No One Puts Baby In The Corner!

Get babies involved in family mealtimes! Traditional highchairs keep your baby separate and away from the table. I found a chair that allows them to sit properly at the table worked much better when my boys were tiny – it was easier to clean than many highchairs and took up less room in the kitchen. You can even get travel versions that fold up and can be strapped onto chairs in restaurants or when out visiting. With this sort of seat your baby can be right in the middle of the action and can watch the family eating, take in their table manners, and spot anything they might like to have a munch on themselves. There’s nothing more tempting than the food on Mummy or Daddy’s plate!

Gte yourself a good bib, make sure the floor is wipe clean, and away you go!

Pick Up Sticks!

When my boys had their first stir fry I was really surprised by how much they all enjoyed it: they literally woofed it down, cabbage, cashew nuts, ginger and all. The reason? The sheer delight of being allowed to eat a meal with two sticks! How this can be so much fun is a little beyond me, but my Picky Pickers just loved it, and the forks and spoons I also set out were left untouched.

So, sometimes for a treat, and obviously if their meal isn’t soup, we let them eat any meal with chopsticks. Using them takes the focus away from the actual food a little, and makes them concentrate on the process of eating itself. Plus, it’s a handy skill, and none of them will ever have to ask for a fork in a Chinese restaurant!

Tomato Salsa

This is really yummy with tortilla chips. I don’t tend to make it spicy for my lot, but add a little chilli if your gang like things hot!

Ingredients:

3 ripe tomatoes

1/4 of a red onion

Juice from 1/2 a lime

A little parsley

Method:

1: Chop the tomatoes into small pieces and add the very finely chopped red onion.

2: Tear up the parsley leaves and add those to the mixture.

3: Add the lime juice and stir to combine.

4: Pop in the fridge for at least an hour to let the flavours develop.

5: Serve with tortilla chips, pitta bread, or with griddled chicken.

Tzatziki

This is lovely with pitta bread or curry. If your Picky Picker is reluctant to try the dip, introduce them first to the yogurt, adding the cucumber and then finally the mint at later stages once they’ve got used to the flavours.

Ingredients:

Cucumber – about 5cm long!

3-4 fresh mint leaves

A 150ml pot of natural yogurt

1/2 teaspoon olive oil

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Method:

1: Chop the cucumber up finely and drain in a sieve to remove some of the liquid.

2: Tear up the mint leaves and put in a bowl with the yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil and cucumber.

3: Mix together and serve sprinkled with paprika.

Beefburgers

My 4 absolutely love burgers. These are really quick to make, and are fab for little hands to help with.

Makes 4

Ingredients:

200g Beef mince

A little finely chopped onion (optional)

A pinch of salt

Bread rolls

Cheese slices, ketchup, chutney, fried onions, sliced tomato and lettuce to serve depending on what your Picky Pickers like!

Method:

1: Mix the mince, salt and onion together and then make into burgers, ensuring you squeeze the burgers together firmly.

2: Put the burgers on a plate and place in the fridge for 20 minutes.

3: Grill, barbeque or fry the burgers in a little sunflower oil until brown and cooked through.

4: Serve in homemade rolls alongside salad and chips or new potatoes with butter and chives.