50 questions about pregnancy and food answered

The following is a list of common questions we get asked about what foods pregnant women can eat (obviously lots of dads are really worried about making sure their pregnant ladies are well catered for – and so they should :-) ).

1. Can pregnant women eat mushrooms?
   Yes certain mushrooms are absolutely fine to eat and many have healthy nutrients for pregnant women – more on mushrooms and pregnancy
   
2. What fruits can pregnant women eat?
   Almost all fruits and vegetables are good for pregnant women (and plenty of them) – check out the list of foods pregnant women can eat.
   
3. What foods pregnant women should not eat? What foods should pregnant women avoid?
   Any food that is not fresh and has been sitting on food counters for a while (e.g. pre-prepared sandwiches), any raw meats and fish and any foods with lots of stimulants (energy drinks, coffee, tea, etc) or alcohol.
   
4. Can pregnant women eat banana? Should pregnant women eat bananas?
   Absolutely – bananas are a rich source of Vitamin B and fibre. Check out the list of foods pregnant women can eat.
   
5. Can pregnant women eat lamb?
   Yes – as long as it is fresh and cooked well.
   
6. Can pregnant women eat grapefruit?
   Yes – grapefruit are a rich source of Vitamin C and fibre. Check out the list of foods pregnant women can eat.
   
7. Can pregnant women eat strawberries
   For sure – again another fruit packed with healthy ingredients.
   
8. Can pregnant women eat pineapple? What are the benefits of pineapple for pregnant women?
   Woman can eat pineapple during pregnancy no problem – other than the usual benefits of eating fresh fruit (i.e. vitamins) we are not aware of any specific benefits of eating pineapple during pregnancy. Some people mention laxative effects of pineapple (anecdotal information – not research based).
   
9. Asparagus and pregnancy? Can pregnant women eat asparagus?
   Yes – asparagus is fine to eat during pregnancy. As a green vegetable it has a lot of minerals and antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory and detoxing properties.
   
10. Are sunflower seeds safe to eat during pregnancy?
    Yes as long as they are fresh and have not been sitting in a bag for years.

Fuzzy eaters - try airfork one

Have just spotted the "Airfork One" for kids in a shop in LA and thought it was quite funny. Check it out - might be useful for fuzzy eaters who are really into planes! It's available from pretty much all online stores for about ten bucks.

Enjoy,

Stef

Christmas baking daddy style - 10 unusual cookie cutters

In many countries Christmas is a traditional time for cooking and baking. Cooking and baking with kids is of course a top activity and so here's some inspirations to liven up the cookie cutting (see below for a super simple recipe that you can use to make cookie cutter cookies).

50 Foods Every Pregnant Woman Should Eat (updated)

Re-blogging this article which was originally posted by us in 2010 - particularly useful for Christmas (and other festivites like Easter, Thanksgiving, etc that involve lots of eating and drinking). The following list is based on nutritional guidelines from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA's Food Pyramid), with specific boosts to certain nutrients (relevant for pregnant women) such as iron, folic acid, fiber, Vitamin C, protein, calcium, Vitamin A, magnesium, and a few others.

1. Iron Supplements
According to the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, normal, healthy pregnancy diets do not usually supply enough iron for the blood of both fetus and mother. Mayo Clinic recommends 27 milligrams a day for pregnant women.

2. Kidney Beans

Dino pasta

Here's another example of great innovation on the "food for kids" front ... Dinosaur Pasta. I can't believe nobody else thought of this earlier. Take two things lots of young kids like best and put them together - genius! The "Kids Pasta" range is made by a German pasta manufaturing company (Alb Gold) and is exported to lots of places around the world. So there's a good chance you'll be able to get it wherever you live (check out this store locator in the US).

Does it work?

Sequence of how baby teeth come out

Now that your little one is pushing out his or her first teeth are you wondering in what sequence baby teeth usually appear? Well - as it turns out the good people of the "Journal of American Dental Association" already did some research back in 1974 to answer exactly that question. The results of the research have led to an averaged out "eruption sequence" (i.e. the order in which teeth appear) for baby teeth.

[image by sedron.com]

Eruption Sequence of baby teeth (also called "Deciduous Teeth" or "Primary Teeth") in months after birth:

Gluten-free diet for kids - what the ...?

Do your eyes start to glaze over when you hear other parents and the media start talking about diets? Well The Gluten Free Diet is perhaps one you should get a little understanding of. The reason is that most kids (and adults) eat far too much wheat and wheat products, and you will be amazed which foods contain wheat that perhaps you never thought of. A gluten overload in children can lead to one or more of the following symptoms:

For young children
• abdominal bloating and pain
• chronic diarrhoea
• vomiting
• constipation
• foul-smelling stools
• weight loss

What is Gluten anyway?

Trick and treat

Here's a tip on giving your kids treats ... guilt-free! Get your hands on some gummy bear vitamins ... they are available in most pharmacies or even super markets (various brands). Check for age suitability and FDA approval etc - then give them to your children as a treat (usually about 1 - 2 a day - not more) . Most of the vitamin gummy bears taste just like other treats but they have the added bonus on supplying your kids with additional vitamins. This is especially useful in winter and the cold & flu seasons when it's sometimes hard to find fresh fruit&veg to supply vitamins.

We found this literally works 'a treat' with our little one!

Enjoy

-Stef

Weaning expert advice

Weaning wife extraordinaire!

I’m very proud of my wife for a variety of reasons - not only did she bring my two beautiful children into the world, but she also allowed me to buy two 42" TVs. But my most recent bosom-swelling moment came when my wonderful wife became the Plum Baby Food Mum of the Month.

Dawn is currently featured on the Plum web site where she shares some top tips for baby weaning. I can testify that she did a terrific job of weaning Henry & Harper and there is some really useful advice in the article. She also exclusively reveals that she’s happily married (to me), which certainly comes as a relief.

Check it out: plum-baby.co.uk

-Craig

Craig Alan Williamson writes for DIYFather and has authored the UK Edition of our eBook Baby on a Budget

Vegetable carving - or how to make fruit and veg interesting for kids

Check this out - super simple but I bet your kids will never look the same at a cucumber! Enjoy - Stef