Suitable from 10 months.
Dairy free.
Gluten free/wheat free.
Freezes.
Makes 6 cookies.
Keeps in an airtight container for 5 days.
Ingredients:
Method:
Pre-heat oven to 180 Degrees Celsius
Eat meals with your toddler where possible. Children learn from watching adults. If your toddler is always eating alone, she will get bored quickly, lose interest in her food and ask to get down from the table before she has eaten enough. If you can eat at least one meal a day together, she will develop a positive association with mealtimes, be less prone to attention seeking behaviour, more likely to try new foods if you are eating them at the same time.
Most toddlers have one meal a day where they eat really well. Capitalize on this by offering the most nutritious foods at the mealtime your toddler will be the most receptive.
Avoid filling your toddler up with high calorie snacks. The calorie requirement for a 2-year-old is 1000 to 1400 calories per 24 hours. 1 or 2 processed snacks a day filled with empty calories could mean she simply is not going to have an appetite for fruit or vegetables. Mid-morning snacks need to be small but nutritious.
Share healthy snacks with your toddler to encourage healthy eating. Slice an apple thinly, add a few raisins. Sit together and share. It’s not just about the food, the positive interaction with an adult at snack time will encourage healthy food habits.
Offer milk as drink first thing in the morning, with breakfast and at teatime. Keep your toddler hydrated during the rest of the day with water. Children who drink and fill up on milk throughout the day will not have an appetite at mealtimes.
Let your toddler play with her food. Children who have not been allowed to touch their food through the weaning stage, to get messy or have been wiped clean excessively during mealtimes can be prone to food phobia. Make one meal a day full of finger foods with healthy home-made dips, encouraging your toddler to be hands on and get a little messy.
Some young children are sensitive to new foods and reluctant to try them. Try introducing a couple of new healthy foods at a time. Show the new food to your toddler before you cook it, tell her what it is called and why its good to eat. Ask her to hold and smell the new food before and after it’s cooked. If she does not feel under pressure, she may be more interested in trying something new.
Bring something healthy for your child to eat after nursery. She will be grateful and happy to tuck into a helping of crudités or grapes after a busy day.
Keep your fruit bowl full. If there are healthy delicious foods within view and available day to day your toddler will become accustomed to eating them at snack time.
Do not make food an issue. Sit with your child while she is eating but try not to constantly cajole her. You will find she is more inclined to eat what you have prepared if you just chat about your day or make conversation about things she can relate to.
Suitable from 24 months.
Dairy & Gluten free.
Keeps 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.
Ingredients:
Method:
Suitable from 24 months.
Dairy & Gluten free.
Keeps 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.
Ingredients:
Method:
Suitable from 18 months.
Makes 20 hearts or balls.
Dairy & Gluten free.
Freezes
Ingredients:
Method:
I contacted Mel when I was at my lowest ebb with my 5 month old son who had been waking every 30 mins throughout the night for months on end. I was exhausted and frustrated as I’d researched so many things but nothing worked and I was overwhelmed with contradictory information online or from others.
I honestly can’t thank Mel enough. Her knowledgeable, kind, understanding and non-judgmental approach had me at ease instantly. Mel will work with each family differently (I have an older daughter too so what we did had to not disturb her routine either) for a completely tailor-made solution with practical and easy tips to try.
Mel’s advice worked complete wonders for us and she had my little boy sleeping through within no time. Her aftercare is lovely too. I love how Mel still checks in on us from time to time to see how we’re all doing! I would (and have) recommended Mel to any friend going through any kind of issue with their little ones. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done without her! Thank you Mel xx
Suitable from 12 months.
Wheat, Dairy & Gluten free.
Keeps 4/5 days in a cool place or freezes.
Ingredients:
Pre heat oven to 200c
Line a medium loaf tin with baking parchment
Leave to cool thoroughly before slicing & serve with your toddlers favourite topping, on the day you bake it. This can be frozen in slices & makes a crunchy whole food toast.
Suitable from 12 months.
4 to 5 portions.
Dairy & Gluten free.
Freezes.
Keeps 5 days in the fridge
Ingredients:
Place the grated vegetables and apple into a heavy bottomed frying pan with a cup of boiling water. Steam fry but stirring intermittently until the contents is cooked and soft. You may need to top up a little more water as you cook. Add the tomatoes, tomato puree, cinnamon, paprika and pepper Simmer together for ten minutes. The sauce can be blended for food sensitive children or left chunky. Serve with pasta, as an ingredient in soups and stews, lasagna or as a pizza topping. Portion up into freezer safe containers and freeze
Suitable from 12 months.
4 to 5 portions.
Dairy & Gluten free.
Freezes.
Keeps 3 days in the fridge.
Ingredients:
Place all the ingredients into a blender and blend well. Pour into a heavy bottomed saucepan on medium heat. Heat while stirring continuously unto the mixture thickens and gently bubbles. Allow to cool before serving.
Suitable from 12 months.
10 portions.
Suitable for home freezing.
Ingredients:
Pre heat oven to 180c
Line a 20cm cake tin with baking parchment
Place the ground oats, ground almonds, baking powder, corn flour and coconut into a bowl and combine together. Add the mango puree, stir together. The mixture will froth quite quickly. Pour the mixture into the lined cake tin and place into the oven. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until the top is firm to the touch and springs back slightly when you press gently on the top. Allow to cool before removing from the tin. Cut into 10 equal pieces. Serve with PUMPKIN CUSTARD or a spoon of coconut yogurt. This would be a great pudding or a picnic/packed lunch snack.