Question – Snacking whilst in cafes Whenever I am out and about, in cafes having a coffee and a cake my LO, aged eighteen months, wants something to eat too! He will whinge on and on until I give in and give him a rice cake (or three or five) or a piece of fruit. This is starting to impact on his dinner / tea because he’s not as hungry as he ought to be. What can I do to stop this from developing into a habit or should I just give him a snack whenever he wants (I know that the timing of snacks is important!). Answer: This is…

Question – Are tinned fruit and vegetables OK to feed babies? Can I use tinned fruit (in natural juices of course) and tinned vegetables for my 7 month old daughter? Answer: Absolutely – tinned fruit and vegetables are great store-cupboard staples, always there in an emergency. As you are aware, look for fruit tinned in natural juices, also vegetables tinned without added salt if possible. And if the product does contain added salt, be sure to rinse the vegetables and discard the liquid as some salt will be dissolved in it. Many people are concerned that tinned foods are not as nutritious as fresh ones, however this is not necessarily…

Question – Ideas for sandwich fillings My two-and-a-half-year-old is addicted to sandwiches. They are without doubt her favourite lunch, and she is very good at making them herself! I thought I would make a list of fillings and wondered if you had any suggestions? She is very keen on mayonnaise. Answer: Making a list of sandwich fillings is a great idea as it is so easy to fall into the rut of giving children the same filling, day-in, day-out. If you choose fillings from a variety of food groups, you’ll help your daughter to achieve a balanced diet while still giving her a lunch she enjoys (and therefore eats!). Keep…

Question – Maintaining energy levels My three-year-old son, Jack, sometimes seems to just run out of energy. It’s usually late morning or late afternoon, though he’s usually fine after he’s had his lunch or dinner. I don’t think he’s sick, and I’m lucky that he sleeps well and eats plenty. Do you think choosing different foods might help? Answer: You’ve hit the nail on the head – just eating enough does not always provide our bodies with the best fuel to get us through the day; we also need to choose the right foods. We know just how busy our Contented little children are and how much energy they use…

Question – Goats’ milk formula I think my baby’s eczema might be due to an allergy to his cows’ milk formula. I think I remember people using goats’ milk formula when I had my older daughter and I’d like to see if it will help, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere. Where can I get it? Answer: You’re correct that eczema can sometimes be related to food allergy or intolerance. However, if your baby’s eczema is caused by a cows’ milk allergy or intolerance, switching to goats’ milk is unlikely to help. This is because the protein in goats’ milk is extremely similar to that found in cows’…

Question – Introducing spices in baby’s diet At what point can I introduce Indian spices into my baby’s food – things such as cumin, coriander, etc, and also when can I start to add pepper and herbs such as oregano, basil, etc? Answer: That’s an excellent question. Giving your baby foods containing spices which you enjoy has the great benefit that they will become used to your diet at an earlier age, so you can be eating one family meal sooner (maybe with adult portions spiced up a bit more, and baby portions chopped or pureed). Another advantage is that children who have tasted a wider range of foods at…

Question – Alternatives to hydrolysed formula with cereal My little girl is on Nutramigen due to reflux and dairy intolerance. I was advised to use her formula with cereal but it is disgusting. She has no bother drinking her bottle but I have found that she spits it out when mixed with the cereal and is not too bothered with it. Is this a common problem when mixing the formula with cereal? Could water be used instead with porridge and Ready-Brek or does this reduce its nutritional value? I would appreciate any advice. Answer: I vividly remember tasting baby formula similar to Nutramigen when I was a young student training…