Simple Strawberry Santa

Strawberry Santa

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

1 x strawberry

1 tsp cream cheese

Sultanas or raisins (chopped)

1. Cut the stalk off the strawberry to make a flat side and place the strawberry flat side down
2. Cut the pointed end off the end of the strawberry to make the hat
3. Pop on a dollop of cream cheese to make the face and pop the hat on top
4. Pop little dollops on as  buttons and on to the top of the hat
5. Pop the sultanas on as eyes

Image copyright to Yummy Discoveries Ltd

We like to set our little ones a good example and encourage sharing. We don't mind you using any of the information, recipes and tips from our website, all we ask is that you credit us hard-working mummies here at Yummy Discoveries. 

Thank you x

©Yummy Discoveries Ltd.

Fussy Food: It's a Phase (!)

Fussy Food: It's a Phase (!)

"He used to eat everything I put in front of him but then suddenly has stopped"

We hear this a lot from parents and the most common reply we overhear is: 

"It's a phase".

Well, yes it probably is a phase. But how you manage this phase is vital to how your child is eating at the end of it. Parent through the phase and you will have a versatile eater, indulge the phase and you will have a fussy eater. Let’s look at why this phase occurs and what you can do about it.

Control

We all want some control in our lives and children are no different. Meal times occur at least three times a day so it’s easy to see why they are more likely to occur then.

Tip: Give your child a small amount of control at mealtimes. You make the big decision (“With your lasagne, would you like peas or sweetcorn?”) they make the small decision (“peas please”). This small opportunity to make a decision is giving your child some control over what will appear on their plate. 

Tip: Give your child control in other parts of their life. Your child needs to get used to A-B decisions so look for every opportunity to do this. We often hear mums asking “Would you like to get in the left or right side of the car?” or “Shall we drink from your red cup or your blue cup?”. These small opportunities for control throughout the day will not only ensure your little one is used to making A-B choices but also the positive effect on your parenting.

The good thing about A-B choices is the effect it will have on your parenting. Trust us, when we say if you teach your child that only two choices exist, you will find fewer tantrum situations. So your little one won’t put their coat on. You have two choices: Either you wear your coat and we go to the park or you don’t wear your coat and we stay indoors. You as a parent are happy with either outcome (very important) and your little one is making a decision to which they are accountable. Everyone’s a winner.

Tip: Allow your child to self-feed. Choosing to put the spoon in their mouth is your child being able to exert their control over the situation.

Tip: Have a variety of foods available on the plate. A bowl of risotto or a single omelette is not appealing so instead have an omelette, peas and potato so your child can choose. You could even have half an omelette and slices of omelette, again so your child can choose which to eat.

Your child may really enjoy one food and be asking for it all the time. Using the control technique you can manage your way through this by you deciding how many are available and they choose when they eat it. If your little one has a biscuit habit, make clear there is one biscuit available today and your little one can choose when to eat it. Delayed gratification is not easy at a young age so don’t be surprised if your little one chooses it at breakfast time. That is their decision and they are to live with the consequences and if they are upset later when they can’t have it, comfort and cuddle and explain but don’t offer another biscuit – do so at your peril.

Routine

Children thrive on routine and predictability so it’s not surprising that they want the same in their food and ask for the same things over and over again.

Tip: Satsify their craving for routine by applying it in other areas of life. This might be a bath before bed, consistently eating breakfast together, watching 5 minutes of TV after pre-school, reading a book before bed...there are so many ways you can bring routine to your child’s life but it needs to fit in with your family.

We like to set our little ones a good example and encourage sharing. We don't mind you using any of the information, recipes and tips from our website, all we ask is that you credit us hard-working mummies here at Yummy Discoveries. 

Thank you x

©Yummy Discoveries Ltd.

First Food: Broccoli Bonanza

First Food: Broccoli Bonanza

Knowing what to serve your little one when you first start weaning can be tricky so we have popped below a menu with some recipes to help get you started.

 

Menu:

Steamed Broccoli Florets

Broccoli Nuggets (recipe below)

Broccoli Cheese (recipe below)

Broccoli Puree (recipe below)

Broccoli Nuggets

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

8-10 Broccoli florets

Breadcrumbs (2-3tbsp)

Grated cheese (1-2 tbsp)

Full-fat milk (4-6 tbsp)

1.    Steam the broccoli until tender

2.    Preheat the oven to 190C (180 Fan), Gas 5

3.    Allow the broccoli to cool. Pop in the food processor to chop.

4.    Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and mix together to make a gloopy mixture (add more breadcrumbs or cheese to thicken and milk to make wetter)

5.    Shape the mixture in to patties or sausages

6.    Grease a baking sheet and lay out your nuggets and pop in the oven for 20-25 minutes (turning after 10 minutes). They’re cooked when golden and firm

Tip: Try serving with our Cucumber & Mint Dip

Tip: We find the microwave steamers are a great gadget – takes 2-3 minutes to tenderise.

Broccoli Cheese

Preparation time: <5 minutes

Cooking time: <5 minutes

6-8 Broccoli florets

Grated cheese (1-2 handfuls)

Knob of Butter (melted)

Ground Black Pepper & Squeeze of lemon juice (optional)

1.    Steam the broccoli until tender and then tip in to a microwave-safe dish

2.    Pour melted butter and pepper and lemon juice if using on to the broccoli

3.    Sprinkle cheese over the top and pop in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until melted

Tip: Ensure the cheese is cooled thoroughly before serving

Tip: This works as a yummy accompaniment to any meal

Broccoli Puree

Preparation time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: <5 minutes

1 small potato (peeled and chopped)

1-2 garlic cloves (peeled)

10-12 broccoli florets

250ml low-salt chicken stock

4 tbsp cream cheese

1tbsp parmesan cheese (optional)

1.    Steam / boil the potatoes and broccoli until soft (10-20minutes)

2.    Chuck all the ingredients in a food processor and blitz so it has a mashed potatoey feel

Leftovers: Add more stock to thin the sauce. Stir-in with some cooked pasta for a lovely pasta sauce. Experiment with different shapes of pasta to give variety to the dish.

Leftovers: Pop in a casserole dish, top with some breadcrumbs and cheese and under the grill for 5-10 minutes until golden and bubbling to make a quick Broccoli Gratin

Just to let you know...

Broccoli contains iron and calcium and amazingly also vitamin c which enables the iron and calcium to be absorbed

Broccoli has the same calcium content as milk (but don’t stop the milk feeds just yet)

Broccoli (stems especially) can cause some babies to be quite windy – try adding a small piece of ginger when cooking to counter this

The shape of steamed broccoli florets are perfect for babies to grab hold of and use as a dipper.

Adding 1-2tbsp natural yogurt to our listed recipes can also help with digestion and reduce gas, aiding good bacteria

As broccoli ages, the sugars break down so the broccoli develops a woody texture and a less-sweet taste.

Washing broccoli before storing encourages rotting.

Store broccoli in the fridge in an open plastic bag for prolonged freshness.

Variety doesn’t have to mean different. Try cooking broccoli florets in chicken stock for a slightly different taste.
 

We like to set our little ones a good example and encourage sharing. We don't mind you using any of the information, recipes and tips from our website, all we ask is that you credit us hard-working mummies here at Yummy Discoveries. 

Thank you x

©Yummy Discoveries Ltd.

First Food: Cucumber Platter

First Food: Cucumber platter

Knowing what to serve the first time you wean can be tricky. So, here's our suggestion for a cucumber platter.

Menu: 

Grated cucumber

Cucumber sticks with skin on

Cucumber sticks with skin off

Cucumber & mint dip (recipe below)

Simply pop them on a plate or the highchair table and let your little one explore.

Cucumber & Mint Dip:

Preparation time: 5 minutes

¼ cucumber (remove skin by peeling with a vegetable peeler)

2 tbsp full-fat natural Greek yogurt

6 fresh mint leaves (chopped)

1.       Whizz the ingredients in a food processor and serve

Leftovers: Use the dip to cool down a hot curry.

Leftovers: Whizz in a garlic clove and squeeze of lemon juice to make a tzatziki.

Leftovers: Yummy served with the Broccoli Nuggets

Tip: Sit down with your baby and enjoy dipping your own choice of raw veggies in this dip

Just to let you know...

Cucumber is not a common allergen since it is primarily water. However, that doesn’t mean to say it can’t be one

Offering a single food at a time means you can identify an allergen quickly

The different textures encourage acceptance of different tastes

A selection of foods enables your child to make a choice over what to eat

The different colours with dark green and light green will stimulate your baby’s interest

Cucumbers are not nutrient-dense and may not satisfy a hungry baby

For teething babies, the cucumber sticks can soothe and cool the gums

Cucumbers can cause some babies to be quite windy 

Your little one looks to you to make sure what they eat is safe so enjoy eating the same foods together.

We like to set our little ones a good example and encourage sharing. We don't mind you using any of the information, recipes and tips from our website, all we ask is that you credit us hard-working mummies here at Yummy Discoveries. 

Thank you x

©Yummy Discoveries Ltd.