NICQUI GRANT FROM THE HEALTH & LIFESTYLE CONSULTANCY
MOM TO JAMES (SIX)
WHAT DOES YOUR SON EAT FOR BREAKFAST? James tells me that his favourite breakfast is Futurelife porridge. I offer him any number of high fibre cereals or porridges in the morning. Alternatively, I make scrambled egg, French toast or a fruit and yoghurt smoothie. We do have what I term “junk” cereals in the house (the highly sugared ones), but he is only allowed to have them as a topping to a healthy choice, for example, oats porridge topped with chocolate coated pops.
WHAT HAPPENS IF HE DOESN’T LIKE WHAT YOU’VE MADE FOR DINNER? If James does not like the dinner he is presented with he is encouraged to eat a little of everything – it’s not often that this is the case as he is quite an adventurous foodie. If he says he doesn’t like something it is usually because he does not like what it looks like, so once he has tasted it he sees that it is not so bad. Research has also shown that regular exposure to foods is what allows us to develop a palate for them. I am not one of those moms who will make him something else! I say this within reason though, as we’re all entitled to our own likes and dislikes.
WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE PARENTS MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO FEEDING THEIR CHILDREN? I’ve noticed moms generally believe that all the foods that are available on the market are safe for their children to consume. I’ve often seen children my son’s age being given energy drinks like Red Bull on the sidelines of rugby tournaments. But the bottom line is, these things are NOT designed or even proven safe let alone necessary for children. Unless your child is exercising at high intensity for more than 90 minutes at a time, water and perhaps a little carb snack is all that is needed. You are in control of the food choices your child is presented with, and so it’s important to make nutritious choices. Additives, colourants, flavourants are abundant in the foods on offer, so I encourage moms to choose convenience foods with the least number of E numbers in the ingredients list. Don’t be fooled by so-called heath foods either. Read labels, get educated and try your best to feed your family as close to nature as possible – if a food has an ingredients list it is processed to some degree.