Aileen Cox Blundell
Founder, Baby Led Feeding
Feeding children feels overly complicated. Social media trends, conflicting advice and pressure to ‘get it right’ leave many parents second-guessing every mealtime decision.
As a busy mum, I know this feeling well. Over the past six years, I have been studying nutrition while working full-time, raising my children and trying (some days more successfully than others) to manage my own food and physical activity. I know just how hard it is to juggle it all. Here are some of my favourite easy wins to take the pressure off feeding your little ones.
Keep lunchboxes simple
Lunchboxes do not need to be Instagram-worthy to be great. Aim to include a portion of fruit or vegetables, a slow-release carbohydrate such as whole-grain bread, wrap or pasta, alongside a portion of protein, such as cheese, yoghurt, hard-boiled eggs or meat. Some days, a lunchbox will be demolished entirely. On other days, it will come home with just a few bites taken out of a sandwich, and that is okay. Keep offering, as exposure is what really matters.
Make fibre easy
Most children, like adults, are not eating enough fibre. Make changes slowly, such as swapping out white bread, rice and pasta for whole-grain alternatives. Sprinkle seeds (ground for smaller ones) on yoghurt and cereal. Add beans or lentils to a pasta dish or serve fruit instead of juice.
Most children, like adults,
are not eating enough fibre.
Prep once, eat twice
Cooking an easy double dinner is the ultimate timesaver. It can be as easy to make a double batch of pasta sauce or roast an extra chicken as it is to cook one. These leftovers can be turned into lunchbox fillers or frozen for a convenient dinner the following week with minimal stress.
Little eyes watch everything
As busy parents, the way we eat teaches our children about food more than anything else. Sitting down together, serving and eating a variety of foods and keeping mealtimes calm is incredibly important.
With simple meals, consistent routines and looking after yourself along the way, you are giving your little one exactly what they need and the best start in life.
