Do you have an open pantry policy? If your kids are constantly raiding the fridge for snacks or begging for food between meals then this blog is for you. Feeding kids outside of planned meal and snack times is an easy habit to fall into. Perhaps you can relate to one...
I’m done with resolutions It’s January and most of the world is well into resolution making mode. We think the key to a better life is to make grand commitments to [get fit] [lose weight] [stop binge-watching Game of Thrones to catch up] ... yeah that one may have...
We asked Jessi Bruns, consultant Dietitian with Kids Dig Food to tell us a little about why she loves delivering workshops for Kids Dig Food... “There are so many reasons why I love delivering Kids Dig Food workshops” says Jessi. They are so much fun! I always have a...
Food is, for most adults, a loaded subject. The language we use to talk about food and our bodies has such great power to influence whether children grow to be confident and competent eaters. I have written this piece for early childhood educators, but it is 100%...
What is the first food you gave your baby, or that you plan to give your baby? Do you have traditions in your family about the first food a baby eats? An infant’s first taste of solid food is an exciting and special experience. For many families it is an important...
Have family meals become part of history rather than your routine? The research is clear that there are benefits associated with eating together as a family. The major obstacle of sharing a meal together is lack of time as families experience an increasing load of...
Love or hate it, Halloween is upon us again. For some, Halloween may seem to be an unnecessary celebration here in Australia. A night where kids load up on as many sweets and lollies as they can possibly manage whilst they really have no idea what Halloween is about....
Every week I see more and more children referred by doctors, health professionals and parents with concern about their child’s weight. When I first started my private practice a few years ago, I drew away from seeing these kids & families, mainly because I felt...
Lunchboxes — are they a source of frustration or inspiration for you? It’s lunchbox time again! No matter if you love or hate your kitchen, there is always a time when packing lunchboxes feels like a chore. When Miss 9 first started at child care many years ago, I was...
Kids eat food for different reasons than adults do. Kids eat food for very immediate reasons: because they are hungry because the food looks, smells and or tastes good to them because the food is familiar or favourite because it is easy to eat As much as we’d like...
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to send our children back in time? What would they do if they were expected to wash their own clothes, go outside to the “out-house” toilet, grow and pick food to eat and help make dinner? What’s changed in our food...
If you’re like many of our new clients, you probably have NO idea what to expect at your first consultation. Finding the right Dietitian for your child and family is like finding the right family doctor or hairdresser. It’s not a “one size fits all” kinda thing. Even...
How do we help kids learn to eat meat? I’ve been asked this question over and over by many a frustrated parent, carer and early childhood educator. Meat is one of the most difficult foods to learn how to chew and eat. It is a “hard mechanical” food that requires a...
Want to create mealtime harmony? Kids Dig Food dietitians enjoy helping families create positive family mealtimes. Often when clients first meet us, they are a bit surprised at what may seem at the beginning to be letting kids “do what they like” with food. What is...
A couple of years ago, I undertook a research project looking at supermarket food products that are specifically marketed or ‘designed’ for children. The results of this study were recently published and I would like to share some of the key findings with you....
I’ve really been trying hard to serve more “family-style” dinners lately. I often recommend this way of eating to my clients, but to be truthful it’s easy to stay in the rut of plated meals. I wanted to change that. What are family-style dinners? Family-style dinners...
It’s lunchbox time again! No matter if you love or hate your kitchen, there is always a time when packing lunch boxes feels like a chore. When Miss 8 first started at child care many years ago, I was incredibly hard on myself when packing her lunchbox. I tussled with...
At this time of year I find myself at more backyard BBQs and festive gatherings than usual. It can be a tough gig being a Dietitian around a buffet table. Anyone who doesn’t know me is inclined to think that I’ll be conducting a detailed analysis of their food...
When I started out feeding my child I was so concerned about the fact she wasn’t eating veggies and fruit that I started to get sneaky. I was drawn to cookbooks and recipes that taught me how to hide carrot in spaghetti bolognaise, pureed fruit in cakes and put...
Why OH why is dessert so appealing to kids? Two simple reasons: It tastes good. We make it so! The dessert battle happens in thousands of homes every night of the week. “Just one more bite and you can have the custard.” “If you don’t finish your veggies, there’s no...
“If only Alice would just taste it, I know she’d like it.” You’ve lovingly prepared a selection of delicious looking tasty treats. You’ve cut sandwiches into flowers, cheese into stars and the little plate of snacks is bursting with colour. You present it, and the...
Is your family dinner time a peaceful event of family togetherness or a battle zone? Your conversations at family mealtimes help to shape your kids’ experiences with food. Here are the top 3 things you never say to your kids at dinnertime and why... #1: You can’t...
Brisk mornings and cool nights... winter is all about warming comfort food. The problem is that comfort foods like stews and soup are often met with a resounding YUCK from young children. So how DO you get kids eating soup? I decided to embark on my own family...
You know what I mean, right? Foods with multiple ingredients mixed together like gorgeous stews, stir fries, curries, casseroles. Even the popular lasagne can sometimes get the thumbs down. This is a common, very normal and utterly frustrating (for parents) stage of...
