Coconut Lagan recipe

1. 1/2 cup sojee
2. 1 1/2 coconut
3. 1 tsp baking powder
4. 3 eggs
5. 1/2 cup ghee
6. 1 cup sugar
7. 3 cups milk
8. pinch of elachi
9. 1 small nestle cream

mix together milk coconut sugar n eggs
braise sojee in ghee till light pink
pour in egg mixture n cook till thick
when cool add in nestle cream n baking powder
pour in greased baking pan n decorate with almonds
bake at 200`c for 35 mins

Recipe: SWEET CORN CASSEROLE

Ingredients:
4 potatoes
½ cup grated cheese
2 cups frozen corn or 1 tin corn
1 small cup fresh cream
1 tsp ground green chillies
1 sliced onion
1 tsp cumin (jeeroo)
1 tbsp ghee
salt and pepper to taste

Method:
- Cube and boil potatoes
- Mix potatoes with the rest of the ingredients
- Sauté 1 sliced onion until light brown in 1 tbsp ghee and 1 tsp cumin (jeroo)
- Mix this in the corn mixture.
- Set in a casserole dish. Spread a little grated cheese on top.
- Bake on 180 degrees for 15 – 20 minutes.

Source: SANHA Newsletter

Lunchbox idea: Wholewheat bagel with chicken and tomato

a simple lunchbox idea that children can make themselves. thanks to http://kidscookbook.co.za

• 1 wholewheat bagel
• 2tsp butter
• ½ cup sliced cooked chicken
• 1 tomato, sliced
• Lettuce

Slice bagel in half. Spread with butter. Place a few lettuce leaves on the bottom half. Top with chicken and tomato slices. Place the top half of the bagel on the top.

Myths of Breastfeeding

By Dr. Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC*

1. Many women do not produce enough milk. Not true! The vast majority of women produce more than enough milk. Indeed, an overabundance of milk is common. Most babies that gain too slowly, or lose weight, do so not because the mother does not have enough milk, but because the baby does not get the milk that the mother has. The usual reason that the baby does not get the milk that is available is that he is poorly latched onto the breast. This is why it is so important that the mother be shown, on the first day, how to latch a baby on properly, by someone who knows what they are doing.

2. It is normal for breastfeeding to hurt. Not true! Though some tenderness during the first few days is relatively common, this should be a temporary situation that lasts only a few days and should never be so bad that the mother dreads breastfeeding. Any pain that is more than mild is abnormal and is almost always due to the baby latching on poorly. Any nipple pain that is not getting better by day three or four or lasts beyond five or six days should not be ignored. A new onset of pain when things have been going well for a while may be due to a yeast infection of the nipples. Limiting feeding time does not prevent soreness. Taking the baby off the breast for the nipples to heal should be a last resort only.

3. There is no (not enough) milk during the first three or four days after birth. Not true! It often seems like that because the baby is not latched on properly and therefore is unable to get the milk that is available. When there is not a lot of milk (as there is not, normally, in the first few days), the baby must be well latched on in order to get the milk. This accounts for “but he’s been on the breast for 2 hours and is still hungry when I take him off”. By not latching on well, the baby is unable to get the mother’s first milk, called colostrum. Anyone who suggests you pump your milk to know how much colostrum there is, does not understand breastfeeding, and should be politely ignored. Once the mother’s milk is abundant, a baby can latch on poorly and still may get plenty of milk, though good latching from the beginning, even in if the milk is abundant, prevents problems later on.

4. A baby should be on the breast 20 (10, 15, 7.6) minutes on each side. Not true! However, a distinction needs to be made between “being on the breast” and “breastfeeding”. If a baby is actually drinking for most of 15-20 minutes on the first side, he may not want to take the second side at all. If he drinks only a minute on the first side, and then nibbles or sleeps, and does the same on the other, no amount of time will be enough. The baby will breastfeed better and longer if he is latched on properly. He can also be helped to breastfeed better and longer if the mother compresses the breast to keep the flow of milk going, once he no longer drinks on his own (Handout Breast Compression). Thus it is obvious that the rule of thumb that “the baby gets 90% of the milk in the breast in the first 10 minutes” is equally hopelessly wrong. To see how to know a baby is getting milk see the videos at www.drjacknewman.com.

5. A breastfeeding baby needs extra water in hot weather. Not true! Breastmilk contains all the water a baby needs.

6. Breastfeeding babies need extra vitamin D. Not true! Everyoneneeds vitamin D. Formula has it added at the factory. But the baby is born with a liver full of vitamin D, and breastmilk does have some vitamin D. Outside exposure allows the baby to get the rest of his vitamin D requirements from ultraviolet light even in winter. The baby does not need a lot of outside exposure and does not need outside exposure every day. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and is stored in the body. In some circumstances (for example, if the mother herself was vitamin D deficient during the pregnancy) it may be prudent to supplement the baby with vitamin D. Exposing the baby to sunlight through a closed window does not work to get the baby more vitamin D.

7. A mother should wash her nipples each time before feeding the baby. Not true! Formula feeding requires careful attention to cleanliness because formula not only does not protect the baby against infection, but also is actually a good breeding ground for bacteria and can also be easily contaminated. On the other hand, breastmilk protects the baby against infection. Washing nipples before each feeding makes breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated and washes away protective oils from the nipple.

8. Pumping is a good way of knowing how much milk the mother has. Not true! How much milk can be pumped depends on many factors, including the mother’s stress level. The baby who breastfeeds well can get much more milk than his mother can pump. Pumping only tells you have much you can pump.

9. Breastmilk does not contain enough iron for the baby’s needs.Not true! Breastmilk contains just enough iron for the baby’s needs. If the baby is full term he will get enough iron from breastmilk to last him at least the first six months. Formulas contain too much iron, but this quantity may be necessary to ensure the baby absorbs enough to prevent iron deficiency. The iron in formula is poorly absorbed, and the baby poops out most of it. Generally, there is no need to add other foods to breastmilk before about 6 months of age.

10. It is easier to bottle feed than to breastfeed. Not true! Or, thisshould not be true. However, breastfeeding is made difficult because women often do not receive the help they should to get started properly. A poor start can indeed make breastfeeding difficult. But a poor start can also be overcome. Breastfeeding is often more difficult at first, due to a poor start, but usually becomes easier later.

11. Breastfeeding ties the mother down. Not true! But it depends how you look at it. A baby can be breastfed anywhere, anytime, and thus breastfeeding is liberating for the mother. No need to drag around bottles or formula. No need to worry about where to warm up the milk. No need to worry about sterility. No need to worry about how your baby is, because he is with you.

12. There is no way to know how much breastmilk the baby is getting. Not true! There is no easy way to measure how much the baby is getting, but this does not mean that you cannot know if the baby is getting enough. The best way to know is that the baby actually drinks at the breast for several minutes at each feeding (open mouth wide—pause—close mouth type of suck). Other ways also help show that the baby is getting plenty (Handout Is my Baby Getting Enough Milk?). See the videos atwww.drjacknewman.com.

13. Modern formulas are almost the same as breastmilk. Not true! The same claim was made in 1900 and before. Modern formulas are only superficially similar to breastmilk. Every correction of a deficiency in formulas is advertised as an advance. Fundamentally, formulas are inexact copies based on outdated and incomplete knowledge of what breastmilk is. Formulas contain no antibodies, no living cells, no enzymes, no hormones. They contain much more aluminum, manganese, cadmium, lead and iron than breastmilk. They contain significantly more protein than breastmilk. The proteins and fats are fundamentally different from those in breastmilk. Formulas do not vary from the beginning of the feed to the end of the feed, or from day 1 to day 7 to day 30, or from woman to woman, or from baby to baby. Your breastmilk is made as required to suit yourbaby. Formulas are made to suit every baby, and thus no baby. Formulas succeed only at making babies grow well, usually, but there is more to breastfeeding than nutrients.

14. If the mother has an infection she should stop breastfeeding. Not true! With very, very few exceptions, the mother’s continuing to breastfeed will actually protect the baby. By the time the mother has fever (or cough, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, etc) she has already given the baby the infection, since she has been infectious for several days before she even knew she was sick. The baby’s best protection against getting the infection is for the mother to continue breastfeeding. If the baby does get sick, he will be less sick if the mother continues breastfeeding. Besides, maybe it was the baby who gave the infection to the mother, but the baby did not show signs of illness because he was breastfeeding. Also, breast infections, including breast abscess, though painful, are not reasons to stop breastfeeding. Indeed, the infection is likely to settle more quickly if the mother continues breastfeeding on the affected side. (Handouts Breastfeeding and Medication and Breastfeeding and Illness).

15. If the baby has diarrhea or vomiting, the mother should stop breastfeeding. Not true! The best medicine for a baby’s gut infection is breastfeeding. Stop other foods for a short time, but continue breastfeeding. Breastmilk is the only fluid your baby requires when he has diarrhea and/or vomiting, except under exceptional circumstances. The push to use “oral rehydrating solutions” is mainly a push by the formula manufacturers (who also make oral rehydrating solutions) to make even more money. The baby is comforted by the breastfeeding, and the mother is comforted by the baby’s breastfeeding. (Handouts Breastfeeding and Medication and Breastfeeding and Illness).

16. If the mother is taking medicine she should not breastfeed. Not true! There are very very few medicines that a mother cannot take safely while breastfeeding. A very small amount of most medicines appears in the milk, but usually in such small quantities that there is no concern. If a medicine is truly of concern, there are usually equally effective, alternative medicines that are safe. The risks of artificial feeding for both the mother and the baby must be taken into account when weighing if breastfeeding should be continued (Handouts Breastfeeding and Medication andBreastfeeding and Illness).

For More Breastfeeding Myths, and Still More Myths, and Even More and More Myths!! visit www.drjacknewman.com

Dr. Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC

Dr. Jack Newman graduated from the University of Toronto medical school in 1970, interning at the Vancouver General Hospital. He did his training in pædiatrics in Quebec City and then at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto from 1977-1981 to become a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada in 1981 as well as Board Certified by the AAP in 1981. He has worked as a physician in Central America, New Zealand and South Africa. He founded the first hospital based breastfeeding clinic in Canada in 1984. He has been a consultant for UNICEF for the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, evaluating the first candidate hospitals in Gabon, the Ivory Coast and Canada.

Source: CanadianParenting.com

Sensory food aversions

If your child is a picky eater, you are not alone. According to several national studies, 24 percent of parents are concerned that their child is a picky eater. Doctors and researchers have found that many picky eaters have sensory food aversions (SFA) that cause them to eat only certain types of food. SFA is the most common feeding disorder seen in the Feeding Disorders Program at Children’s National Medical Center.

SENSORY FOOD AVERSIONS
Children with SFA consistently refuse to eat certain foods because of taste, texture, smell, and/or appearance. This is different from children who refuse to eat a particular food one day, but eat it the next.
Food aversions are common and vary in severity – some children refuse only a few specific foods and others refuse entire food groups, such as vegetables, fruits or meats.
While SFA can affect people of all ages, it becomes evident when young children are introduced to baby and table food.

SUPER TASTERS
The sensitivity to taste, texture or the smell of foods runs in families. Just as peoples’ vision can vary, so can the ability to taste. Studies have found that in general, people fall into three groups: non-tasters, tasters and super tasters. Super tasters have the largest number of taste buds on their tongues; therefore, foods have a much stronger taste, making many foods unappealing for them and often causing SFA.

SIGNS OF SFA
Children with SFA have reactions to certain foods that can be as mild as grimacing or as severe as gagging, spitting out the food or even vomiting. After experiencing the initial reaction, children with SFA usually refuse to continue eating that particular food and can become very distressed if forced to do so.
In fact, after a bad experience, some children tend to generalize and refuse foods that look and/or smell like the aversive food. For example, children with an aversion to peas may generalize the dislike to include all green vegetables.
Many children with SFA also are reluctant to try new foods for fear of having another episode, such as gagging or vomiting. Instead, they may eat a limited number of foods that they know are safe and will not cause a reaction.
Some children are so sensitive that they will refuse to eat any foods that touch other foods on their plates, while others eat only foods of specific brand names or from a specific restaurant. For example, some children with SFA will eat only chicken nuggets if they come from a specific fast-food chain.

EFFECTS OF SFA
If a child with SFA refuses to eat foods from an entire food group, such as vegetables or meats, his or her diet may lack vitamins, minerals and/or proteins that are important for a child’s health. In addition, if children reject foods that require significant chewing, such as meats or hard vegetables, they may fall behind in oral motor development because of the lack of experience with chewing. Delayed motor development can lead to difficulty with articulation.
There also may be long-lasting implications of SFA. It can cause older children to avoid social situations, such as birthday parties, sleepovers or summer camp, that require them to eat in front of others because they are embarrassed they aren’t able to eat the same foods as their peers.

TIPS FOR PARENTS
• If your child has gagged or vomited while eating a certain food:
o Do not offer that food again.
o Continue eating the food and other foods your child may not like so that he or she can see you eating and enjoying these foods. Young children want to do what their parents are doing. However, you should not try to coax your child into eating these foods. The harder you try, the harder he or she will resist.
o Give your child foods he or she can tolerate, while still incorporating all food groups.
• If your child grimaces after eating a certain food, offer your child the food later, but do not force the issue or your child will likely become anxious.
• Children with SFA will eat foods they prefer. If your child resists eating broccoli, offer another green vegetable, such as green beans.

Remember, these tips are for children who consistently refuse to eat certain foods. Children with SFA appear anxious or fearful of the foods they dislike. This is different from children who refuse to eat a particular food one day but eat it the next day as a way to exercise control over a parent.

WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP
Parents should consult their paediatrician if their child refuses to eat foods from an entire food group, such as fruits or vegetables, or if the child refuses to eat such a large number of different types of food that parents are worried he or she is not receiving enough nutrients.

Source: www.littlecooksclub.co.za

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

Next Page »