12 minute read
YOUR DREAM NURSERY
Mum Tip
Mum Tip Happy Eating
A survey, launched by leading baby food brand Organix, reveals that one of the biggest barriers to introducing new foods during weaning is baby’s facial expression in response to new tastes.
It can be challenging to introduce new foods during weaning and the faces babies pull can be interpreted by parents as disgust or dislike at what they are trying, which can make it all the harder.
The Organix weaning survey reveals: • More than half (55%) of mums say a baby’s facial expression puts them off trying to encourage their baby to like a new taste and flavour. • 49% say it’s a struggle to keep babies interested in food. • 42% say they find it hard to get babies to try new foods during weaning.
From sweet carrot to sour lemon and bitter broccoli, weaning is the beginning of a taste adventure, the first opportunity for your baby to explore and experience taste sensations. Evidence shows that it can take between 10 and 15 times to introduce a new food or flavour and that learning about food is all about familiarity and repetition. So by understanding more about their babies’ facial expressions, parents are likely to feel more confident about introducing new foods.
Baby faces and understanding what they mean … But what is the meaning of that face your baby pulls as they try a new food for the first time? What’s your baby really trying to tell you?
“For example, what mums and dads might interpret as a look of shock or disgust, doesn’t necessarily translate as not liking the taste, what’s more likely is that baby is puzzled by the intensity of a new flavour. A surprised expression could be curiosity about the depth of flavour, the chances are they think the flavour is good but it’s very different to what they’ve eaten before – it’s all part of them experiencing and learning new tastes on their weaning journey.”
It can be challenging to keep offering new foods and coming up with new and inspiring ideas to tempt little ones, but it’s important as those first tastes during weaning help define a child’s future relationship with food.
Weaning is an exciting time for everyone so for lots more weaning advice, weaning recipes - from purées to finger foods - and to download your free copy of the Organix Little Book of Weaning please visit www.organix.com or follow #realfoodface
5Fertility Recipes FOR MEN
Gazpacho
INGREDIENTS
1 red bell pepper 1 yellow bell pepper 1 green bell pepper 1 small poblano pepper 2 lbs. heirloom tomatoes, roughly chopped 1/2 small onion, roughly chopped 1 bunch scallions, roughly chopped 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and roughly chopped 2 garlic cloves, peeled 1 thick slice of country white bread, crust removed 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus 2 Tbsp 2 Thsp sherry vinegar ½ bunch parsley or cilantro Several dashes Tabasco Salt, to taste
METHOD
1. Preheat your grill to direct, high heat or heat coals until white and hot. Slice the tops off the peppers and scoop out the seeds. Toss the peppers in salt and the 2 Tbsp oil and grill, turning every few minutes, until all sides are blackened and blistered, about 10 minutes total. Set aside and allow to cool.
2. In a small bowl filled with ½ cup water, soak the bread. Rough chop the peppers and add to a blender or food processor along with the tomatoes, onion, scallion, cucumber, olive oil, sherry vinegar, and herbs. Squeeze the water out of the bread and add to the food processor or blender. Blend until smooth, season to taste with salt and Tabasco. Refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.
3. Spoon into chilled bowls and garnish with toasted croutons from the leftover bread, chilled crab or lobster, or diced avocado.
The lamb is packed with arginine and zinc, and the watermelon is rich in vitamin C, which is essential for proper sperm production and male fertility.
Sweetcorn Fritters with Smoked Salmon
The corn in this dish is high in arginine, which boosts sperm count and motility, while the salmon helps boost male fertility.
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup olive oil 2 tbs red wine vinegar 2 stalks rosemary, sprigs removed, finely chopped 8 midloin lamb chops, trimmed 250g haloumi, cut into 1cm thick slices 1/4 cup mint leaves, torn 1 tbs baby capers 1 kg seedless watermelon, rind removed, cut into 3cm cubes 1 small red onion, finely chopped salt & pepper, to taste
METHOD
1. Combine 1 tbs of the oil, vinegar, rosemary in a jug. Lay chops into a ceramic dish and pour over marinade. Turn chops to coat well. Cover and set aside for 30 minutes.
2. Brush haloumi slices with olive oil. Heat a chargrill pan over medium-high heat. Cook haloumi for 2 minutes on each side or until golden. Transfer to a plate. Cool slightly and tear into pieces.
3. Combine remaining oil, mint, lemon juice and capers in a jug. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange watermelon, onion and haloumi in a large salad bowl. Drizzle over dressing. Cook chops on a preheated barbecue chargrill or frying pan for about 3 minutes on each side for medium rare or until cooked to your liking. Serve marinated lamb chops with watermelon, haloumi & mint salad.
INGREDIENTS
2 cups (approx 2 corn cobs) fresh corn kernels 3 spring onions (or 1 small red onion), roughly chopped 2 eggs small handful coriander (or parsley) leaves 150g self-raising flour pinch salt and pepper 1 zucchini, finely grated and squeezed to remove excess moisture light olive oil, for frying smoked salmon, to serve lemon wedges, to serve Avocado Salsa 1 avocado, stone removed, diced 1 tomato, finely diced 1 spring onion, finely chopped 2 tbs coriander leaves, chopped 1 tbs lemon juice pinch salt and pepper
METHOD
1. Place half the corn kernels, spring onion, eggs, coriander, flour, salt and pepper in a food processor and process for about 10-15 seconds until combined. Place in a large bowl.
2. Using your hands, squeeze the zucchini to remove any excess moisture. Add to the corn mixture along with the remaining corn kernels. Stir to combine.
3. Heat 1-2 tablespoons of the oil in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Drop large spoonfuls of the mixture into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden on the underside. Turn and cook the other side until golden and cooked through. Repeat with remaining mixture, using more oil if needed.
4. Drain on paper towels and serve with the avocado salsa (lightly stir the ingredients together), smoked salmon and lemon.
Chicken & Pumpkin Couscous
Packed with arginine, an amino acid proved to help blood circulation, and vitamin E, which is shown to reduce sperm defects, this dish may increase male fertility.
Pumpkin and Chickpea Curry
A perfect vegetarian dinner that will increase your partner’s fertility as it’s bursting with vitamin E, which is essential for reducing defects in sperm DNA and increasing male fertility..
INGREDIENTS
2 tbs olive oil 1 brown onion, finely chopped 2 skinless chicken thigh fillets, trimmed and diced 150g pumpkin, peeled and diced 185 ml chicken or vegetable stock 100g instant couscous 2 tbs coriander, finely chopped or parsley leaves (optional)
METHOD
1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over low-medium heat. Add the onion, chicken and pumpkin, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until the onion is soft.
2. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 8 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender.
3. Remove from the heat, stir in the couscous, cover and set aside for 6 minutes until the liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and stir through the coriander or parsley, if desired.
INGREDIENTS
1 tbs Homebrand Vegetable Oil 1 brown onion, finely chopped 1 bunch coriander 1/4 cup korma curry paste 1.2 kg pumpkin, deseeded, peeled cut into 4cm pieces 400ml can coconut milk 1/2 cup water 400ml can Woolworths Select Chickpeas, drained, rinsed 1/2 cup cup salted cashew nuts, roughly chopped, to garnish steamed rice, to serve
METHOD
1. heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes or until soft. Finely chop coriander roots and add to onion. Cook for 1 minute. Stir curry pase into onion mixture and cook for 1 minute or until aromatic. Add pumpkin, coconut milk and water. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat simmer for 20 minutes. Add chickpeas and cook for 10 minutes.
2. Roughly chop half the remaining coriander, reserving sprigs to serve, and stir through curry. Sprinkle cashews and coriander sprigs over the pumpkin and chickpea curry and serve with steamed rice.
CUDDLEDRY
The award winning Cuddledry Handsfree Baby Bath Towel takes the stress out of baby bathtime. Its innovative design gives you both hands free to safely bath, lift and wrap your baby, keeping baby warm and you dry. It has 2 large luxurious layers, and cosy hood to keep baby completely cocooned. No more stressful juggling act with standard towels and slippery babies! Cuddledry towelling is made of supersoft bamboo and cotton; absorbent and antibacterial. This towel’s simple, ingenious design makes life easier with a new baby, making it a must-have for new parents and ideal gift.
www.cuddledry.com
DEAR BUMP
Dearbump is somewhere you can go to find a range of products specific to pregnancy which have been tested and selected for your stage of pregnancy. Pregnancy is both exciting and worrying time, you want to give your baby the best start in life and ensure you do everything right, but it can be hard finding products which are safe for pregnancy. Each box contains 7-9 products tailored to your due date. Boxes are sent every month.
www.dearbump.com
PATTIE & CO
Pattie & Co., selling super soft, organic muslin swaddles, comforters and blankets in distinctive rainbow designs, was founded by Londonbased mum Cat price in November 2018.
They donate £5 from the sale of every organic muslin swaddle to Tommy’s, the baby charity because motherhood can be hard enough without having to face indescribable heartache on your journey there.
www.pattieandco.com
PK BEAU
Premium stylish and practical baby changing backpacks are what we are all about. Contemporary unisex styles, with a wealth of functions to help make parenthood a ‘walk in the park’. Made from luxurious Vegan Leather, with wipe cleanable linings and chunky metal zips, our bags are cleverly designed multifunctional statements for the fashionconscious, modern parent.
www.pkbeau.com
THE BAMBOO BABY
The Bamboo Baby Company design and manufacture organic, eco-friendly baby blankets of exceptional quality; all made from naturally chemical-free bamboo, they are luxuriously soft, breathable and kind on delicate skin.
www.thebamboobaby.com
THE PREGNANCY CALENDAR
This original gifting experience counts down the final 24 days of pregnancy. Inside the calendar there is a gift for either mum or baby. There are pregnancy and birth essentials for mama and baby bits for when their newborn arrives. The products that can be found inside the calendar range from tea and candles to milestone cards and teething rings. All products are specially selected with pregnancy in mind.
www.thepregnancycalendar.co.uk
MABEL & FOX
We’ve taken the traditional baby changing mat & combined it with some utterly gorgeous prints, based around interior trends so that they fit seamlessly into your home. Not only do they set the tone for a nursery space & inspire themes, they make incredible photo backdrops - our customers absolutely love taking pictures of their babies on our mats! We have designed the collection to ensure we offer a variety of size & mat styles to not only cater for different changing requirements but also to help make our product attainable for the mass.
www.mabelandfox.com
THE GILDED BIRD
Stunning Designs and High Quality Changing Mats for Your Nursery. Made in the UK. Subscribe To Emails. Unique Designs. Shop Online. High Quality Foam. Products: Blue Mountains Flat Mat, Blue Balloon Festival Anti Roll Wedge Mat, Green Tree Flat Mat.
LITTLE SQUIDGES
WELCOME TO LITTLE SQUIDGES. Specialising in Handmade, Embroided & Printed Clothing for all ages.
These make beautiful gifts, no more dull clothing.
www.littlesquidges.com
GLOW IN STYLE
Personal styling service for Maternity, Motherhood & Beyond You rest assure and take care of your baby while we curate personalised outfits just for you. You can select to receive a Glow Box or Glow Online Edit as you wish.
We are still here for you! Maybe you want to refresh your wardrobe or you want to get ready for summer vacation. You can now get one of our personalised style interventions via video chat. Write to us now to book a style meeting.
www.glowinstyle.com
ISLA AND FRASER
Beautiful Blankets , the blanket arrives charmingly presented in a satin ribbon with a gift tag that explains to the receiver all about the key features and details. A beautifully considered and thoughtful gift that will become a cherished family keepsake.
www.islaandfraser.com
BABY UMA
These luxurious buggy hooks attach easily to any buggy or stroller. They provide handy extra storage for shopping bags, changing bags and more, offering practicality and the equivalent of a much needed extra pair of hands. We’ve tested these buggy hooks on all the major high street brands, and the top 10 stroller, pram and pushchair lists. If your buggy has a handle, these clips will fit. Either on the foam handle or directly on the frame.
www.babyuma.com
