Food - Parents Precinct

Food Lovers Friday is a first for Parent's Precinct. Every Friday I will post a tried and tested recipe guaranteed to please the family.

If you’re anything like me, the changing of the season has ensured that winter’s mundane rotation of warmers are done and dusted. I’m looking to feel inspired and reinvigorated about spring/summer meals and nothing beats discovering and sharing a new recipe to liven things up.

The first is possibly the most delicious Banana Bread you will ever try. Perfect for a picnic, garden party or lunchtime treat. On a side note, when I plan to make this I have to hide the four required bananas, as this favoured fruit does not last long in my house! But my forward planning is oh so worth it when I have this quick, easy and tasty treat as a welcome addition to everyone’s lunchbox.

Heather’s Banana Bread

250g plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
125g unsalted butter (soft)
250g caster sugar
4 ripe bananas mashed
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
175g chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 180 degrees

Sift flour and baking powder into a large bowl.

Mix butter, sugar, banana, eggs, vanilla and chocolate chips in a smaller bowl, then tip into dry ingredients and stir to combine (don’t over mix).

Tip into greased and floured 19cm x 11cm loaf tin and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes.

Cool in tin 5 minutes then tip onto wire rack to cool.

If you have a fabulous, favourite recipe that you’d like to share, feel free to send it through.

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Posted By: Prue DeAraugo - Category: Opinion, Food

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Getting your Child to eat a Balanced Diet

October 5th 2008 06:49

Trying to get your toddler to eat a healthy diet can be tricky at times. The key to avoid unhealthy eating habits is to encourage healthy eating from childhood. Child nutritionist Harriet Woroely suggests the following strategies to expose your child to a wider range of foods.

1. Allow your child to be part of the food preparation process. Research has shown that children are more likely to eat food they helped cook.

2. Don’t pressure your children to take a bite of everything. Children react negatively if they are pressured to eat, even if it is with a reward such as dessert. If Samantha doesn’t eat what she is offered I just take it away and let her out of her high chair. Toddlers can regulate their own appetite and as long as she is growing normally, I don’t stress. .

3. Don’t restrict any food group. We all want what we can’t have don’t we? Children are no different, if you restrict sweets and biscuits they want them more. It is common knowledge that if adults never allow themselves treats, they tend to binge eat. Children are the same. Teach them moderation.

4. Look at your own eating patterns. Children, especially girls, tend to look to their mother as a role model for eating behaviours. Don’t ever think your child doesn’t notice what you are doing, they are little sponges. They notice if you are not eating. In my experience, my daughter likes to eat what I am eating. She always looks over to my plate to see if it looks the same. If I am eating, she will too.

5. Serving vegetables with a bit of butter or dressing actually increases the release of the fat soluble nutrients so if that’s what you need to do to get your child to eat them don’t stress.

6. Never just assume your child won’t eat something. I remember one time I had spanakopita for lunch. I wrongly assumed she wouldn’t eat something with spinach and feta, and made her a marmite and cheese sandwich which she loves. That particular day though, she was more interested what was on my plate. I let her try some she loved it, and I ended up having to share it. Now when I buy spanakopita, or anything for that matter I always get enough for two!

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Posted By: Sara Dobson - Category: Food

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