By Dr Caroline Longmore, Naturopath and former Paediatrician
When was the last time your child sat down at the dinner table and have that comment “thanks for this delicious plate of healthy food! Can I have seconds?”
We can’t promise these tips will convert your picky eater into a fruit and vegetable fan, but they should make good food choices more attractive for everyone.
Get them involved
If you involve kids in planning meals, going grocery shopping, and preparing food, they will become invested in the process and more likely to eat. Even toddlers too young to make grocery lists can help you make choices (pears or nectarines? ) along the way. Simple, no-cook recipes like frozen banana and frozen sorbets are an excellent way to get young chefs interested in healthy cooking and eating.
Go to the source
Teach kids where their food comes from. Rather than limiting yourself to the weekly supermarket run, take your family to a local farmer’s market (or to the farm itself) and meet the people who grow the food. Picking berries from a vine can help nurture a lifelong love of good eating. Visiting a dairy farm can teach children where their milk comes from (and why we should care about what goes in it). Planting tomatoes in the garden may tempt a child to try the fruits of her labor.
Make healthy snacks available
If you stock the kitchen exclusively with healthy treats, children will eat them. As your children grow, stock good snacks in cabinets and shelves that they can reach without your help.
Some kids eat more when they’re in the car than when they’re at the table simply because active play isn’t a viable alternative when you’re strapped in. Make sure you’re prepared with nutritious snacks whether you’re driving the carpool or going to football practice. Good choices include sliced apples, carrot sticks, whole grain crackers, light popcorn, raisins and water bottles.
Give them freedom of choice
Like the rest of us, kids want to have it their way. But no parent wants to be a short order cook, making four different meals for four different family members. Instead try the fixings bar approach. Offer a suitable base meal, like rice and beans, whole wheat tortillas or lean ground taco meat. Then let kids (and adults) dress it up with chopped tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, cheese, salsa, parsley, peppers and other toppings. You might also try a pasta bar with a variety of healthy sauces. This approach works especially well when you are serving young guests whose food preferences you may have trouble predicting.
Kids like choices at snack time too, so consider packing an insulated lunch bag full of good snacks so they can make their own smart choices (and you can avoid hearing “I don’t want THAT!”).
Drink to that
Remember that your child doesn’t have to just eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day he can also drink them. Smoothies and mixed fruit drinks …… can be a fun way to introduce new fruits.
Be a role model
A recent study found that young children’s food tastes are significantly related to foods that their mothers liked and disliked. Letting your child see you order a fresh salad rather a burger and fries at the drive-through may encourage her to do the same.
Don’t give up
Studies show that most children need multiple exposures (between 5 and 10) to try new foods. This isn’t to say that showing your child the same papaya or avocado five nights in a row will win her over, but rather to suggest that you shouldn’t give up the first time she rejects something.
Teach healthy eating habits early
Use meal and snack times as teachable moments to help even the youngest children make wise food choices. At Make Me Feel; we are here to give and find you some great tips and strategies for helping babies, toddlers and children develop healthy eating habits.
Autumn is here. Kids are back to school, adults are back to work. The days are getting shorter and our bodies need to adapt with the new rhythm. This doesn’t mean that this season is not funny. On the contrary, this is often the good timing to try new things, new sports, new activities and enjoy good moments with friends. This is also a very interesting time to learn and challenge our brain. In the meantime, we need to get cautious with our immunity, stay warm and take vitamins to face the changing weather.
Essential oils are precious to help us stay alert, focus or uplifting our mood. May chang and citrus smell essential oils are interesting to help us stay positive and uplifting our mind. To keep calm and appreciate a meditation, Frankincense is an excellent choice of oil. In synergy, Frankincense and May chang will offer you a well balance sense of smell and a powerful blend for seasonal depression.
Added to a well-balanced nutrition, with fruits and vegetables, some vitamins (Vitamin C and Vitamin D), and probiotics, essential oils should help you go through this changing weather peacefully.
If you feel you are starting to get sick, or if you need to help your immune system, you can use this recipe below, especially if you are travelling and if you need to stay away from virus around. This is a wonderful choice for prevention and keeping you safe.
Powerful Blend when travelling (inspired from Cecile Ellert’s):
This master blend is a must to deal with all kinds of unpredictable accidents and discomfort during your trip (indigestions, viral infection, sickness…).
– Cinnamon (cinamomum cassia) 2 drops (Cinnamon essential oil is dermocaustic and always has to be diluted before its application on the skin. )
– Peppermint (mentha piperita) 3 drops
– Spike Lavender (Lavandula latifolia) 5 drops
– Carrier oil:
For an adult: 8 to 10 drops of the mixed oils in 10 ml of base oil (almond, jojoba…)
For a child (more than 3): 4 to 5 drops of the mixed oils in 10 ml of base oil (almond, jojoba…)
For a baby (more than 3 months): seek for an aromatherapist advice
Apply locally on the wrist or under the feet.
If you want to know more about aromatherapy, you are welcome to our next workshop at Make me Feel, Tuesday 17 of October 2017 • 6:30 pm – 8:00pm • £30
I am a big fan of massages. I feel like the feeling of relaxation it procures is awesome and it is for me a pure bliss and a luxury moment.
However, they are not all the same and the experience sometimes could be disappointing.
Before last month, I had experienced differnet sorts such as Aromatherapy, Swedish and Californian massages.
Then I went to a Thalassotherapy in Brittany, France in early October for a deep need of taking care of myself and to refocus.
There, I have discovered Ayurveda therapy and massages. And that a massage could be not only a little spoiling moment but also a real therapy.
I wanted to share that experience as it could help with so many of our modern life stress issues: sleep problem, energy, etc ….
So what is Ayurveda ?
From Wikipedia :
Ayurveda is an ancient medical science. The word, ayurveda is composed of two words of Sanskrit, ayur (meaning life) and veda (meaning knowledge). Thus Ayurveda is a medical science of Ancient India. It deals with matters relating to health, day-to-day life and longevity (long life).
Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine and medication, based on experience and observation. This system of medicine and medication is more than 3000 years old.
During my stay in France, I had three different treatments, which works together:
Shirotchampi
Shirotchampi (shirot means head and champi means massage. The word « shampoo » comes directly from it) is a massage concentrating on the shoulders, neck, head and face with coconut oil. Those are where the daily tensions accumulate.
The final goal to this massage is the relaxation and revitalisation of the stressed or anxious person.
I personally like that massage, especially I am a big fan of head massages already. That made me feel really cared and relaxed.
The lady said it was to open my chakras and prepare myself to receive the abhyanga massage.
So two days after, I had The Abhyanga massage, everyone was looking so excited about when I was mentioning I will have one with Jean-Luc.
Abhyanga
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Abhyanga massage is one kind of massage therapy which is used by practitioners of Ayurveda an established Hindu system of medicine.
Based on the 7 energetic centres of the body –the Chakras – abhyanga massage is a rebalancing treatment. The therapist will act on the nadis (energy paths) where are the acupressure points seats, to allow the vital energy – prana- to move freely and harmoniously in the whole body. The goal is a general wellbeing, both physically and emotionally.
I personally never felt so calm and deeply regenerated after such a treatment. I guess we could save a fortune on anxiety medication (and this is a pharmacist talking!) with such anti stress weapons.
And the cherry on the cake, was that it gave me a very high energy which is still up running after 3 weeks.
Finally, the third part of this journey was Kansu massage:
KANSU
This massage uses a little round bowl called Kansu on reflex points on the feet. This bowl is made by an alloy of 5 metals: gold, zinc, copper, silver, bronze and pewter. Tis alloy of metal offers a curative purpose: copper soaks the heat in excess in the body, the zinc works on the muscles and the bronze is a catalyser between those 2 metals.
The massage also uses Ghee (this is a preparation of butter, slowly cooked and then filtered).
The properties of Ghee and Kansu works together to remove the fire element, treat the anger and anxiety. It also helps for insomnia and stress.
This massage works on every organ of the body and increases the general metabolism.
In Indian tradition, this massage using Kansu is exercises by children on their family members for relaxation and release the pressure.
Again, I personally like to have my feet massaged so for me that treatment was delightful. And to be honest that was the first time I managed to deeply disconnect from the environment around me; The sensation of relaxation was by far the best I ever had.
I hope you found it interesting! And I wanted to add that we are lucky in London to have a myriad of amazing therapists but please consider having a look on register bodies therapist (such as: http://apa.uk.com) to be sure to experiment the best.
At Make Me feel, I have found a new pearl leaving in Abbeville village: Keiko Novotny who offers different type of massages from around the world and especially the Abhyanga massage.
Keiko discover Ayurvedic in Mumbia, India while travelling. Back to Japan, her homeland, Keiko studied Ayurvedic in Tokyo. Keiko also qualified as an ITEC and BTEC therapist in London.
She says that her pleasure is when her clients get smile after the massage.
To introduce Abhyanga massage therapy and Keiko at Make Me Feel we are proposing an introduction offer on Saturday 18th November: one hour Abhyanga massage for £60 instead of £75.
Few spaces available so contact us: 0208 675 1207 or info@makemefeel.co.uk
I don’t know about you but even if I now know the difference between organic and natural (click here if you’ve missed chapter 1), I am still lost. Since I started doing some research on the subject, I have been reading all the labels, looking at all the logos. Some products are certified by some associations, some are not… How do I know what is what and mostly who to trust?!
Fact: The terms natural and organic are not specifically regulated under the Cosmetics Regulation but any claim must be capable of substantiation and must not be misleading. But since there is no official definition for the word “organic” and “natural”, brands have been playing with words for years, and therefore misleading us.
In a way, we should be thankful that some organisations have taken the problem into hands and started establishing standards.
So who are those “non for profit organisations”?
The list is long: Ecocert, Cosmebio, BDIH… but the main one to remember in the UK is The Soil Association! They are the strictest in terms of regulation and the clearest.
“A maximum of organic ingredients that have undergone a minimum of processing!”
They require 95% of the ingredients to be organic. If the percentage is lower, they require that all of their certified products show the organic percentage on the packaging.
Certified Soil Association at Make Me Feel
Pai
Pai Skincare understands sensitive skin of all kinds. The first brand to list all ingredients in plain English, their formulas contain the purest Soil Association certified organic ingredients and are free from artificial colours, parfum, parabens, petrochemicals and phthalates, to deliver effective results for unpredictable and allergy-prone skin. Suitable for vegans, BUAV certified cruelty-free and lovingly made in London.
Our favourite of course is their best seller : The Rosehip BioRegenerate Oil
Pai black Friday at Make Me Feel: from the 25th to the 28th November: 25% OFF the whole range !
(except Christmas gift sets)
Absolute aromas
Aromatherapy is the practice of using the natural oils extracted from flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-being.
At Make Me Feel, we are running workshops on aromatherapy. Every month, you will learn about the most famous oils and how to use them. From then, you will make beauty treatment (ranging from body lotion, body scrub, or massage oil… depending on the date). It will be tailored to your need with the oils you’ve chosen. Click here to see our November workshop!
BIODERMA has used its dermatological expertise to benefit paediatrics by offering an extra safe and extra gentle hygiene range for babies. All products are specifically formulated in accordance with the ABCDerm Dermatological Safety Commitment to respect the delicate skin of babies and young children.
We, at Make Me Feel, are particularly big fan of the peri oral cream which is the best specific cream for the common problem of irrited skin around the mouth on babies.
I always recommend this one as it contains Amylpriv® which neutralises amylase enzyme in saliva and allantoin to soothe and repair the epidermis and of course it is safe to use on babies !
When I discovered this gorgeous brand I thought that it is a perfect gift for new Mum ! The jewellery are all so pretty and very useful too !
MintyWendy’s Jewellery concept is quite simple, Casual Chic Jewellery specially designed to please the Mum, but which can be safely chewed on by your baby.
MintyWendy’s colours are soft and chic as the idea is not to have Peppa Pig doll around your neck but first and foremost to enjoy your jewellery. And make sure that when finally, your baby will be done with chewing on it, you’ll still be able to enjoy your jewellery, only without all the drooling on it.
Once your baby has reached 3 months old, all she wants is to put everything in her mouth. And this is only the beginning! As soon as you take her in your arms, she just wants to grab granny’s pearl, your mate’s delicate bracelet or put restaurant’s pointy knife in her mouth.
We are delighted this month to become stockist for Caudalie, iconic French pharmacy brand.
Caudalie will offer facials to discover their products on 15th November and a launch evening party on 8th December : watch out !
I personally love the story behind Caudalie.
If you are curious like me, here it is :
What does the term caudalie mean? A caudalie [kodali] is a unit measuring the duration of the wine’s flavour on the palate. For each second the flavour remains this is a caudalie. A quality wine will contain many caudalie’s.
Professor Joseph Vercauteren is one of the world’s specialists in Polyphenols. He is the Director of the Laboratory of Pharmacognosy at Montpellier’s University of Pharmacy in France, associated with the CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research). He has been the scientific advisor of our research centre since the creation of Caudalie.
Thanks to the support of pharmacists who believed in us, Caudalie made an appearance in a few pharmacies in Bordeaux, with 2 face creams and nutritional supplements based on grape-seed Polyphenols. The following year, we signed a Research Convention with the Faculty of Pharmacy at Bordeaux, and set up our own team of researchers. The brand spread to other pharmacies and we added other innovative products to the range.
Whilst carrying out groundwork on the estate, we discovered a hot spring 500 meters underground. We began to use all the revitalising beneficial effects of this water, combining them with vine and grape extracts to create unique Spa treatments. As a result, we created the first Vinothérapie® spa in 1999.
Kombucha has been promoted by health conscious people and hippies for years but has become more mainstream and trendy in the last couple of years. Making your own kombucha starts with a bacterial slab or “Scooby” traditionally inherited not bought and is a real labour of love to make, so luckily you can now buy it at health stores and big supermarkets. Kombucha is made from fermented green tea dating back into ancient Chinese times, the fermentation process creates a probiotic culture and a very small amount of alcohol is naturally produced. (However less than 1% in large batches so the drink is considered a soft drink.) Different kombucha’s have different flavours and strengths so it’s best to try a few different brands before finding your favourite. The slightly tart taste of kombucha pairs well with food and is a good non-alcoholic option.
Gluten free, dairy free and vegan.
Serves 4
Prep Time 15 minutes
Takes 5 minutes to assemble
Ingredients:
25grams dried hibiscus flowers
300ml boiling water
2 passion fruit
juice of 2 limes
800ml original kombucha
ice to serve
Method:
It is best to make the hisbiscus infusion in advance and allow to cool in the fridge until needed.
In a measuring jug place the dried hibiscus and boiling water, allow the flowers to bloom and seep their flavour into the water creating a richly coloured tea. Set aside for 15 minutes.
Drain the flowers and
Split the hibiscus infusion between glasses, add the ice, scoop the flesh from ½ a passionfruit into each glass and juice of ½ lime, muddle together before adding the kombucha last to maintain fizz.
Serve immediately.
NB: Kombucha is un-pasteurized and therefore not recommended during pregnancy or breast feeding.
This month we decided to share two delicious recipes from ANTONIA MAJOR (www.antoniamagor.com), nutritional therapist. She initially creates them for Gallinée’s blog (www.gallinee.com).
You can find Antonia’s recipe book in the gorgeous « The Happy Bacteria set » already available at make Me Feel.
Grab & Go breakfast pot
Antonia says about this recipe :
” This is the kind of breakfast I make for when I’m running out the door, usually on a weekday morning when I’m rushing to clinic to see clients. It takes two minutes to make and is full of nutritional omegas and healthy fats. I always emphasise how important it is to include some protein with breakfast, for energy and balance throughout the day. There is protein from the yoghurt, nuts and seeds but there’s no harm in adding an extra dollop of nut butter which also gives a good creamy taste. ”
Gluten free Serves 1 Total Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
200ml plain yoghurt, you could use dairy or non-dairy yoghurt depending on preference.
