One major contributor to the problem of children being overweight or obese is the over-consumption of foods high in fat, salt and sugar, such as treat foods. Managing children’s treats can be hard for any parent to do. Here are our top tips for managing treat foods.  Top Tips Cut down on treat foods, but don’t ban them. Banning them ... Read More »

Love Parenting’s Friday News Round up from 19th – 25th March  Parenting & Lifestyle  Ask the expert: Our son’s routine goes awry when his dad is around Study finds the age when kids are the most happy Dad’s World with Jonathan deBurca Butler Are you guilty of peer-pressure parenting? Ask the expert: My four-year old daughter is now fearful of everyday situations ... Read More »

Good food habits set early in childhood can last a lifetime. Lunches provide around one third of our daily nutritional needs, so it’s important to put some thought and planning into them. Here are some tips on how to prepare a healthy lunchbox. Seven steps to creating healthy, varied and interesting lunchboxes  Include a wide variety of foods – starchy foods, protein, dairy, ... Read More »

A healthier version of a favourite! (Serves 6) What you need 5 skinless chicken breasts cut into strips 250g / 10oz flour 500g / 20oz fresh breadcrumbs 500g / 20oz oats 2 eggs beaten 1 – 2 tablespoons vegetable oil A little salt and black pepper What you do Mix flour, breadcrumbs, oats and seasoning together. Place chicken strips in ... Read More »

Love Parenting’s Friday News Round up from 12th – 18th March  Parenting & Lifestyle  Dad’s World with Jonathan deBurca Butler Parents have a bizarre need to know that they and their children are the best Why helping at home isn’t a chore Irish teens don’t feel they receive enough support from their families I thought being a stay-at-home dad would be easy, ... Read More »

We all worry about how we are going to cope with labour and it is daunting the first time around. Of course each labour is different so there is always some apprehension, even for mums heading into their second or subsequent labour. If you feel prepared and understand labour, it somehow helps you and your partner to cope more effectively. ... Read More »

The Fruity Habit Slice an apple or banana over your child’s cereal in the morning Munching an apple while walking to school or waiting for the bus keeps boredom at bay! Add homemade strawberry jam to bread, toast or scones as a between-meal snack Juice counts – a small glass of orange, grapefruit or apple juice counts as one portion ... Read More »

Love Parenting’s Friday News Round up from 5th – 11th March  Parenting & Lifestyle  Loss of innocence as third of children never climbed a tree How to deal with ‘shyness’ in a child Dad’s World with Jonathan deBurca Butler ‘I just wanna be a good dad’: is this the best we can do on fatherhood? Why single parents are in ... Read More »

Home and School together Cyberbullying goes beyond the school environment. The efforts to defeat it cannot therefore be confined to the schools; they must also go on in the wider community, especially in the home. The messages and the responses coming from home and school must be consistent. By working together, home and school can create awareness of the issues ... Read More »

A handy standby meal with lots of protein and fibre and a cheaper substitute for meat-based dishes (Serves 6) What you need fro 3 Bean Casserole 1 onion 1/2 clove of garlic 1/2 tablespoon of pure vegetable oil 1 can of baked beans 1 can of butter beans 1 can of kidney beans 1 can tomatoes (optional) What you do ... Read More »