Fussy eating kids drive their parents mad, survey finds

While it may not be as serious as those we’ve watched on Freaky Eaters, fussy eating kids are driving parents mad.

A survey of over 3,000 parents by Green Giant found that one in three children have been described as fussy eaters by their parents.

Added to this, two out of three parents say that their kids are fussier than they themselves were when growing up.

One in twenty children hide food they don’t want to eat (one mother reported that her six-year-old son is regularly caught flushing peas down the toilet), while others sneak food onto other plates or feed it to the dog.

Of course, sulking, tantrums and claiming to be full also make an appearance ion the list of tactics used by children trying to avoid eating unappetising food.

To appease the kids, one in five parents say they have to cook different meals for each family member, while a similar number buy special “reward” puddings.

General Mills nutritionist Vanessa McConkey RNutri says: “These findings reinforce the importance of getting back to the table – sitting down together as a family to enjoy mealtimes, without the many distractions revealed by this survey. Kids can be very fussy and encouraging them to eat a proper, nutritious meal can be difficult for parents.

“Instilling healthy eating habits early on in life will help ensure children eat a healthy, balanced meal, rich in vegetables and fruit and get more of the nutrients they need. It will also increase the likelihood of these healthy habits being carried on throughout life. Choosing vegetables like canned sweet corn can make it much easier to ensure children get one of their recommended five a day.”

Healthy eating is a real marketing buzzword at present, as you’ll see if you watch a few food adverts on TV, but it can be a difficult balancing act to find food that kids will eat and that’s reasonably good for them.

Do you consider your kids to be fussy eaters? How have you tried to resolve the issue, or have you found yourself giving in to their pressure?

Share your thoughts, tips and tricks in the comments below.

Eating breakfast together strengthens the family and helps child development

Eating breakfast together as a family? You’ve got to be kidding, right?

Some mornings, it’s enough worry to even get the children and adults out of the house with the right kit in time for school and work.

Yet new research confirms that families who find time to eat breakfast together are not only strengthened as a unit, but their kids could well do better in school and be more emotionally stable and socially developed.

We’ve already reported on how important it is for families to eat together but this usually focuses on the evening meal.

How can you make breakfast a shared, and stress-free, experience?

Nutella, who sponsored the survey, offers child psychologist Laverne Antrobus’ five tips for a great family breakfast:

1. It’s all in the preparation: Get the children involved, help them to lay the table or, if old enough, make the toast and pour out drinks
2. Variety is key: Allowing more choice, and giving children foods they like, will minimise disagreements and maintain focus on spending quality time together. Also try to give them something that sets them up for the morning ahead so a low sugar cereal on one day and then on another wholegrain toast with a hazelnut based spread like nutella.
3. Give yourself a goal: Set targets that are realistic and can be achieved; think about how many times a week eating together is possible given everyone’s schedule
4. Don’t get distracted: Even if you can’t sit down all together every time avoid the daily distractions and noise of the TV & radio, it will allow you to focus on the conversation you are having
5. Eyes and ears: Listen to what they are saying, ask open-ended questions and give them the opportunity to use this time to find out what’s on their mind.

More advice? Visit the Wake Up To Nutella web site.

Do you have any tips for a great family breakfast? Leave a comment below.

UK TV Watch: 1st-7th May 2009

Welcome to the Family Relationships Magazine weekly roundup of family/relationships TV highlights for the coming week.

Please be aware that these are generally programmes about families and relationships, and are not necessarily suitable for all-age/family viewing.

Friday 1st May

If spying on celebrity couples is your thing, and you’re not sick of them yet, then Katie & Peter: Stateside (ITV2, 10pm) is for you. This week, Katie meets her new horse which has just come out of quarantine after being flown over to America.

Alternatively, there’s sure to be some cringeworthy material in Celebrity Wife Swap (10.05pm, E4) as eighties pop star Sinitta trades places with Sandra, the wife of actor Bruce Jones.

Saturday 2nd May

Take on the Takeaway (11.30am, BBC1) sees Ken Hom trying to convince a busy couple that it is possible to cook quick and healthy food instead of relying on the local Chinese takeaway.

Family quizzes your thing? Try the new series of All Star Mr & Mrs (6.20pm ITV1) which sees Boyzone’s Keith Duffy and his wife Lisa, Brigitte Nielsen and Mattia, and Peter Shilton and Sue battle it out to see who knows the most about their other half.

Tuesday 5th May

The second part of the fourth series of Born to be Different (9pm, Channel 4) follows six disabled children who have features in the series since birth. This time, we see them aged nine. Each child has their own particular battle to fight; some face major operations, some require constant support and medication; and for one it’s a battle just to stay alive.

More celebrity following in Claire Richards: My Big Fat Wedding (9pm, BBC3). The former Steps singer sets out to shed some pounds from her size 20 frame in time for her wedding, a task which sees her face off with the paparazzi.

Wednesday 6th May

The World’s Strictest Parents (8pm, BBC3) continues as teenagers Lizzie Pol and Stefan Alvarez travel to Ghana to live with a middle-class Christian couple who prioritise chores and ban the pair from romantic relationships.

Thursday 7th May

A new four-part documentary series, Keep it in the Family (9pm, BBC2), follows the family of Gary Don, who has dedicated his career to the family auction house and has persuaded his 28-year-old son Jamie to pick up the mantle.

On Channel 4 at 9pm, Madeleine Was Here looks at how parents Kate and Gerry are dealing with the lack of knowledge about their daughter’s whereabouts, two years on from her disappearance.

Real-life wedding preps, under the camera of course, in Don’t Tell the Bride (8pm, BBC3).

Most British families eating at home, survey finds

Feeding a growing family can be expensive enough without dining out on a regular basis, so it’s perhaps little surprise that a new survey has found that nearly three-quarters of British families are choosing to eat home-cooked meals rather than in restaurants.

Almost three-quarters (73%) of those families asked said that they would opt for home-cooked food over takeaways.

Respondents were also less likely to spend time in the pub, with 40% of family respondents saying that they would spend more time drinking at home, while 11% were more likely to venture out to the pub in the next 12 months than they had done previously.

Families with children were shown to be more cost-conscious across these activities than single people and couples. 57% of couples and 54% of singles agreed that they would be more likely to eat at home rather than dining out.

Roughly the same percentages – 57% of couples and 55% of singles – said they would opt for home-cooked food over a takeaway. Only 31% of couples and 22% of singles said they were more likely to drink alcohol at home rather than going out, while 13% of couples and 24% of single people said they were now more likely to head out to the pub.

Other statistics included:

• 75% of families intend to spend less of their household expenditure on going out to the pub or restaurants, compared to 58% of both couples and single people
• 73% of families said they would spend less on going out to the cinema or theatre, compared to 56% of couples and 57% of singles
• 69% of families intend to cut back on sporting events, compared to 56% of couples and 51% of singles
• 63% of families will cut back on their holidays and travel, compared to 45% of couples and 46% of singles
• 56% of families intend to spend less on in-home entertainment, compared to 47% of couples and 43% of singles

So that’s the figures, but what do you think? Have you altered your food spending patterns in the current economic climate?

Couples candlelit takeaway at home over expensive dining out on Valentine’s Day

Couples ditched going out to an expensive restaurant by dining in with a takeaway instead according to research by Just-Eat.co.uk.

One in three couples had a takeaway meal on Saturday night instead of going out.

When asked “Did you go out to a meal last year with your partner for Valentine’s Day?” just a quarter did this year, compared to over half last year.

The Credit Crunch has had a huge impact on the custom – when asked “If you didn’t go out for a meal this year, what is the main reason?” 68% of participants claimed ‘Expense’ was the deciding factor. Other answers included ‘Didn’t want to’ (14%) and ‘Booked too late’ (10%).

Most (over half) had a curry, while around a quarter of couples had Chinese food.

“You can have just as great a time with your partner at home sharing a takeaway meal as you can at restaurants, especially when the purse-strings are tight but you still want a meal cooked for you,” said Just Eat’s CEO, David Buttress.

Video: Make a Rice Krispie 5-a-side football team with Annabel Karmel

Annabel Karmel reveals her favourite kids party food recipe

Learn how to make a Rice Krispie 5-a-side football team in under 6 minutes!

If you are like most parents, chances are you’ve got yourself into a real panic about cooking food for a children’s party. Well the worrying stops here! In a rare opportunity we caught up with nutritionist Annabel Karmel who in a step by step video guide shares one of her own recipes, a Rice Krispie Football team and football pitch! But don’t worry, although this might sound complicated, this guide is so easy to follow you certainly won’t get caught offside!

The best part about this recipe is that both you and the children can get involved, whether it’s mixing the ingredients together, cutting out footballers, or making the grass – there is an activity for kids of all ages. And seeing the fruits of their labours emerging gives kids a real sense of achievement. So what are you waiting for, click here and cook up a storm!

Watch Annabel’s video (part of Kellogg’s Big Bake) below:

Click anywhere on the window below to start watching the video. Please note that this is quite a large video, and if you are using a slow Internet connection it could take some time to begin playing, or may stop and start. If you’d prefer to download the whole video to watch offline, right-click on the “Download” link below and save the linked file to your computer’s hard drive

Download

Seven tips to beat the rising food shopping bill

A recent survey carried out by Organised Mum found that three-quarters of mums are spending at least £20 per week more on food, with 25% saying it’s at least £40 per week more.

When asked what measures families are taking to cut down weekly food bills, 59 per cent said they are taking greater care when planning meals and are generally trying to buy less, a further 22 per cent said they were buying the same products but have switched to cheaper own-brand versions and 19 per cent have even ditched their favourite supermarket for a cheaper alternative.

Sarah Sadler at Organised Mum commented, “More now than ever, families need to ensure they are getting value for money from what they spend on food each week, but focusing on what you buy is just as important as not overspending in the first place. Our survey has already revealed that people
are making changes to the way they shop and that they are prepared to look
at different ways of making cut backs if needed. A little bit of good old fashioned organisation and planning can also do wonders for your bank balance”.”

Here are Sarah’s seven tips for saving money on food:

1. Buy your free range eggs from local farms rather than the supermarket at around 75p for a dozen rather than £1.50 for half a dozen. Eggs are also very versatile and can make a great evening meal for the family.
2. Buy your meat from the supermarket “reduced” cabinets and freeze it for use at a later date.
3. Buy a bread making machine where you can make a loaf of bread for around 52p compared with a premium brand at around £1.20 per loaf. You get to wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread and it won’t have anywhere near as many preservatives in it, which can only be a good thing.
4. Change your lunch habits. Make your sandwiches at home in the morning before you leave for work, or do one single shop at the supermarket on a Monday morning and buy everything you need for your lunch that week. You will still save pounds over buying pre-packed sandwiches every day.
5. Look out for special offers at your supermarket, stock up on good deals – but don’t be tempted to overspend on something that you didn’t need. Stick to your list and only indulge in special offers if you need or will need the item anyway.
6. Take the time to sit down and make a weekly meal plan making sure that you include recipes that will use any food stuffs that are nearing their use-by-date. When making the list ensure that you have considered the week’s activities. For example, one of your children may be out at a sleepover and won’t require dinner that night. You can then use the meal plan to make a shopping list that makes sure you only buy the food you will need for that week’s meals.
7. Finally, the golden rules of shopping: don’t shop when you are hungry. Inevitably, if you food shop whilst hungry you are more likely to be tempted by the mouth watering delicacies on show.

These are by no means exhaustive ideas. What are your money-saving tips? How is your family being affected by the “credit crunch”? Share in the comments below.

Would you name your baby Brooklyn to get free pizza?

There are many different reasons why parents name a new-born baby the way they do, but pizza shouldn’t be one of them… should it?

In celebration of a style of pizza, Domino’s Pizza will throw a pizza party for every family that names their child Brooklyn this Friday, 29th February 2008.In addition, the family of the first child named Brooklyn born in the continental U.S. on Leap Day will receive $1,000 in pizza gift certificates.

Apparently, any spelling of the name will qualify – let’s just hope parents don’t go the whole hog in celebration of the company’s pizza and name their child BRKLYN.

“Leap Year babies beat the odds by being born on February 29, a day that rolls around only once every four years,” said Jenny Fouracre, Domino’s Pizza spokesperson. “We think they are very special and deserve a memorable birthday with a good story about how they were named. What a lucky group – they will be 10 when most people born the day before or after them are 40.”

Well, it takes all sorts. I’ve nothing against the name Brookyln itself, but surely there are other reasons to name your child than in an effort to score some free pizza?

What do you think?

Baking: the latest craze for kids?

According to a recent press release, there’s a foolproof way to keep their kids away from the computer and TV over Christmas.

Baking.

Sure, it’s an advert for “Whimsical Decoratifs”, a fancy brand name for American sprinkles, but statistics show that sales of baking ingredients – flour, icing sugar, decorative sprinkles, and baking powder – grew by 25% in the UK over the past year.

The press release is also keen to point out the educational benefits of baking, as well as pointing to celebrity chefs, including Tana Ramsey and Nigella Lawson, who extol the virtues of home baking.

Baking is not just a fun activity, but it can also be educational. Reading recipes aloud, and choosing and weighing ingredients help to develop reading and mathematical skills. Younger children can learn to tell the time to find out when the food is ready, and all children learn about patience in waiting for their cake or biscuits to bake in the oven. Most important of all, the act of cooking with a child bonds the family together and gives a powerful boost to your child’s self-confidence. Even very young children can get involved with baking, mixing ingredients or greasing trays.

So there you have it. Put away the Playstation and get baking. It’s what parents and kids have been doing for years.

Malnourished children could be saved with locally-made peanut butter food

A recent report by the United Nations aid agencies said that hundreds of thousands of badly malnourished children who don’t have access to hospital care could be saved with something as simple as locally-made peanut butter based food.

The appalling statistic is that around one million children die from malnutrition each year – that’s one child every thirty seconds.

Twenty million children under the age of 5 suffer from acute malnutrition.

The high-energy food, a paste-like composition of peanuts, milk, sugar and vegetable oil, costs as little as $3 per kg when produced locally. It requires no refrigeration or added water.

“When implemented on a large scale, and properly combined with hospital treatment for children with complications, community-based management of severe acute malnutrition could prevent the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children each year,” the U.N. aid agencies said.

(Yahoo News)

Little Helper Fun Pod: food, fun, and safety for toddlers in the kitchen

There are over 42,500 toddlers under the age of 5 who are taken to UK hospitals because of kitchen related accidents every year, and that number doesnÂ’t take into account the thousands of minor accidents that are remedied by a cuddle and a bit of TLC.

The Little Helper Fun Pod™ is an innovative new product that not only keeps toddlers out of harm’s way but also encourages them to get involved in the kitchen.The Fun Pod provides the toddler with a safely constructed platform, enabling them to see what’s happening in the kitchen, being able to interact with their parents, but without any danger of toppling over. Read more

Early learning of good eating habits requires good parental role model

Though it’s not groundbreaking news, the preschool years are the most important time for parents to teach about a healthy diet, by offering a variety of food choices, having regular meal and snack times, and modelling good health themselves.

“Parents face many feeding obstacles as their children reach 2 years old,” said Judith Levine, R.D., M.S. “A child’s appetite may decrease as growth slows, outside influences from television or other children start to impact a child’s food choices, and some children start to decline foods and beverages they once enjoyed as they start using utensils or switch from bottle to sippy cup.”

Read more

Next Page »