I have heard that it’s good for children to eat omega-3s, but my three-year-old daughter is allergic to fish. Someone told me that pumpkin seeds contain a lot of omega-3 – are they suitable to give to her? Thank you for bringing up such an important issue. Omega-3s are the ‘healthy fat’ found in some fish and fish oils; we often hear about their role in protecting adults against heart disease. You are absolutely correct that this type of fat is important for children and babies as well. Omega-3s are used to build nerve tissue in the eyes and brain of babies and young children. This is one reason why…

Adam eats well but does not feed himself. He will eat finger food but will not eat vegetables or fruit. I got him to take some banana when I was eating it – it got as far as his mouth, which is good because he usually throws it away because of the feel of it, but once I was in his mouth he totally gagged, as if he was being poisoned. He will pick up and feel vegetables and then throw them away. How do I get him to eat vegetables and fruit with his hands (meat and fish are no problem)? I’m really pleased that Adam tried some banana…

What is a good balance of toast, potatoes, rice, pasta, etc.? Isobel will not eat rice, but she enjoys pasta for lunch and she gets a little toast in the morning and every other evening at tea time. Is this too much? I buy all natural wholegrain bread from a small bakery. Please give me some advice. As with every food group, it is a good idea to eat different types of starchy carbohydrate foods, in other words a variety of grains plus potatoes. This is particularly important for younger children, so they get used to eating a wide range of foods, and judging from your question you obviously realise…

I’m not a breakfast eater and my twins and I often don’t eat until mid-morning. They’ll be starting nursery soon and I’m not sure whether they can still wait for morning tea or really need to start eating breakfast. I have heard breakfast is important later when they go to school. Can you suggest some healthy (and quick) foods to try? It can be difficult to manage breakfast when you’re not used to eating early, as an adult or as a child. That said, I really would urge you to start getting your twins into the habit as soon as possible (and I would recommend it for you as well),…

My three-year-old son Jordan eats well but he is prone to constipation. He eats the recommended amounts of fruit and vegetables, and we encourage wholegrain bread and breakfast cereal. We are not keen on brown rice or pasta. We would like to try more beans and lentils but they seem like a lot of work – any easy ideas for these or other high-fibre foods I haven’t thought of? Some children are more prone to constipation, just as some adults are, and this is certainly not an unusual problem for young children. You are obviously encouraging a healthy diet for your son, and it’s a great idea to explore some…

I have found some organic vegetable stock cubes which are low-salt. In the nutrition information on the package it says they contain ‘trace sodium’. Are these safe to use, as I don’t always have time to make home-made stock. My baby is almost 8 months. Most mums certainly don’t find the time to make their own stock (though I take my hat off to those who do). Well done for recognizing that stock cubes are usually high in salt and checking the nutrition information on the pack. ‘Trace’ means that they contain very little sodium (the chemical part of ‘salt’ that we’re concerned about in terms of health) and are…

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. 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 in mind which food groups are eaten…

My son turned two last month and I just got the shock of my life last week as I’ve been told he’s slightly anaemic. He usually eats quite well but has seemed extra tired lately and is getting colds all the time, so I took him to the doctor. The doctor gave him a supplement and said to give him less milk (he does drink a lot) and plenty of red meat and bring him back for another test in a month or so. And now a friend has told me that being low in other vitamins and minerals can also make people anaemic, so maybe it’s not the iron…