Food expert and mum of two Vicky Musselman has the lowdown on tasty nibbles for teething tots, and how to boost your energy levels.
I’m struggling to get my two-year-old daughter to eat any green vegetables. She loves fruit but just won’t go near broccoli or similar. Any suggestions?
Vegetables, especially green ones like broccoli, can taste a little bitter. Keep encouraging your child, but don’t offer too much at once. Often, children need to be shown a food several times before they'll eat it. It’s important that your daughter sees you eating a wide variety of vegetables, too. Try and make it fun – broccoli spears can look like miniature trees! If she refuses to eat a food at first, don't give up. Another idea is to finely chop vegetables before adding them to pasta sauces and casseroles – she won’t even notice she’s eating them.
My baby has just started teething and I’m not sure which foods I should be giving her now. I don’t want her to have anything that’s too painfulto eat, but I’ve heard that hard biscuits can sometimes help. Any advice?
Carry on giving your baby her normal diet. If she’s more than six months old, try offering her a sugar-free teething biscuit or bread sticks. Alternatively, some tots like to gnaw on chilled bread slices
or carrot sticks. Whatever you choose to give your baby, make sure that she’s supervised and cannot bite chunks off, which could cause choking. It is also preferable to avoid foods that are too hard as these could bruise the gums and cause further pain. In addition, avoid rusks because almost all contain some sugar. Constant chewing and sucking on sugary things can cause tooth decay, even if your baby only has a few teeth. Cold helps to numb the pain, so chilled unsweetened apple purée is another good option. A little sugar-free teething gel rubbed on the gums before feeding is effective too.
Is it OK to give my baby food that’s been cooked, chilled and reheated?
Yes, it’s fine – if, for example, you make a bolognese or casserole during the day, chill it then reheat it that evening (or the next day) for your baby. If you plan to keep the food for longer, you’ll need to freeze it. Spoon out the amount you think your baby will eat and reheat this, rather than heating a large amount that then goes to waste. This is because you'll need to throw away any of the reheated food that your baby doesn't eat, as it's not safe to reheat previously warmed food. It's important to heat food thoroughly not in a microwave as this creates hot spots) and allow it to cool, stir well and test, before offering it to your baby. And make sure your cooking utensils are really clean. It makes sense to prepare food for your baby in large quantities and keep it in the freezer, so there’s always something on hand. Cool the cooked food as quickly as possible, then divide into individual portions. When the food is completely cold, freeze. Allow to defrost completely before reheating, as above. Don't refreeze food that's been warmed or previously frozen.
I had my second child five months ago and I’m finding it hard to shift my baby weight. Running around after two kids means I’m craving sugar for energy, so I keep reaching for the biscuits. Any ideas for healthier meals to keep me full and beat the cravings?
Having a baby changes your body. Weight gain will gradually drop off if you eat and exercise sensibly. But don’t expect this to happen overnight. It took nine months to make your baby, it can take another nine months for your body to get back to normal – sometimes longer. Be patient! Also, this is your second child, so it may take a little longer. Try to eat foods that give you a slow release of energy. For breakfast, have porridge topped with honey and a sprinkling of raspberries and blueberries. It should keep you feeling full till lunchtime. Snack on fruit – bananas are great – or wholemeal crackers with cottage cheese and chopped dates. When you feel you need an energy boost, have them with houmous for dipping. Smoothies are great, too. Whizz together low-fat natural yogurt, a chopped banana and some fresh mango – that should satisfy your sweet craving.
I’ve heard it’s not safe to give babies honey – is this true?
Yes, it is true. Don’t give honey to your baby until he or she is at least a year old. Very occasionally, honey can contain a type of bacteria that can produce toxins in a baby’s intestines. This
can cause a serious illness called infant botulism. When a baby gets to a year old, the intestine matures and the bacteria can’t grow. Nevertheless, once your child turns one, try to avoid
using too much honey – it’s best not to encourage a lot of sweet things in your child’s diet.
