 as well as being rich in pectin, a soluble fibre that helps to slow glucose absorption.

healthy first birthday cake

Healthy First Birthday Cake Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 large bananas
  • 2 apples
  • 2 tablespoons pure apple juice
  • ¼ cup sunflower oil
  • 2 free-range eggs
  • 2 cups brown self-raising flour
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C. Grease a cake tin or line with baking paper.

2. Wash and grate the apples (peel if desired).

3. Mash the banana in a bowl, add the grated apple with the apple juice and mix together.

4. Add the vegetable oil and stir into the mashed banana and apple.

5. Add the eggs and mix well.

6. Gently stir in the flour and cinnamon.

7. Bake at 180 C for 25 minutes or until a cake skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.

8. Remove from the cake tin and leave to cool on a wire rack.

This cake is delicious on its own or it can be served with chopped fresh berries and drizzled with natural yoghurt.

healthy first birthday cake

Discovering and eating new healthy foods is also a great way to engage your baby in sensory play. Baby will love breaking this soft cake up in their fingers. There’s no doubt it will be smashed and squeezed before being eaten, it’s all part of the fun!

Lydia Oliver, Nutritional Advisor

mummy and me magazineThis article was published in the December 2013 edition of Mummy and Me Magazine.

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

Kidstoria Personalised Children’s Books

| September 16, 2013

The lovely team at Kidstoria contacted me to see if I would like a personalised book for Imogen. It was the first time I had come across the idea of a personalised book for children. I have discovered it is a wonderful way to create a fun learning experience as well as being a precious keepsake.

The personalised book for Imogen where she is the main character of her very own story.

kidstoria

You have the choice of four different story options for your child’s book. These can be previewed on the Kidstoria website so you know exactly what the story entails. Each story is suitable for boys and girls and is customised with your child’s name and face.

Imogen reads ‘Imogen and the Picnic’ for the very first time. At first she is slightly surprised to see herself as a character in the story! It’s not long before she starts talking about Teddy who is sharing the picnic with her and what they are eating together.

kidstoria

Imogen points out small details and talks about the characters in the illustrated pictures.

kidstoria

Daddy reads the story with Imogen as she explains what she is doing in the story with Teddy. This is a fabulous way to encourage the great imaginations of little ones.

kidstoria

As well as books, Kidstoria also create personalised cards for babies and children.

Disclaimer: Kidstoria sent me a personalised children’s book for the purposes of this review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Linking up with What’s the Story? and Magic Moments

Explore, Educate and Eat

| August 3, 2013

Food education is at the forefront of most parents’ minds and is fast becoming a core subject on the school curriculum. I am not surprised there is so much focus on teaching nutrition to children from a young age. Children who learn about food and nutrition are more likely to make healthy food choices and eat fruit and vegetables.

The best and most simple way to get your children thinking about food and nutrition is to get them involved. Here are some simple, daily activities you can do with your children to expand their knowledge about food and make learning fun.

Start with fruit and vegetables

Buy a selection of both and play simple question and answer games that your children will find interesting and educational. What is it? How is it grown? Where does it come from? Could you grow it in your garden or on an allotment?

fruit and vegetables

Experiment

During the week sit down and eat each fruit and vegetable with your children. Talk about whether you can eat it fresh or if it needs to be cooked first. What does it taste like? What colour is it? Ask your children to come up with as many meal ideas as they can that include this fruit or vegetable.

Go green

An easy and engaging project is to try growing fruit, vegetables and herbs with your children. Even if you’re not green fingered, give it a go! All children love to be outside and will learn from the experience of growing something they can eat, plus you could save money growing your own.

Visit a Farmer’s Market

Have a family day out and let your children discover where food comes from and how it is grown. Talk to the growers about their produce and sample the fresh food on offer.

Create

Involve your children in the preparation of their lunch box using fresh ingredients. Cook simple meals and get your children to help where they can, even if they’re simply watching you and talking about what you’re doing. Sit down as a family and enjoy your home cooked food together.

Explore nutrition

Teach your children about the importance of nutrition for a healthy mind and body. Explain why fresh is best.

If you follow these simple steps your children will soon start to take a keen interest in fresh foods and helping you to prepare and cook meals. Regular interaction with food as part of your everyday home life will encourage children to make the right choices for their health.

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

This article was published in the August 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.