A Babyology favourite brand has released its latest gadget, which is set to slot very nicely into its brilliant breastfeeding collection, storage and feeding system.

We get such a huge response from Babyologists every time we feature the ingenious Kiinde system, and with just cause. It gives breastfeeding mums a complete system that takes the fuss out of expressing, storing and then feeding your child breast milk.

The latest addition to the Kiinde range is the Kozii – which is a breast milk warmer. It works as fast as steam, but is as safe as tap water and as easy as using the microwave (which of course, you cannot do with breast milk).

The Kozii has been designed to follow guidelines that stipulate how to thaw and warm breast milk. The Kozii uses a low temperature water bath that is suitable for use with all bottle and bag brands. It’s designed to avoid the creation of hotspots, and only gets as warm as tap water. It’s available from Kiinde for $99.95, plus postage.

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As parents we often tell our children not to play with their food – but here’s an idea that’s set to turn that on its (Mr Potato) head. 

As part of France’s Open Toys project, the seed of an idea was born – using material waste to create toys by using 3D printing small accessories. From that initial idea spawned thoughts of using everyday objects – even food, to create toys, and make things like fruit and vegetables a little more exciting to children.

It’s a new take on Mr Potato Head, if you like, but a very clever one. Allowing children to get used to the feel and texture of fruits and vegetables, enjoy creating with them, and then hopefully eat them.

Le FabShop now has free downloadable Open Toys files on four 3D printing platforms including YouMagine and Cults 3D.

There are also some more detailed instructions on how to create the 3D printables at Instructables.

The post The cool 3D printables that let kids play with their food appeared first on Babyology.

I can hear parents across the globe letting out a collective sigh as they lay eyes on this cup. Simple it may be, but it saves so much washing up. An end to the dirty cup pile-up – hallelujah! By the way, this cup also helps foster independence in children – but we thought the less washing part was of utmost importance. Come and see where you can grab one… or ten…

We all know how annoying it can be to constantly be asked for a drink – almost as annoying as the never-ending pile of cups in the sink. This product eliminates all of that, and helps kids learn to be a little more independent.

In the short time between discovering this brilliant idea on Kickstarter, and writing up this post, the PhillUp cup has smashed its funding goal. So that means a first production will go ahead, and if you’re quick you can snatch up the last few pledge places, which will give you a discount on the cup – it’s a win-win!

Of course we knew this would be a brilliant product when we saw Puj is behind it – we’ve previously featured the brilliant Puj Tub. This latest offering – the PhillUp cup, is truly genius. A simple suction hook attaches to the fridge or any smooth surface, and the cup hangs on the hook via a loop.

The hook attaches using 3M adhesive, so there’s no concern with damaging the surface when you want to remove it. The cup is made from silicone and food-safe, non-leaching polypropylene. And it’s dishwasher safe. I’m not seeing any negatives here!

As mentioned before, if you want to grab a PhillUp cup at a discounted price, get over to Kickstarter before February 14. If you pledge US$8 or more you get one PhillUp and hook set, or for US$15 or more you can get two. For US$30 you can snap up a family set, which includes four cups and hooks, and of course postage to Australia is on top of those prices.

The post PhillUp – the world’s first hangable kids’ cup appeared first on Babyology.

Some things are completely unnecessary – but they make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, so that actually makes them completely necessary. Like this adorable tea bag holder – who doesn’t need a polar bear brewing their cuppa?

At Babyology we pride ourselves in quality writing. Descriptive, emotive language used to explain a product to our readers. But in all honesty, these beautiful images really do all of the talking. Not to do myself out of a job – but  the Shirokuma Tea Bag Holder is simply a sight to behold.

It’s nothing more than a porcelain polar bear, perched atop his icy lair, fishing with a tea bag. But my goodness it’s stunning! And children, of course will be totally enamoured by your brewing cuppa. That doesn’t mean they’ll let you drink it in peace, or even while it’s hot. But they will enjoy the sublime little spectacle that is the tea bag being dunked by a polar bear.

Alas, we do have some bad news – the Shirokuma Tea Bag Holder is currently sold out. But if you follow the Tokyo-based Necktie on Facebook, you’ll be the first to know when they’re available again.

The post The Shirokuma Tea Bag Holder – the cutest way to brew a cuppa appeared first on Babyology.

Welcome to the future folks – we’re introducing you to a  kids’ drinking cup that automatically seals itself to prevent spillage. It’s a very clever design, that will spell the end to that age-old problem of spilled drinks. Prepare to have your minds blown!

There’s really nothing else to name a cup with  such extraordinary powers – the aptly-named Wow Cup has arrived in Australia, and here’s everything you need to know about it.

Most parents have an entire cupboard dedicated to sippy cups which promised us they wouldn’t leak, but all proved too weak to withstand our children. Until now. Here’s possibly the only cup your kids will ever need – and it manages to automatically seal itself after every sip, without the need for plugs or spouts.

Nice Pak really have wowed us with the innovative Wow Cup which comes with the spill-saving Even-Seal drinking edge. This edge is so clever, you can drink anywhere along the rim and it will still remain spill-free. The cup is really simple for kids to use, and they’ll get the hang of it in no time. They just drink normally, using a gentle sucking motion. After drinking, the membrane edge seals itself until another sip is taken. Take a look at the video to see it in action:

It’s a great cup to help transition kids, without the need for spouts or openings. And if they drop it, knock it or shake it – not a drop will spill. Recommended for children over 12 months, the Wow Cup is BPA and Phthalate free, and made from safe, food-grade plastic. 

The three piece system is dishwasher (top rack only) and fridge safe, and the lids are interchangeable. The Wow Cup costs $12.99 and is available from selected Coles and leading baby stores. To find a stockist near you, call Nice Pak Products on 1800 506 750.

(This is a sponsored post for Nice Pak Products)

The post It’s the non-spill Wow Cup for kids from Nice Pak! appeared first on Babyology.

Think filling your child’s lunch box with interesting foods every day is a challenge? Imagine what it’s like for mums of these Japanese students, whose lunches more resemble works of art than a schooltime snack.

BBC’s Close-Up asked children to open up their bento boxes – and what it found was extraordinary. No plain sandwiches, crackers or cheese in sight – instead they use ingredients such as rice, fish, tofu, veggies, sesame seeds and seaweed to create cartoon characters, animals, teddy bears, people’s faces and other pictures.

The lunches can take a couple of hours to put together and some parents even take classes to learn how to make them look as good as they no doubt taste. One mum tells the program expectations among parents and kids are getting higher. “I feel pressure,” she says. Here’s why:

Of course, you may want to mix up your child’s lunch box without the added pressure of getting arty. Last month we asked readers on our Facebook page for some school lunch inspiration. If you need any ideas, here’s what they told us:

Sandwiches: A perennial favourite in Australian lunch boxes, but there’s no need to stick to plain old cheese, Vegemite or jam. Egg and lettuce was a popular suggestion, or tortilla or coconut wraps for something a little different.

Leftovers: From roast chicken and veg to more adventurous tikka masala or butter chicken with rice, many parents made the most of the previous night’s excess food. A good tip was to freeze a juice pack and use it as an ice block to keep the food cool until lunch time.

Japanese flavour: You may not have the time or ingredients to get as creative as the mums in this video, but many kids love sushi or rice paper rolls.

Savoury: Try homemade mini pizzas, zucchini slice, savoury muffins (bacon and cheese; chive and cheese; ham and cheese), pizza pinwheels and quiche (e.g. chicken and vegetable or bacon and spinach). One mum suggests sending kids to school with pasta and a can of tuna for an easy, nutritious meal. For snacks, try rice or plain crackers, pretzels, Shapes, cheese cubes or sticks, prawn crackers or popcorn.

Sweet: Schools encourage healthy eating, but that doesn’t mean kids shouldn’t have a treat every now and then. Try homemade oat bars, apple mini-muffins or choc chip and banana bread, or a muesli or apricot bar, sultanas, dried fruit, Tiny Teddies or mini wafer biscuits. And of course, yoghurt is an easy and healthy option (just watch out for sugar-laden packets).

Fruit: Most kids love fruit, so send a variety each week – apples, plums, grapes, bananas, cherries, cantaloupe, watermelon or mango will give their little tastebuds some variety.

Veggies: Raw veggies can go down well, such as capsicum strips, cucumber, lettuce, carrot, cherry tomatoes. Pair them with homemade dips such as hummus for some extra nutritional value.

What’s in your child’s lunch box? Tell us below.

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Welcome to day 11 of Prizeapalooza. Today’s prize is designed for food on the go – and with our fine summer weather, it’s a perfect prize for families on the move outdoors!

Reusable food pouches are such an awesome way to package your homemade goodies with no mess and no fuss – the entire range is BPA free, lunchbox and kid friendly – and good news folks, we have not one, but three Summer Gift Packs to give away from Cherub Baby, valued at $103.75 each!

Each Summer Gift Pack includes a Cherub Baby Insulated Cooler Bag containing a pack of ten On The Go Reusable Food Pouches with bonus spoon, a very clever On The Go Food Pouch Warmer & Cooler that requires no electricity or batteries, plus two sets of the all new 50 pack Reusable Freeze n’ Squeeze Ice Pop Pouches – that’s a whole summer’s worth of ice-blocks right there!

To enter, simply fill in the form below, telling us what other two Cherub Baby products would be welcome in your kitchen for when you need to feed on the go! You have seven days and entries close at midnight, 17 February, 2015. Australian residents only.

For full details, see our Terms and Conditions.

The post Win a Cherub Baby reusable food pouch prize pack – Prizeapalooza day 11 appeared first on Babyology.

What looks like a Thermos, is the brain-child of a mum, and was designed by an aerospace engineer? Give up? It’s the latest gadget for warming and thawing breastmilk, of course!

The Nutto Mama’s Milk Warmer goes one step further than running a bottle of expressed breastmilk under the tap.

Just fill Mama’s Milk Warmer with warm tap water – it’s designed to retain the heat. This means it’s perfectly portable for heating milk on the go. It’s large enough to fit most bottles and bags, and has bristles on the inside that will hold containers in place.

The insulated stainless steel will maintain the heat, so the milk will be heated or thawed without too much of a wait. It’s priced at US$29.98, plus shipping to Australia.

The post Easy breastmilk heating & thawing with the Nutto Mama’s Milk Warmer appeared first on Babyology.

The world’s getting smaller and that has brought a whole range of international cuisines to our fingertips. But while our lunches and dinners may be taking on a more exotic flavour, we seem to be steadfastly sticking to old favourites for one meal – breakfast. Our kids still grow up on Corn Flakes and toast. But what happens if they venture outside the comfort zone? Take a look.

A couple of months ago we looked at a fascinating story in The New York Times Magazine that featured children across the world eating their favourite breakfast dishes. They included natto, a Japanese fermented soybean dish that “smells like canned cat food”, and a Turkish brekky of honey and clotted cream on toast, olives, fried eggs with spicy sausage, white radish and a red pepper paste.

Well, Cut – which brought us the adorable video of kids learning about the birds and the bees – has taken the concept a little further, using it as inspiration for a new project. Its new video shows American youngsters trying breakfasts from other countries, including salmon on bread from Finland, kim chi from Korea, coffee from Brazil and chocolate sprinkles on bread from the Netherlands. No prizes for guessing which one went down the best among the kids!

As you can see, some of the reactions are priceless. “Oh my gosh,” says one boy of his Japanese feast, “I just found a dead fish in it. That is gross.” (To his credit, he tries it anyway.) “This doesn’t look like breakfast to me,” says a girl of a century egg from Vietnam. “It kind of has a portable toilet smell and also a rotten egg smell,” adds another boy.

What’s on kids’ plates has been under the microscope in the US recently. Health education program Sweetgreen recently unveiled a project comparing American children’s school cafeteria lunches with those of other countries – and viral website Upworthy said the results “should embarrass the US”. Take a look at some of the examples below and you’ll see why.

How do you think these compare with Australian breakfasts and school lunches? Are your kids adventurous when it comes to food?

The post Video: Kids taste-test breakfasts from around the world appeared first on Babyology.

The frozen berries health scare has sparked alarm across Australia, but it’s also shining a very bright light on confusing food labels and where our food comes from. Read on to find out more about the berry recall, who is at risk and – for parental peace of mind  – a list of made in Australia snacks and foods to feed your children.

Thirteen people across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia have now contracted hepatitis A, believed to be linked to raspberries in several Nanna’s frozen products. The virus that causes hepatitis A spreads when it enters the mouth, which can happen when hands, food or other objects are contaminated with faeces of a person with hepatitis A.

Health authorities expect the number of cases to grow – and The Australian reports today that thousands of children at 34 Victorian schools, nine schools and childcare centres in South Australia and three Queensland schools are being monitored after eating berries involved in the alert. They are anxiously awaiting the 15 to 50 days it takes for the infection to show up.

Victorian distributor Patties Foods has recalled four products:

• 1kg packs of Nanna’s Frozen Raspberries with best before dates until September 15, 2016;
• 1kg packets of Nanna’s Mixed Berries (best before dates until November 22, 2016);
• Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries 300g packets (best before dates until December 10, 2017);
• 500g of Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries (best before dates until October 6).

Consumer rights advocacy group Choice has called for new rules on food labels to clarify exactly where products come from. Policy and campaigns adviser Katinka Day says people should be able to make informed choices about food.

“One of the products in the latest recall, Creative Gourmet Mixed Berries, is listed on the Coles website as being ‘Packed in Australia using imported fruit’. This is totally meaningless when it comes to the country of origin of the fruit inside the pack,” she says.

“It’s time to give consumers the information they want, remove the information they don’t, and test the way we label our food to make sure it’s meaningful.”

So what should you buy?

Like all parents, the hepatitis A scare – and revelations the berries were grown in one of China’s most polluted provinces – has worried all of us here at Babyology. So we set out to find snacks for kids that are made in Australia, with local produce.

I took a trip to my local supermarket to find truly Australian-made products – and it was eye-opening, to say the least. After almost two hours of searching, I only found a handful of goods without imported ingredients.

The most worrying thing is that it’s actually really hard to tell. Often packaging is emblazoned with bold “Made in Australia” tags – but look closer and all is not quite as it seems. When you eventually find the fine print, which can be on the bottom or side of the packet instead of with the ingredients list, it actually says “made from local and imported ingredients”. And then there’s no telling where it’s made.

Just because it’s made in Australia doesn’t mean it’s Australian produce; and just because it’s an Australian company doesn’t mean it’s made in Australia. But it doesn’t have to be owned by an Australian company to be made in Australia.

And to make it even more confusing, some brands have totally Australian lines alongside similar products made from imported ingredients. For example, snack packs of Sunbeam Australia sultanas are completely Australian made and grown, but not the sultana and apple or sultana and cranberry varieties.

Most disappointing was the lack of Australian-only product in the baby and toddler food aisle. All bar a couple included imported ingredients. Many yoghurts and kids’ snacks contain fruit, which producers say is difficult to buy in large quantities locally, according to News Corp Australia.

Rafferty’s Garden is among popular baby food producers to use local and imported ingredients. On its Facebook page, the company says it sources its berries from different locations because of seasonality: “But we can assure you that none of the berries in our Rafferty’s Garden products are sourced from Chile or China. We also ensure that our berries are heat-treated at high temperatures to eliminate any risk of process contamination and to ensure our products are safe to eat.”

To the very best of our knowledge, here are some of the products made in Australia, with local ingredients:

• Golden Valley Australian peaches, apricots, pears, fruit salad (snack tubs)
• Cobs Natural Popcorn
• SPC Little Tub of Apple Puree
• SPC My Daily Fruit tubs
• Coles Australian pear slices in juice, pink lady apple slices (snack tubs)
• SPC Aussie-Made baked beans or spaghetti tins
• Heinz baked beans tins
• Rosella tomato soups
• Sunbeam Australia sultanas
• Cheese – all types of Bega, Coon, Nimbin, Devondale
• Mainland Munchables
• Kraft Philadelphia cheese
• Heinz Little Kids macaroni and meatballs, spaghetti bolognaise, chicken and pumpkin rice
• Devondale Smoothies tetra packs
• Kurrajong Kitchen Lavosh Bites
• Baby-O organic puree pouches
• Sakata rice crackers
• Vegemite Cheesybite Snackabouts
• Vegemite

If you know of any more, let us know below. But my tip – go for homemade snacks with fresh fruit, veggies and eggs bought from local farmers’ markets or directly from producers at the farm gate. Not only will you know exactly where everything comes from, but you’ll be supporting local farmers and small businesses too. Or even better, get out in the garden and grow your own!

The recalled frozen berries are sold mainly in Woolworths, Coles and IGA supermarkets. Anyone with queries can phone Patties Foods on 1800 650 069.

The post The berry health scare and safe Australian made snacks for kids – what parents need to know appeared first on Babyology.

When is a soup ladle not a soup ladle? When it’s the Loch Ness Monster, of course!

Food should be fun – especially when it comes to kids. We just love this cute critter, who gives simple soup a lift – literally!

The Ototo Nessie Ladle is pretty self-explanatory. Yes, it’s a soup ladle. But to kids, it’s a creature of the deep. Don’t believe in Nessie? What’s not to believe – there she is poking her head out of the soup dish.

Made from toughened nylon, the Nessie Ladle has proved so popular, it’s sold out, with stock not available until late May. You can register your interest in purchasing a Nessie Ladle with Animi Causa – it costs US$15.99, with free worldwide shipping.

The post What’s that lurking in the soup? It’s just a Nessie Ladle! appeared first on Babyology.

Mealtimes with kids are never easy. There is the inevitable fussy eating stage, the complaining about food stage, the arguments about how many more bites are acceptable and, of course, the spills and mess. Today’s Prizeapalooza prize may just solve some of these mealtime issues.

There is a stage in your child’s life, and depending on how tall they are this could go from about two until eight or so, where they are far too big to use a high chair but too short to sit properly at the table. One of the many mealtime battles (this time the ‘sit properly in your chair’ battle) can be so simply alleviated with the Toosh Coosh Big Kid Booster, and luckily for you, there are three Mega Mealtime Packs from Toosh Coosh up for grabs.

Toosh Coosh have a range of products to make mealtimes less stressful for families. The Toosh Coosh Big Kid Booster seats are such a simple, yet clever design. As you can see from the name, they are dinner time boosters for big kids, with no need for straps. Simply place the booster on your regular dining chair, and you child is ready to sit properly at the table with you.

Also included in the Mega Mealtime Pack is the new Toddler Tray, designed specifically to contain food mess and drink spills, a particular bug bear of mine (though my dog does enjoy the odd food spill!). The three lucky winners will also get a copy of ‘Mealtimes without Mayhem – The Easy to Follow how to Guidebook to Happier and Healthier Family Mealtimes’

All three prize packs are valued at $100 each. To enter, simply fill in the form below telling us how many colours the Toosh Coosh boosters come in and why you need one. The competition runs for seven days and entries close March 3, 2015. Open to Australian residents only.

For more details, please be sure to read our Terms and Conditions.

The post Win a mega mealtime pack from Toosh Coosh – Prizeapalooza day 25 appeared first on Babyology.

Are peanuts the answer to curbing the explosion of peanut allergies? It may sound nuts, but a landmark new study is saying exactly that.

Four years ago, health officials began advising Australian parents to introduce all sorts of foods – including common allergens such as peanuts, wheat, egg, sesame and soy – to babies as early as four to six months old.

But Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia president Maria Said says for years beforehand, parents were told to avoid exposing infants to those foods – and that has left its mark.

“There is a bit of resistance because parents are petrified of giving their kids nuts because they’ve heard of all these horror stories,” she says. “We even have health professionals who are worried. We have people sitting in hospital car parks to expose their kids to the major allergens.”

In fact, US parents are still told to steer clear of peanuts for the first three years of life to prevent allergy. But a landmark new study is set to change thinking across the world, once and for all.

Researchers studied 640 UK babies deemed at high risk of peanut allergies, all aged four to 11 months. Half were given peanuts three times a week, while the other half ate no peanut products at all.

After five years, about 17 per cent of the children who avoided peanuts had developed an allergy – compared with just 3 per cent of those given peanuts over the trial. In other words, a staggering 81 per cent reduction in the rate of peanut allergies between the two groups, says the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

“For a study to show a benefit of this magnitude in the prevention of peanut allergy is without precedent,” says Dr Anthony Fauci, director of US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which funded the study. “The results have the potential to transform how we approach food allergy prevention.”

Paediatrician Dr Richard Besser tells Good Morning America one theory is that children need to be exposed to allergens early in life so their immune system “tones down”. “It gets used to seeing these things so when it sees them later, it doesn’t develop all these reactions that we’re seeing right now,” he says.

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia says peanut allergy affects about three per cent of children under one. About a fifth of allergies will resolve, but another 20 per cent will worsen. Ms Said says while parents are now advised to give their children nuts when they start solids, many are unsure how to introduce them.

“You might put a little bit of nut in their vegetables, some peanut butter with their veggies and introduce it as another food group so to speak,” she says. “The advice will be that you introduce that food like you introduce any other, but you might do it when your partner is home, not just before sleep; just think about the timing so if something does go wrong you can get help quickly.”

She says parents who have an older child being treated by an allergy specialist should seek advice from that specialist before introducing potential allergens to a baby sibling.

“For kids at high risk of developing food allergy, people are going to be quite cautious about introducing food so they need support and guidance on how to do that,” she says. Likewise, anyone concerned about introducing peanuts to their babies should first talk to their doctor or maternal health nurse.

For more information on allergies and introducing nuts and other allergens into the diet, visit Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia or the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy.

The post Study finds how to cut risk of peanut allergy in babies appeared first on Babyology.

Some people are just so darn clever, like the Belgian couple who came up with this innovative highchair. Unable to find a highchair tall enough to suit their breakfast bench, they invented this. As I said, clever!

Launched last year, the Fritsforkids highchair has already attracted a design award – which means it must be rather impressive. Essentially it’s a four-in-one highchair that adapts as your child grows. No need for a myriad of different seats taking up room around the house.

And as if it wasn’t awesome enough, the Fritsforkids is also a really smart, stylish-looking piece of children’s furniture, which is available in different colours, and with matching cushions.

It’s a really simple design, but there’s plenty of thought and ingenuity behind it. You can buy a few different packages, and the Kitchen Island Highchair is the one that started it all. It comes with adjustable legs for the height of a kitchen island bench, adjustable legs for a normal kitchen table, smaller legs so the chair can be used as a child’s seat, the wooden stick which goes across the seat for extra safety and a security belt. It costs €299.

You can also just buy the Drawing Table Chair version for €149. The padded inserts can also be purchased separately, and include the wooden safety stick and security belt for €59.

The collection is available from Mint Mouse, but you will need to contact the store directly to organise shipping to Australia.

The post Fritsforkids – the amazing four-in-one highchair appeared first on Babyology.

Parents who fear being fooled by clever packaging and baseless nutritional claims can now easily identify the healthiest breakfast cereals to serve up to their kids. A new government-approved rating system is ensuring a quick glance at the front of a cereal box will provide vital information on its nutritional profile. And for those of us feeling guilty, you may be pleasantly surprised at how some of your children’s favourite cereals stack up.

As parents we do carry constant guilt, particularly about what our children do and don’t eat. The start to any day for a child is incredibly important. They need enough fuel to kick start their bodies and minds, and keep them going until lunch. But there’s usually precious little time to whip up what we may deem as the ultimate, healthy, nutritionally-balanced, organic, protein-rich, fibre-dense start to the day. More often than not, we reach for the cereal, and give ourselves a guilt trip. But is all cereal bad for kids? Thankfully, the answer is no.

A combination of the Australian, state and territory governments, along with the food industry, public health and consumer groups have developed a simple way to decipher the nutritional profile of packaged foods. At a glance you’re able to see how healthy the food product is. In essence, the Health Star Rating system is a simple way to sort the wheat from the chaff (pardon the pun), when it comes to choosing the cereal that best serves our children’s needs. The more stars, the healthier the cereal, based on a rating maximum of five stars.

The system cuts through the scepticism many parents have on the nutritional claims made by some cereal manufacturers. It’s a no-nonsense, one-glance indication of what you are feeding your kids. And one of Australia’s favourite brands, Uncle Tobys, has welcomed the rating system, as it boasts Australia’s largest range of four-star-plus breakfast cereals.

Uncle Tobys has also made it really easy to be prepared before heading to the supermarket. If you’re keen to see what star rating your kids’ favourite cereal is, just head to Uncle Tobys, select the cereal and it will tell you how many stars it has. It’s important to note that the Health Star Rating system, which began rolling out late last year, is voluntary. So brands like Uncle Tobys are putting their claims and reputations to the test.

Under the system, cereal is given its star rating based on energy (kilojoules), risk nutrients (saturated fat, salt and sugars) and positive nutrients (dietary fibre, protein the proportion of fruit, vegetable, nut and legume content).

The Health Star Rating system is a guiding hands for busy parents trying to do the best by their kids – which is pretty much all of us, isn’t it?

(This is a sponsored post for Uncle Tobys)

The post Serving up the truth on breakfast cereals with the Health Star Rating system appeared first on Babyology.

Bone broth may seem an unlikely substitute for baby formula – and it’s turned into a recipe for disaster for celebrity chef turned paleo diet spruiker Pete Evans. A new baby cookbook co-authored by the My Kitchen Rules judge has been “put on hold” amid fears it could lead to serious illness or worse.

Bubba Yum Yum: The Paleo Way for New Mums, Babies and Toddlers was due for release today (March 13), but has been delayed by publisher Pan Macmillan after health officials stepped in.

A consortium of health organisations expressed “grave concerns” over the book’s make-at-home liver and bone broth-based baby milk formula, The Australian Women’s Weekly reports.

“In my view, there’s a very real possibility that a baby may die if this book goes ahead,” Public Health Association of Australia president Professor Heather Yeatman tells the AWW. “Especially if (the DIY formula) was the only food a parent was feeding their infant, it’s a very real risk. And (I consider that) the baby’s growth and development could be impaired.”

Medical experts’ chief concern is that the formula contains more than 10 times the safe maximum daily intake of vitamin A for babies, but inadequate levels of other nutrients. They say too much vitamin A can cause loss of appetite, dry skin, hair loss, bone pain, fissures and failure to thrive.

The book, co-authored by Evans, Bubba Yum Yum blogger Charlotte Carr and naturopath Helen Padarin, also reportedly includes added salt in recipes, and recommends limiting fruit and avoiding fluoride in drinking water. The paleo, or caveman, diet emphasises meat, nuts and berries but bans all grains, dairy and pulses.

The federal Department of Health says it has been “closely scrutinising this diet and book”. The department is “concerned about the inadequate nutritional values of some of the foods, in particular for infants, and is investigating further,” a spokeswoman tells the AWW. The World Health Organisation says the only safe alternative to breast milk for babies is commercial formula.

The AWWW reports that in a foreword to the book, Evans implies the diet may help prevent autism, birth defects, behavioural and digestive disorders, rashes and asthma. It says a disclaimer in the back of the book states: “Although we in good faith believe that the information provided will help you live a healthier life, relying on the information contained in this publication may not give you the results you desire or may cause negative health consequences.”

In a statement, Pan Macmillan Australia says the book’s publication has been delayed but not recalled, referring to earlier reports. “The publisher will be making no further comment at this time,” it says. Pete Evan’s website and the publisher’s webpage for the book have crashed or been taken down, and the chef has made no comment on his Facebook page. The Channel 7 star is in Victoria as part of his national The Paleo Way tour.

(Images via Facebook)

The post Pete Evans’ baby cookbook shelved over formula fears appeared first on Babyology.

It can be incredibly difficult to cook nutritious food for our kids – particularly meals they will actually eat. Even if they are brilliant eaters, finding the time and energy to keep things interesting in the kitchen is also a challenge. This Australian app is all about creating amazing food for kids, that’s simple, delicious and fun.

The Clean & Green Kids app is a great go-to for daily inspiration when cooking for kids, and it’s also a way to get them involved in the process. But what captured my imagination was the creativity. There are some really clever ways to make food fun for kids, and hopefully get even the fussiest of eaters to take a bite.

The app includes recipes that will work for all ages: there are first foods, main meals, desserts – and all are simple and look amazing!

The app aims to make the entire process enjoyable for children, so they can explore their food and hopefully find a love for it. The Clean & Green Kids app also encouraging using food that will help growing bodies flourish. So it advocates the use of organic ingredients, and fresh food.

There are a host of very cute recipes, like the Spelt Bear Cakes and Watermelon Cars, which are simple yet so appealing to children’s sense of fun. The app includes more than 90 recipes, and each is marked to indicate if it’s nut, dairy, gluten, meat, seafood and egg-free. There is also a really handy shopping list built into the app, which is great if you’re meal planning. Or if you want to use up what you have, you can pop in your ingredients and the app will bring up matching recipes.

The Clean & Green Kids app is available to download (iPhone and iPad only) for $3.79 at iTunes.

The post Stuck for fresh, fun recipes? Try the Clean & Green Kids app! appeared first on Babyology.

I know that I’m well and truly back into the school routine when packing school lunches becomes a more ‘random’ affair (that means standing at the pantry thinking “Yes, that’ll do…”). Fortunately, none of my children have allergies or specific dietary requirements, so my ad-hoc approach to lunches is okay. For those children who can’t eat certain foods, packed lunches require more thought and planning.

Kate Crocker’s daughter was diagnosed with coeliac disease when she was four years old and with that diagnosis came a switch to a gluten-free diet. Although Crocker was initially daunted at the thought of introducing a major dietary change for her daughter, the concerns were forgotten when she saw the amazing transformation in her little girl’s health – within two weeks of going gluten-free, the stomach aches were gone and she was more energetic and happier than she’d ever been.

Crocker’s next challenge was the lunch box. Traditionally, packed lunches are packed with gluten (think breads, wraps and biscuits) and until recently there were few gluten-free products readily available in the supermarket. Wanting her daughter to enjoy a healthy and tasty gluten-free diet (that also addressed other dietary demands of coeliacs, such as the need for increased dietary fibre, and calcium and iron-rich foods), Crocker began developing her own gluten-free recipes, with a focus on food for the lunch box.

And the result is the Gluten-free Lunchboxes Cookbook, packed with more than 60 gluten-free and nut-free recipes. As well as oodles of interesting and nutritious lunch ideas such as Cauliflower and Pea Bites, Zucchini and Bacon Slice, and Potato and Chorizo Tortillas there are lots of delicious snacks suitable for recess and the quick after-school-refuel – Apple and Maple Scones, Raspberry and Choc Cherry Muffins, and Figgy Squares will fill hungry tummies.

The cookbook also includes some special occasion recipes (so that gluten-free kids don’t feel left-out at the birthday party table) and loads of suggestions for managing a gluten-free kitchen and choosing the right ingredients.

Gluten-free Lunchboxes Cookbook is available as an e-book from Gluten-free Lunchboxes for $12.95.

The post Gluten-free lunchboxes made easy appeared first on Babyology.

These are quite possibly the most amazing bento lunch boxes we’ve ever seen. Check out the American dad who is slicing up some seriously smashing lunches based on his children’s favourite characters.

We’ve got Ninja Turtles, we’ve got minions, we’ve got Elmo and Cookie Monster. We’ve got Rapunzel, we’ve got the Avengers and of course, we’ve got Elsa. What more could your child want for lunch?

Lunchbox Dad, aka Beau Coffron, is an everyday working father of three mixing up some pretty amazing food art every morning as he packs his children’s lunches.

Prepare to marvel at these super hero themed bento lunches. My son would probably fall off his pint sized school chair if he opened his lunch and found a cheese and salami Tony Stark staring at him.

They may look tricky, but they really are quite simple and all of his lunches are made using everyday lunch staples.

Each lunch box includes a fruit, veggie and main dish.  Pikelets, for example make up the “I Love You” sandwich and sit atop fresh raspberries and blackberries.

Ironman is simply an open sandwich with cheese and salami on a bed of spinach paired with a mango and apple ‘mask’ on the side. Bananas are the hero fruit for the Despicable Me Bento box and Rapunzel’s hair is easy angel hair pasta.

And it’s not a themed lunch box without a little bit of Frozen thrown in there.

The down-to-earth dad most certainly has a talent for creating crafty characters out of bread, brie and berries but he remains grounded and aware of the fact that not all of his lunches are fit for a superhero. Even Lunch Box Dad sometimes succumbs to the standard cold leftover pizza and muesli bar lunches.

Beau writes, “I had exactly 2.34 minutes of time and energy to put together this lunch. You know what I’m thankful for? I can feed my kids. If parents can do that, whether it’s a fun shaped lunch or not, I think they are doing pretty good.”

If you’re running on empty for school lunch inspiration, then visit Beau’s blog for more great ideas or browse our own archives for some lunchspiration. Check out our posts on the mum whose lunch box surprises goes down a treat, another dad’s sandwich bag art and lunch boxes with an edge.

(via Lunchbox Dad)

The post And the “epic school lunches award” goes to this lunch box dad appeared first on Babyology.

It seems to me the world can be divided into kids who love sushi, and kids who won’t touch it. I have one of each (and one still undecided) but I persevere in exposing them to sushi with some success due to the modern marvel of the sushi train. You see, all kids love a sushi train, and who can blame them? It’s food travelling past you that you have to grab! Now one toy company wants to bring that fun right to your own dining table.

The Sushi Go Round toy is powered by just one AA battery, and comes with a track and four carriages for what is, strictly speaking, a sushi boat. You can bring sushi home and load it up on the train for a bit more dinner time fun, or, even better, use the included tools to have a go at making your own. The sushi tools are designed with children in mind, and will help little hands to perfectly form rice into different shapes for making their own.

If there’s no way that any little people at your place will touch sushi, it’s still a fun dinner time treat, and I suspect having the choice to select parts of their dinner from a passing train will encourage even the fussiest eaters.

You can buy the Sushi Go Round at Akiba Toys for delivery worldwide. Alas, just like eating sushi at a real sushi train, it’s a bit pricey. The set will set you back ¥14000, which is about $150 at current rates.

Is sushi a hit at your place? Check out our past posts about felt sushi and wooden sushi sets, and even a real gyoza maker for kids.

(via Kid Crave)

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