Healthy Eating With Kids 2

A while ago I posted Healthy Eating With Kids and then realised that my children’s diets, healthy eating, learning to cook well and growing my own food or finding fresh (from relatives gardens, farm shops and markets) are all growing into real passions for me. I think all of these aspects of food are closely linked.

I am finding more and more mother’s complaining that their children are fussy eaters, do not eat what they are given or constantly pester for junk food. A lot of the time these children come to my house and actually eat rather well. It’s not an issue, no-one is pleading with them, they are just doing what the other children are doing. Sometimes I can be a little facetious about this, refusing to give them coke even when their parents allow them to have some to stop them whinging – it just infuriates me when parents allow themselves to be bullied by their children.

Something else that is yielding good results is going back to nature. The children love the idea of growing food in the garden, picking it to eat or to use for cooking. I always tell them, “you helped me make dinner by bringing me peas” or “I’ll tell Dad you helped me make the sauce” when they bring in the mint. I can’t wait for the weather to turn warmer so that we can start planting again. When they are involved in the process of bringing the food from the earth to the table, they become enthused about it. This process also includes the cooking. I am loathe to let the kids loose anywhere near knives or the cooker, but they can still bash the ginger in the mortar and pestle, stir the mixture in the bowl, or shell the peas.

We also like to talk about our food. The other day I bought some French Golden Delicious apples. These are my mum’s favourites and were very common in shops here until a few years ago when they seemed to disappear. I discussed this with Little Man who loves fruit and he was intrigued. This is not to say that we should become obsessed about food or greedy for it, Islam says:

Al-Miqdaam ibn Maadiy-Karib narrated: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa salam) saying: “No human ever filled a vessel worse than the stomach. Sufficient for any son of Adam are some morsels to keep his back straight. But if it must be, then one third for his food, one third for his drink and one third for his breath.” [Ahmad, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasaa’i, Ibn Majah – Hadith sahih]

However, the current state of affairs where we cannot cook properly, are eating poor quality, low nutrition food and making ourselves ill contrasts strongly with our elders, both in Britain and in Pakistan, who grew their own food, had hearty, wholesome, simple diets and were clearly slimmer, stronger and healthier than us. We have to consider which legacy we want to pass on to our own children.

I recently came across a New York Times feature on wellness for children. More than the article, I found the comments from other readers very useful, one example that stood out was:

“As I read this, I was taken back to my childhood. I often cooked with my grandmother, who I lived with for many years. I don’t remember ever being told to leave the kitchen. In fact, I often was put in charge of making at least one thing and setting the table. As I grew older, I made dinner at least one night a week. It was considered a treat in my family to cook for everyone.

I also don’t remember being allowed to be picky about food. Food was put on the table and you ate. It wasn’t that my grandmother demanded you eat. As Tara points out, demanding even that one bite may get you into trouble. It was simply that this is what we were going to eat so we ate. The only time we picked what we wanted to eat was one Sunday morning a month–we could eat a cereal that we’d picked at the supermarket on Saturday.

But in general, if we didn’t like something (liver for example), we could explain why and that was it. If we were still hungry, we could have whatever fruits or veggies were left.

I don’t have children yet, but my best guidance will be remembering how my grandmother brought me into the kitchen, taught me how to make good food and to enjoy the process of making–not just eating–food. She would have shaken her head over the fact that we even need this kind of advice. But I’m happy that the column reminded me of what my grandmother seemed to know intuitively.”

Republished with kind permission from Umm Salihah

http://www.happymuslimah.com/2010/02/healthy-eating-with-kids-2.html

Great ideas for nutritious meals

MENU PLANNING
For most toddlers, one good meal (usually breakfast), two smaller meals, and two or three nutritious snacks each day is fine. Need suggestions for that “good” meal? Here are two examples:
Breakfast:
• 1 cup of fortified cereal
• 1 cup of whole milk
• 1/2 banana
• 1 slice of wholemeal toast with margarine
Dinner:
• 1 cup of pasta with Parmesan cheese and small amount of pasta sauce – too much sauce could upset your baby’s stomach
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup of white chicken meat, cut up
• 1/2 cup of whole green beans, cooked
• 1 cup of whole milk

Courtesy of Pampers SA

Breastfeeding Support – Why is it important?

Agree or Disagree

1. In the 1st month (early days), we know that the milk is not enough because the baby keeps crying and giving a “top up” bottle of formula after a breast feed is a safer option.

2. Formula milk has become so advanced that there is almost no difference between breast milk and formula milk.

3. There are few benefits breastfeeding a child older than 6 months and so solids must be the main source of the child’s nutrition.

4. Which of the following are examples of exclusive breastfeeding?
A. A baby receiving breast milk but sometimes gets some water to drink.
B. A baby drinking only breast milk but gets 1 bottle of formula only when mom goes out for a few hours.
C. A baby drinking only breast milk but sometimes uses a dummy.
D. A baby drinking only breast milk but is taking multivitamins and iron drops given by the paediatrician.
E. A baby who is wet-nursed while the mother is at work and then continues breastfeeding from his own mother.

5. I should exclusively breastfeed until my baby is 4 months old and then start a good quality formula milk to ensure better health.

6. I should exclusively breastfeed my baby for 4 months and then start a good rice cereal to ensure better health.

7. Majority of mothers experience difficulty breastfeeding in the early days.

8. It is useful to use the dummy sometimes, especially in the early days to give the new mother an opportunity to rest.

9. When a mother has to return to work, it is important to get the baby used to a bottle early as only 1 or 2 bottles of formula milk per day will not affect the breastfeeding or make the baby ill.

10. My breasts havn’t started leaking in my last month of pregnancy so I must keep a starter formula tin ready as Iwill not have enough milk.

11. It is important for the child to sleep alone in the cot most times as it is safer than sleeping with the baby.

12. “Nipple confusion” is a myth – that means it doesn’t really happen.

13. Allowing the baby to fall asleep at the breast is the most easy, efficient and stress free method of putting the baby to sleep.

Answers

ONLY 2 of the Agree/Disagree Questions 7 & 13) are TRUE.
MCQ Question 4 : D & E are TRUE.
The REST are FALSE.
Empower yourself with the correct information for yourselves, your daughters, your sisters or your friends!

Masjidul Quba (Northpine) Breastfeeding & Parenting Classes
Dr Shabana Kauchali-Taleb.
o Tel: 021 913 7024
o Cell: 082 711 5771
o shabana@online-gp.com
o www.online-gp.com

When?
o Once a month.
o Every 2nd Friday of the Month.
o Immediately after Asr Salah.

 

What is it about?

How much does it Cost?
FREE

Who should attend?
o Mothers.
o Fathers
o Their children.
o Pregnant women & their husbands.
o Grandmothers.
o Teenage Daughters AND Sons.
o Doctors (Accredited for CPD points).
o Nurses.
o Breastfeeding counsellors Etc.

Why have such an education Class?
o It is an Islamic Obligation (FARDH) for ALL males and FEMALES to be educated.
o Most mothers think they know how to feed their children correctly -few do, MOST don’t.
o As a result of “not knowing” about 1,5 MILLION children are dying worldwide because of inadequate breastfeeding.
o Topics on correct parenting particularly BREASTFEEDING are not taught to doctors and nurses at some medical schools.
o The time in a doctor’s room is not enough to explain all the facts.
o True Knowledge shouldn’t cost money – it should be FREE.
o Empowering our women to be well informed – to make an INFORMED DECISION. “Know the facts – make your choice”.

o NB// Highest rates of breastfeeding are seen in the White, Middle-Upper Income, Married Women because they are EDUCATED and have understood their roles as women in society.

• Where do I get my information from?

• Al-Quran
• Ahadith
  The Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) once said,:
  o “Your Heaven lies under the feet of your mother.”
  (Ahmad, Nasai).
  o A man came to Allah’s Apostle and said, “O Allah’s Apostle!
  Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?” The
  Prophet said, “Your mother.”
  The man said. “Who is next?”
  The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man further said,
  “Who is next?” The Prophet said, “Your mother.” The man asked for the fourth time, “Who is next?” The Prophet said, “Your father.”
  Narrated by Abu Huraira
• Holy Bible
• World Health Organisations
• Perinatal Education Programme
• Dr Jack Newman
• Dr Thomas Hale
• Many others
  o Unicef
  o IBFAN
  o INFACT Canada
  o La Leche League International
  o IBCLC
  o WABA
  o Dr Seers MD
• The Translation of Noble Qur’an –
  Chapter 2 (The Cow) Verse 233
  The mothers shall give suck to their children for two whole years,
  (that is) for those (parents) who desire to complete the term of
  suckling, but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the
  mother’s food and clothing on a reasonable basis. No person shall
  have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear. No mother shall be treated unfairly on account of her child, nor father on account of his child. And on the (father’s) heir is incumbent the like of that (which was incumbent on the father). If they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no sin on them. And if you decide on a foster suckling-mother for your children, there is no sin on you, provided you pay (the mother) what you agreed (to give her) on reasonable basis. And fear Allah and know that Allah is All-Seer of what you do.

Shukran to Dr Taleb for providing us with her Powerpoint Presentation which is adapted in this post.

Fussy eaters

If your family dinner table has become a battleground, take heart – Specialist Dietician, Katherine Megaw gives guidelines on how to take the stress out of mealtimes with your toddler and child, end the arguments over food, and feed your fussy eaters.

Solving a complex problem at work, finally achieving a personal goal is nothing compared to your child finishing a whole plate of food. Isn’t it amazing that no matter how big your accomplishments in your day, NOTHING, absolutely nothing compares to the satisfaction you get watching your toddler successfully finish a meal. You can sleep peacefully knowing your baby has eaten ‘well’!

Having a fussy eater is more common than you may think. While some babies eat almost anything they can get their little hands on, other babies are a lot pickier. Some fussy eaters are simply trying to express their independence with a say in what, when, where and how they eat. Others just need some coaxing, distraction and gentle encouragement. There is nothing like a food battle to cause stress and anxiety in parents – take heart and remember fussy eating isn’t just common, it’s normal!

Understanding your child
A classic time for problems to arise is when your baby is 12 months old. As a child is more aware of the world his natural instincts make him more suspicious of new foods. This is nature’s way of protecting us from eating food that is potentially harmful. If you’re one of the lucky parents that sailed through weaning, another common time for problems to arise is during the challenging 2’s. Having lulled you into a false sense of security, your toddler could wake one morning with dietary requirements that even a top chef would struggle to meet.

Children’s appetites are affected by growth cycles and they have different taste preferences to adults. You will encourage her appetite to work properly if you give her more when she’s hungry and let her eat less when she’s not interested. Growth slows down and appetites fluctuate between one and five years of age. Studies have shown that most children get plenty to eat even if it seems like they are barely eating at all.
Try looking at mealtimes from a child’s perspective. Toddlers have a different agenda: from their point of view, eating is a waste of their playing time, and if we make mealtimes boring by nagging, it’s even worse.

Some practical tips
Here are some tips to help your little fussy eater learn to eat better, while giving you some peace of mind.

1. Put your mind at rest:
• If you are concerned about the health of your child, take her for a check up at the doctor to rule out any potential health problems.
• Keep a food diary for 2 weeks and record EVERYTHING that she eats and drinks (include quantities). You can then get this assessed by a health professional to assess adequate nutritional intake.
• Give an appropriate vitamin & mineral supplement during the fussy eating phase.
•

2. Stay off the battle field:
Remember picky eating can also be a child’s way of asserting his independence and may have less to do with the actual food than his need to push the limits of your authority and assert some control over his life. This is why pressurizing a child to eat often backfires and you become a ‘casualty of war’.

3. Wean at the appropriate age
Weaning late has shown some link to fussing eating. Parents who delay introducing their babies to chewy food and a variety of tastes could find their babies grow up developing food fads.
A recent study showed that babies should be introduced to a more varied diet between the ages of 6 to 9 months to decrease the risk of becoming fussy eaters.
Babies learning to eat will spit food out, and this is more than likely due to a ‘tongue-reflex’ action than a sign that your baby doesn’t like the food. Keep trying with that food and soon he will get used to it and swallow.

4. Fun food presentation
Sandwiches cut into moon shapes, a cracker with a smiley face, carrot sticks as soldiers and apple boats can make food presentation more enticing.
Presenting meals as a smorgasbord from which they can pick and choose from a variety of colours, shapes and textures.
Toddlers and young children prefer foods that are identifiable and not one big mush. Using a compartmentalized plate that prevents different foods from touching is a great help.

5. Make mealtimes fun and relaxed
Use it as an extension of playtime and time when you and your baby can bond uninterrupted (no cell phone calls or text messages!!!). Do puzzles, read a book, tell a story.

6. Educate
Talk about the food and its value in simple terms. E.g. this piece of chicken will help your muscles grow strong like daddy (or superman!!) and this carrot will give you beautiful eyes like Cinderella!

7. Involve your child in food preparation
By involving your child they will be likely to eat what THEY have made and may eat a bit while preparing their meal.

8. Empower your child in decision making
Allow your toddler to choose between two food options. Children are more likely to eat food they have chosen for themselves.

9. Serve simple, easy to prepare meals.
There is nothing more demoralizing than spending ages cooking a gourmet meal for your baby, who after the first spoonful turns her head away. Prepare easy meals that you know your child likes and should they refuse the food, offer one alternative that is a sure win e.g. Yogurt.

10. Milk intake
By the age of one, babies need drink only 500ml of milk daily. Most babies can go onto cow’s milk from one year of age unless health reasons dictate otherwise. Do not substitute milk for meals.

11. Social eating
People are social beings as are our children. Nothing makes a toddler want his food more than having another toddler after his food. Invite a friend over who has a good appetite and watch how your child eats. Children generally eat better at school than at home. Often a toddler will eat more food off daddy’s plate than his own plate of food.

12. Some final tips
• Serve small portions in a fresh and attractive way
• Limit drinking before and during meals
• Offer new foods when you know your child is hungry and more receptive to new tastes
• If your child is playing with his food, quietly remove his plate with no fuss.
And finally relax, you are doing a great job and statistics have shown that children do not wilfully starve themselves!!!

Source: BabySense

Parent 24: Breastfed babies are healthier

Breastfeeding may curb heart and diabetes risk factors.

Amy Norton

Mothers who breastfeed seem to have a lower long-term risk of developing a collection of risk factors for diabetes and heart disease than women who bottle-feed, a new study suggests.

Researchers found that among 700 women followed for 20 years, those who had breastfed were less likely to develop metabolic syndrome – a cluster of risk factors for type 2 diabetes and heart disease that includes abdominal obesity, elevated blood pressure and blood sugar, lower-than-desirable levels of “good” HDL cholesterol and elevated triglycerides (a type of blood fat).

What’s more, the apparent protective effect was stronger among women with a history of gestational diabetes, a form of diabetes that arises during pregnancy and goes away after childbirth.

Although it is temporary, gestational diabetes does raise a woman’s odds of eventually developing type 2 diabetes.

These latest findings suggest that breastfeeding might help diminish that excess risk, said lead investigator Dr. Erica P. Gunderson, a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research in Oakland, California.

However, she told Reuters Health, while the study suggests breastfeeding has a “strong protective effect” against metabolic syndrome, more research is needed to see whether that translates into lower rates of diabetes and heart disease.

The study, published online in the journal Diabetes, included 704 women who were between the ages of 18 and 30 and free of metabolic syndrome at the outset, and who gave birth for the first time during the study period.

Over 20 years of follow-up, 120 were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.

The researchers found that among women with no history of gestational diabetes, those who had breastfed for more than one month were anywhere from 39% to 56% less likely to develop metabolic syndrome – depending on how long they had breastfed.

Among women with a history of gestational diabetes, breastfeeding for more than one month was linked to a 44% to 86% lower risk of metabolic syndrome.

These lower risks were seen with a number of important factors taken into account – including the women’s weight, exercise levels and the presence of any metabolic syndrome components before pregnancy.

It is not yet clear why breastfeeding itself might lower a woman’s chances of developing risk factors for diabetes and heart disease.

Abdominal obesity is one of the components of metabolic syndrome, and excess weight is closely linked to type 2 diabetes. But while it’s widely thought that breastfeeding aids post-pregnancy weight loss, weight changes did not explain the benefits seen in this study, Gunderson said.

Breastfeeding may help women shed a few extra pounds in the months after giving birth, the researcher noted, but there may be other metabolic effects that explain the lower risk of metabolic syndrome.

Breastfeeding may, for example, have positive effects on blood sugar levels, body fat mass or how fat is distributed throughout the body.

Whatever the reasons for the findings, Gunderson said they do suggest that breastfeeding can have “long-term health benefits” for mothers.

Source:

http://www.parent24.com/Content/Focus/breastfeeding/more/902/167ad3ca566a40a68d57e46a4e2df7ea/10-12-2009-11-11/Breastfed_babies_are_healthier

Toddler breakfast recipes

Breakfast is the most important meal – make it tasty and wholesome for your toddler.

Serve your Toddler healthy and nutritious breakfast foods!  You don’t have to rely on cold cereals for a Toddler’s breakfast; try these easy to prepare breakfast foods that toddlers will love!

Most of these breakfast recipes may be made ahead and frozen for later breakfasts!  Feel free to substitute any ingredients you feel may be inappropriate for your Toddler!

Cheesy Scrambled Eggs

3 eggs

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup milk

dash of pepper and/or garlic powder (optional)

Whisk all ingredients in a bowl until frothy then pour in a warmed frying pan. Stir as the egg mix is cooking. Eggs are done when firm and not runny.

Add veggies or even crumbled turkey sausage to this recipe if desired.

Wrap Those Eggs

1 flour tortilla
shredded cheese

1 egg
chopped cooked veggies (optional)
Warm the tortilla and scramble the egg in a frying pan.

On the tortilla, spread out the scrambled egg and veggies (if using veggies)

then cover with shredded cheese. Wrap or roll up the tortilla and serve when cheese has melted.

You can cut the wrap in "pinwheels" too.

Pancakes & Waffles

Applesauce Pancakes
1 cup flour –
1/4 teaspoon salt –
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon melted butter –
1/2 cup milk –
1 beaten egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla –
1 1/4 cups applesauce

Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a medium mixing bowl. Combine butter, milk and egg. Stir into dry ingredients. Add vanilla and applesauce; beat well. Spoon batter into a hot, well greased griddle, enough batter to applesauce pancakes about 4 inches in diameter.  **Freezes Well**

Pumpkin Pancakes
1 C whole wheat pastry flour – 3/4 C unbleached white flour
1 Tbs baking powder – 1/2 tsp salt (I omitted)
2 tsp cinnamon -1/2 tsp ground ginger -1/4 tsp allspice – 1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 eggs
1 C pureed pumpkin or winter squash
1 tsp vanilla
2 C milk
3 Tbs canola oil

Stir (and sift) together all the dry ingredients in a med. size
bowl. In another bowl, beat the eggs with the pumpkin & vanilla.
Beat in the milk & oil until smooth. Add to flour mixture. Cook as usual! These smelled *wonderful* while cooking….like Christmas! SOURCE: "Beyond the
Moon" cookbook by Ginny Callan  **Freezes Well**

Cornmeal Pancakes

1 1/8 cups cornmeal
1/3 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/8 cups low fat buttermilk
shake of cinnamon, nutmeg (optional)

Mix together the cornmeal, flour and baking soda.
Add the egg, buttermilk, vanilla and cinnamon (optional); stir until just mixed.
Pour by 1/4 cup into a hot pan.
Cook the pancakes until bubbles appear, flip.

Extraordinary – Not Ordinary – Breakfast Recipes

Apple Breakfast Bars
1 1/2 cups quick rolled oats
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2/3 cup dates, chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 cups raw apples, shredded

Combine all ingredients. Let stand 10 minutes. Press mixture into 8" x 8" baking dish.  Bake at 375? until lightly browned, about 25 minutes. Loosen with spatula, and cut into bars while warm. Serve hot for breakfast or snack **Freezes Well**

Breakfast Soup with Toast Fingers
8 oz vanilla yogurt
1 tsp honey**
1/2 Cup cubed banana
1/2 Cup peaches, peeled
1/4 cup wheat germ

Blend together and top with additional wheat germ. Serve with avocado blended with cream cheese on whole grain toast.
Please note that Honey is appropriate only for those who have reached the age of 1 year old and older!

 

 

Source: www.wholesometoddlerfood.com

TIPS ON BOTTLEFEEDING

Breastfeeding is best

– yes this is 100% correct and this site’s huge breastfeeding tag is testimony for our support of this. However, there are situations when breastfeeding is not possible and bottle-feeding is pursued. So, here are some tips for bottle feeding.
• Rinse all the bottles and teats thoroughly in washing up liquid and water to remove all traces of milk.
• Remember to sterilise all bottles and teats as long as your baby has milk in them.
• Teats should have the right holes. Too small and too large holes can be frustrating for your baby.
• It is a good idea to store spare sterile teats in a jar, so that you can use them in an emergency.
• You can sterilise a needle and widen a hole in a teat to increase the milk flow.
• Heat milk be standing the bottle in warm water. Microwave can cause hot spots and your baby’s sensitive mouth may burn.
• Prepare feeds in advance for the whole day and store in the fridge upto 24 hours.
• Store bottles in the fridge but not in the fridge door. This is because the temperature is not easily maintained in the fridge door if the fridge is opened and closed often.
• Always wash your hands before touching sterile equipment.
• Drain sterile equipment on kitchen paper. Never use a kitchen towel or draining board for this purpose.
• An untouched milk bottle taken out of the fridge can be kept at room temperature for up to 3 hours.
• Once your baby has started drinking from the bottle, discard the milk and don’t offer it to your baby after one hour as your baby’s saliva contaminates it.
• Prepare formula milk when the boiled water becomes hand-hot.
• Don’t use repeatedly boiled water for feeds.
• Never use mineral water for preparing feeds.
• When travelling out, use ready-made formula milk available in cartons.
• Bottles taken out of the fridge can be kept with ice cubes in an insulated box up to 8 hours.
• Never carry a warm feed as it is a breeding ground for bacteria. You may want to carry a thermos filled with boiling water instead for warming the milk, when required.

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Tags: bottlefeeding, bottles, breastmilk

POLONY & CHEESE DELIGHTS

August 26, 2009 by Mum Admin  
Filed under Feeding & nutrition

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Ingredients :

Polony

Cheese

Salt and pepper

Paste (water, flour)

1 cup flour

½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp green chillies

½ tsp white pepper

1 dessert spoon mayonnaise

1 dessert spoon ghee/butter

lemon juice

chopped dhania

water and milk – mixed

Method :

- Slice polony into circles.

- Apply paste, add cheese, flavour with salt and pepper and cover with another polony. Press and stick together.

- Make a batter with the flour and the rest of the ingredients.

- Dip polonies in batter and fry.

I was looking for a recipe for polony lagan when I came accross this one…nice and easy and fun to make.

Not the healthiest option but many of us are guilty of ‘treating’ our family. Let’s be honest, how many kids don’t like polony?

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Tags: cheese, cooking, polony, ramadan treats, savouries, snacks

Quick and easy Ramadan favourites

August 19, 2009 by Mum Admin  
Filed under Feeding & nutrition

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These recipes courtesy of NIHT have become favourites because they are super quick and easy. PS: There’s also dessert for after Taraweeh:)

MINI PIZZAS

1          cup heaped flour

½         tsp. salt

½         cup milk

2          tbls. butter

2          tsp. baking powder

2          tbls. Oil

Rub butter into dry ingredients and make into soft dough.

Roll out dough, smear a little butter and fold over like flaky pastry.

Repeat once more.

Roll out into small rounds and prick with fork.  Bake at 180 deg for 5 minutes.

SAUCE

1          tin        Tomato & Onion Mix

2          tbls.     Oil

1          tsp.      mixed herbs

1          tsp.      crushed garlic

½         cup      tomato sauce

½         cup      chilli sauce

2          tbls.     Mustard sauce

1          tsp.      red chilli powder

mix altogether in pot and heat thoroughly.

Put little sauce on each round with sliced mushrooms, green peppers, cheese and bake for 10 minutes.

CHICKEN FILLING FOR PIES

1          kg. Chicken fillets (cubed)

1          tbls. green chillies

1          tsp. salt

1          tsp. chicken spice spice

1          curry spoon ghee

1          tsp. whole jeeru

1          tbls. ginger/garlic

½         cup fresh cream

2          potatoes (cut into small cubes)

1          big onion (cubed)

dhania

Method

Mix all ingredients together and cook.  Make sure filling is saucy and not dry.  Once cooked, remove from stove and add onion and dhania.

SPAGHETTI CUTLETS

1          cup spaghetti (boiled)

1          cup mixed vege’s (boiled)

1          cup grated cheese

1          cup mash

1          cup chicken fillet (cooked in green masala)

salt to taste

½         tsp. green chillies

Method
Mix all ingredients together.  Shape into cutlets.

Dip in egg and breadcrumbs and fry.

Serve with chutney.

ROMANY CREAM DESSERT

1          pkt. Romany cream biscuits (crushed)

½         cup melted butter

1          tin caramel treat                                  }          mix

1          tin Nestle cream                                  }          all together &

1          cup whipped fresh cream        }          beat well

1          peppermint crisp chocolate

Crush biscuits and mix with melted butter.    Layer in casserole.  Pour cream mixture over biscuit.

Grate peppermint crisp chocolate over to decorate.

Leave to set.

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Tags: cutlets, dessert, iftar, mini pizzas, ramadan, recipes, savouries, taraweeh

BREASTFEEDING – The Basics of Breastfeeding

August 4, 2009 by Mum Admin  
Filed under Feeding & nutrition

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1. Why Breastfeed?
2. How Does It Work?
3. Milk Release – The Let Down Reflex
4. Milk Composition – getting the right balance
5. Feeding

Why Breastfeed?

Benefits for Mom:

• Uterus contracts more quickly after birth
• Breastfeeding releases calming hormones
• You are more likely to lose your pregnancy weight quicker
• Lowers the risk of breast, ovarian or cervical cancer

Benefits for Baby:

• Helps strengthen baby’s immunity
• Helps bonding between mother and baby
• Decreases risk of allergies in baby
• Provides the “right food” for baby’s daily needs (composition changes throughout the day)
• Decreases risk of stomach bugs, middle ear infections, respiratory disease, urinary infections than in bottle fed babies

What’s in Breastmilk?

Colostrum:

• Already present at birth
• Yellow and creamy, rich in protein
• Laxative effect clears meconium / reduces the risk of jaundice
• Gives baby antibodies so helps resistance to infection
• Baby takes small quantities for first 2-3 days then is replaced by milk, which “comes in” after the first few days

Mature breastmilk contains the perfect balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, minerals and vitamins for your baby, plus factors that help

• absorbtion of nutrients
• prevent infections
• develop baby’s gut
• maturation of baby’s immune system

How Does It Work?

Milk Supply:

• When baby is born, prolactin levels rise and stimulate the breasts to produce milk
• As baby feeds, breasts empty, brain gets a message to replace the milk, body releases prolactin which stimulates the breast to make more milk, so baby always has enough i.e. supply and demand
• If baby doesn’t feed well for some reason, milk supply will be affected
• Always get baby well positioned and allow to feed as long and as often as you desire or baby wants
• If you can’t breast feed for a time, express at baby’s feeding times to support your milk supply, so that you don’t run the risk of your supply decreasing or drying up

Milk Release – The Let Down Reflex

• When baby sucks at the breast, oxytocin is released. This causes the star-shaped muscle cells around the milk glands in the breast to contract and squeeze out the breast milk, called the “let down reflex”
• Foremilk is already present when baby starts to suck (before let down). Foremilk is blueish and thin and contains high protein, but low fat and thus can be drunk quickly and in high quantities.
• Hind milk is released with the let down reflex. Babies sucking slows down and thus baby takes in smaller quantities, but hind milk is higher in calories (fat) and thus it is the hind milk that satisfies babies hunger (the foremilk is thought to satisfy babies thirst).
• Sometimes a tingling sansation is felt by Mum at “let down”. What’s more, Mum can set it off just by relaxing and thinking of her baby!
• May make you feel ’sexy’ (oxytocin is also released in lovemaking)!

Milk Composition – getting the right balance

• Varies throughout the day to suit baby’s needs
• Changes during the feed (foremilk / hindmilk)
• Baby will get a good balance if allowed to feed when she is hungry and to stay on the breast until he / she pulls off
• Let the baby finish one breast before offering the other. Alternate sides from one feed to the next feed – try to avoid favouring one side over the other
• Good positioning is essential to ensure baby feeds long enough to get to the hindmilk and to avoid supply complications
• Feeding times vary from baby to baby and with age and sometimes increase when baby is having a growth spurt (common every 3 weeks in the first few months)
• DON’T FEED UNLESS WELL POSITIONED!

Feeding

• Relax
• Have a glass of water handy; also tissues and a burp cloth and or nursing apron
• Be comfortable, undisturbed and uninhibited
• Breathe deeply and slowly
• Calm the baby first; hold baby close
• Position your baby nose to nipple, tummy to mummy, straight back and head (slightly tilted back)
• Make sure baby gets a good mouthful – latch her on as soon as her mouth opens wide
• Encourage feeding by stroking her lips with the nipple, if necessary
• Don’t put presssure on the breast (can block milk ducts)
• Bring baby to breast, not breast to baby

Source: National Childbirth Trust (NCT) Ante-natal Course (London, UK, Sept 2005) Republished by Peas in a Pod (SA)

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Tags: 6 months, basics, breastfeeding, childbirth, milk, newborn

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