Bayside Dietetics

12/03/2023

I loved researching this blog around the evolution of tastebuds in humans. Feel free to read.

Why has my child suddenly stopped eating broccoli?

The first thing to remember is that there is biology playing a big role. While all humans prefer sweet to bitter, this preference is strongest in children who need more energy to grow. Children have three times as many tastebuds as adults, and experience flavours more intensely. They are more sensitive to sweet and bitter than adults, and hence more likely to reject the bitter.

Bayside Dietetics

https://kiddipedia.com.au/why-has-my-child-suddenly-stopped-eating-broccoli/

21/02/2023

COOKIE RECIPE
High in fibre and omega 3

1. Blend 90g toasted walnuts and 50g rolled oats until crumbly.
2. Mix in with a further 50g rolled oats, 100g wholemeal flour, 50g white flour, 100g chocolate chips or sultanas, 1 tsp bicarb soda, 1/2 tap salt and 6 tbsp sugar.
3. Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients: 2 tsp vanilla essence, 6 tbsp oil (use 2 tbsp flaxseed and 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil for great health properties).
Form into cookies and bake 13 mins at 180 degrees. Enjoy!

21/02/2023

I noticed this new oil on the shelves of the supermarket. Flaxseed oil is high in Omega 3 fats. While the benefits don't seem to be as great as for omega 3 from fish sources, this provides a good opportunity for vegetarians and vegans to increase their Omega 3 intake and reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.
It had a strong flavour so I played around on how it can be included...
While it says it can be used as a slad dressing I found the flavour too strong.
The kids accepted it as pita chips however. These can be made by drizzling oil over pita bread then sprinkling with salt or chicken salt and toasting in the oven.
It also worked as the oil in baking these cookies. Recipe in a new post :)

18/10/2022

If mealtimes are feeling a little low on family connection or enjoyment, here are eight ideas to stimulate the family to laugh and engage together. Using them at mealtimes may help to change the mealtime vibe closer where you’d like it to be.


Bayside Dietetics

https://kiddipedia.com.au/eight-ideas-for-creating-engaging-mealtimes-for-your-family/

01/09/2022

I've written a blog for Kiddipedia on a question that crosses the mind of many of us as parents. I hope you find it takes away some pressure on your role as a parent by allowing food to be a joy. Sarah

I can still see the love in the room when Sophie* sat down between her parents in my clinic. She was now twelve and having a significant struggle with food. Her parents were both devastated by the change in Sophie over time as she’d become more focusses on food and they both joined our first sessi...

05/08/2022

Did you know... Australian food laws require companies to disclose exactly how much of an characterising ingredient is in a product. For example, "strawberry jam" (such as this jar) will show you how much, in percentage, strawberry is actually in the jam. Same goes for something like cocoa solids in chocolate. You'll find the information about the percentage in the ingredients list.
That can help you make decisions around food. I had a quick look at jams this week and found a range of 40-53% fruit. Most of us will already know about the range of cocoa solids in chocolate, ranging from around 25% to 95%!

05/08/2022

What can we make of high fibre pastas? These pastas contain added oat fibre, which is generally a better tolerated option for children than the pulse and lentil pastas available. The added fibre in the pasta I've pictured is almost as significant as changing from white to wholemeal bread in a sandwich. The downside? Added cost. Also a very slightly firmer texture.
In summary, this pasta can provide an easy and generally accepted way to boost your child's fibre intake, but will cost you slightly more.
Note, there are protein pastas available in this brand, but most children will eat enough protein and fibre needs are typically less likely to be met.
Nil sponsorships to declare.

27/07/2022

For the first time, you may be asking yourself whether buying vegetables is really worth it at the moment. We know that eating a range of coloured vegetables will boost our immune system, which seems pretty important as our immunity continues to be challenged by Covid and winter bugs. However, we are being asked to pay more for fresh supermarket vegetables. Alongside other increasing costs, how can we afford to continue to buy the range of vegetables our families need? Consider frozen vegetables. A quick scan of my local supermarket priced most between $4 and $8 per kilogram, which is the price range we are more familiar with for vegetables. Be reassured that frozen vegetables are as nutritious as fresh vegetables due to recent techniques to freeze soon after picking, known as "snap frozen". Taste? Well that's in your court but there is a good chance that the more modern versions will be readily accepted by your family. Here's fish tacos using some of the pre-cut vegetable options available. If I reflect, frozen vegetables turned this into an easy weeknight meal. Hope all is well at your place. Sarah

09/02/2022

Yummy healthy lunchbox series
#2 Frozen fruit

Frozen fruit is amazing on many levels. Most importantly it can make fruit more appealing by changing the sensory experience of fruit break. Some kids may simply love the variety that frozen fruit provides while others may prefer the frozen texture, the reduced odour and texture of fruit when it's frozen, or respond to a more colourful snack.

Frozen fruit is full of vitamins and antioxidants to help the body function well. Different colours in fruits typically mean different nutrients and you might find frozen fruit allows you to explore some different colours for your child.

It's also an easy and economical snack. Grapes and berries are more affordable now and the way to make this last is to buy now and freeze. You can buy fruit on the weekend and make up ready to go Tupperware packs for the week that you store directly in the freezer. Alternatively, empty yoghurt containers can hold ready to go fruit in bulk.

Almost all fruit can be frozen including bananas, oranges and kiwi fruit.

Enjoy!

05/02/2022

Yummy healthy lunchbox series.
#1 Homemade pita chips.

These use just 3 ingredients and are a less processed and higher fibre alternative to crackers, chips, potato sticks etc. for the school lunchbox. They provide plenty of energy to help your child through the school day. Pack them by themselves as a snack or for lunch alongside some hommus, cheese or tuna.

To make:
Simply rub oil and an optional sprinkle of salt onto pita bread (ideally use wholemeal pita for more fibre - this is one option for wholemeal that kids seem to readily accept). Then cut pita into triangles and bake in the oven until crisp.
Allow to cool.

Pita chips done on Sunday or Monday should last in a sealed container for most of the school lunch week.

08/11/2021

The ingredients of lactose free milk? Just milk with an added enzyme that does the work to digest the milk a little before you drink it. It's a little sweeter but that is just a side effect of the digestion. It doesn't contain any added sugars.
It's a great option on a low lactose diet because of all the natural calcium.