2020-06-01_Mother_&_Baby

EATING

My 20-month-old

absolutely adores toast.

What different things can I add

to it to make sure she is getting

a varied and healthy diet?

Alison Collisson, Leeds

Toast can be a great vehicle for foods your
daughter might not otherwise eat. Basic
toppings include cheese and houmous, but
with a little extra effort you can really widen
her diet. We’re all encouraged to eat moreoily
fish, pulses, nuts and seeds – assuming no
allergies of course. Why not try sardines
mashed with cream cheese and tomato purée?
It is easy to prepare and packed with omega-3
for brain and eye development. Peanut butter
and banana on toast are good for breakfast,
or use almond or other nut and seed butters
as an alternative. Other easy options include
scrambled egg, tuna, and avocado. Add some
chopped cherry tomatoes, or cooked carrot,
or green beans on the side, and you havea
wide range of simple but nutritious meals.RC

Q

My 10-month-oldoftengets a bit constipated.What are

the best ways of getting him to eat more fibre?

Kerry Stratford, Birmingham

Constipation can make babies

re allymiserable and puts them

off their food, but thereare

several things that mighthelp

your tot. First, be awarethat

though high-fibre breakfast

cereals and brown riceand

pasta are recommendedfor

adults, they can be toobulkyfor

babies, and their digestivesystem

can’t cope. Instead, tryofferinghim

plenty of fruit and veg.Pearsandprunes

are particularly good for gettingthings

moving. You can either buy tinned

prunes in juice and mash them,ordried

prunes, which you can cookwith

chopped pears or apples tomake a

purée. And it’s important thathehas

plenty to drink – give him waterin a

free-flowing baby cup with everymeal,

and in between too, especiallyin warm

weather. Movement can alsohelp, sotry

lying your baby on his back andgently

move his legs as if he’s ridinga bicycle.

If things don’t improve, talk toyourGP

or health visitor, as laxativesmay be

needed to get him back on track.RC

How many snacks should a two-year-old have

each day? And can you suggest some go-to

options to reach for between meals?

Vicky Boland, Warrington

Two-year-olds can be

very busy and may not

get all of the nutrients

they need from three

meals, so they should

also have two snacks a

day. It’s not good to

have treats like crisps

or biscuits every day.

Even snack foods

targeted at babies are

intended as occasional

treats only. Instead, go

for vegetables like

cooked broccoli or

cauliflower florets,

carrot sticks or green

beans. If you cook

extra when making

dinner, they can be

ready in the fridge to

grab at snack time.

Fruit is great; try half a

banana, a few slices of

tinned peach, or some

grapes cut in half. Or,

for a change, raisins or

other dried fruit. Also

try cubes of cheese,

pieces of cold potato,

and fingers of plain

toast or pitta. RC

Q

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motherandbaby.co.uk | June 2020 | 69

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