Making the Decision to Become a Camp Counselor – You Won’t Regret It!

May 18th, 2012 by Editor

When I made the decision to work as a camp counselor last summer, let’s just say that my parents were less than thrilled. I was in my first year of studying child psychology at a well-known public university, and they thought that I should get an internship that was more “in line” with what they thought was suitable for my future career path.

Luckily, I made up my own mind about the counselor position, and it turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Not only that, but I found that many of the skills I learned at camp apply directly to what I hope to accomplish with my future career.

Building My Résumé at Summer Camp

As a counselor, I got to experience a lot. I spent about 12 weeks doing everything from consoling homesick campers to teaching basic survival skills. I had to be on top of my game at all times—adaptable, outgoing, compassionate, creative, and high-energy. I also got to work with and learn from a great team of people, most of them experts in their fields and at least two accomplished professionals in the field of child development and psychology, exactly what my main areas of interest are.

In short, being a counselor was about a lot more than just spending a great summer enjoying the outdoors. It provided me with real world experience that I can use on my résumé and in job interviews. I am confident that I will be able to point to my camp experience to give me an edge over other applicants because it shows just how dedicated I can be to a job.

Becoming a Mentor, Preparing for School

One of the things that I loved most about being a counselor was working with the kids. I was a cabin counselor, which meant that I spent my entire day with a group of campers. I learned what it means to be a role model by encouraging and motivating the kids to try new things and explore new ideas.

These experiences were invaluable for helping me decide that my child psychology major was, in fact, the right one for me. I came back to school ready to dive into my studies because I knew that working with kids was the right course for me.

Adventure and More

Apart from all the practical experience you’ll gain as a counselor, let me tell you, it’s just fun! I got to spend an amazing couple of months swimming, hiking, biking, playing sports, and learning new skills with some awesome kids and staff members. I don’t think I could have spent my summer any better.

If you’re thinking about becoming a counselor, I recommend that you start researching the right camp right now. There are a number of summer camp options out there—everything from sports to Christian camps. Find something that fits your personality and your career goals.  As for me, I plan on returning as a group leader to several summer camps in Texas this year. I don’t doubt that I’ll learn just as much (maybe even more) this time around.

Thank you to our guest author, Jonathan Rodriguez, for a very interesting article!

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Sensible Strategies for Dealing with Childhood Eczema & Acne

May 11th, 2012 by Editor

When you’re young and afflicted with eczema or acne it can often be a traumatic experience, not least because young skin is already sensitive, and there is no doubt that the playground can be a cruel place for anyone with spots or red, itchy patches.  Both conditions can be successfully managed; it just takes a little time and a strategic plan of action. Of course, a doctor should always be consulted if your child has a severe skin condition of any kind, but there is plenty that parents can do too.

Step One: Cleansing

Eczema

It’s a tough job cleansing sore and irritable skin. You don’t want to strip it of its already depleted natural oils, but it does need to be done. The trick is to use a lipid-rich wash that is specifically designed to moisturise as it cleanses. Additionally, try to opt for formulas that don’t have soap or SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a known chemical irritant), as these can really dry out already sensitive skin. Soft cream or oil washes are absolutely ideal for the job, as they act as emollients and prevent moisture loss as you cleanse your child’s skin.

Acne

It’s a common misconception that acne-prone skin needs a really strong formulation to eradicate all of the excess oil. In fact, those with acne often have sensitive skin which needs to be taken care of gently. When buying products for acne-prone kids and teens, opt for mild peels made from AHAs, LHAs, salicylic acid, and glycolic acid rather than abrasive exfoliants; these will remove dead skin cells and tighten pores without irritating already angry skin.

Step Two: Rebalancing

Eczema

Maintaining a good balance after cleansing is of particular importance to eczema sufferers, as restoring lipids in the skin is known to be the most immediately effective way of managing the condition. Look for formulas that are described as emollient or cutaneous barrier-restoring, and are full of essential fatty acids. It is also advisable to opt for a product that is free from fragrance, as strong chemical fragrance can irritate already susceptible skin. Apply them straight after your child’s bath or shower.

Acne

Another common misconception about acne sufferers is that they shouldn’t use moisturiser. This is absolutely not true; although the formulation should be chosen carefully. If you overload skin with excess oils it will stretch the pores and stimulate extra oil production. However, if you opt for a lightweight, oil-free formula with a matte finish, skin can be infused with essential hydration without looking shiny and greasy.

Step Three: Management at school

Eczema

Rubbing clothes and general wear and tear can aggravate skin, and there’s nothing worse than itchy, hot and painful eczema ruining a child’s day. Red and flaky eczema can also lead to teasing and no parent wants that. Before your kids go to school every day, make sure they have a small tube of an appropriate moisturizer to soothe their skin whenever it’s necessary. Make sure that’s their first strategy, not scratching.

Acne

Acne-prone skin can become extremely oily throughout the day, and this makes the face look shiny and feel uncomfortable. Although a mattifying moisturizer can really help, some teens benefit from carrying blotting paper for quick touch ups during school hours.  Many of these will be lined with a very fine mattifying powder which will help to further control shine. It is also a great idea to carry a targeted spot treatment to tackle unexpected flare-ups as soon as they happen.

Emma writes for a British skincare retailer specialising in Clarins and other outstanding brands. She is passionate about matching the right skincare product to the right person. When she’s not reading up on the latest beauty buys, she’s blogging about the virtues of proper SPF protection and trying out the latest products.

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How Moms Can Stay Motivated to Stay in School

May 10th, 2012 by Jennifer

Moms are busy people. Add a job into the mix and the word “busy” doesn’t begin to describe our lives and we often feel like we don’t have time to breathe, let alone move. It can be difficult to stay motivated when we have so many irons in the fire. Home, spouse, work, kids and school all bring with them their own unique stressers. How do so many moms do it? How is it possible to stay motivated to study when you’ve got so many other things occupying your mind?

If you remember nothing else, remember this: motivation is a state of mind. The key to staying motivated is looking inward. While you can surround yourself with positive people, look for inspiration and even reward yourself for a job well done, no one can motivate you but you! Here are ways that you can stay motivated, no matter how hard life tries to get in your way:

Set a Goal

When people are feeling overwhelmed, it’s often because they have bitten off more than they can chew. Instead of setting a handful of goals and going after each with all of your energy, choose one. If you can concentrate on one small goal at a time, you’re far more likely to not only remain motivated, but to succeed. There’s nothing wrong with creating a ten year plan! Create your plan, write it down and then get back to today. What is it that you want to accomplish by the end of the evening?

Look for Inspiration

Get out there and find your inspiration! Look online for forums and blogs run by working moms and non-traditional students. Often times, reading what others are going through and interacting with people in the same situation can be a great source of inspiration. And who knows? You might just learn a thing or two from these amazing moms! People who have been where you are now are the perfect people to ask for advice and guidance.

Keep a Journal

Journaling is incredibly therapeutic. Try to give yourself 15 or 20 minutes at the end of every night and write down what you accomplished for the day and even what you failed to accomplish. Make note of your thoughts and feelings! How do you feel about all that you got done? What do you think stood in your way to completing your daily goals? Keeping a journal not only lets you clear your head of clutter, it gives you something to look back on when you’re feeling particularly unmotivated!

Put More Positive In Your Life

Get rid of the naysayers in your life. You don’t have to dump friends and family forever, but you do have to dump them for now. If you have anyone in your life that is less than 100 percent supportive of what you are trying to do, lose them! Negativity will suck your motivation quicker than anything else. Your family will support you and so will your friends. Ask yourself this: is he or she really a friend worth keeping if they don’t have your back? The simple answer to that question is “no.”

Reward Yourself

It’s easy to stay motivated when you’re rewarded for your hard work! That’s true even if you’re rewarding yourself. Sit down and decide what you will do for or give yourself when you reach various milestones. For instance, will you give yourself a day off if you get an A on your midterm? If you end the semester with a 3.5 GPA or better, will you buy yourself a new bag? Decide what you’re going to do for yourself and write it down! Your reward list will be great motivation when the going gets tough!

Getting motivated is easy; it’s staying motivated that’s hard! If you get yourself organized the very first day of school, set some goals, look for inspiration and reward yourself, you’ll find that your motivation remains steady no matter how many things you’ve got on your plate. Don’t get so stressed out before you start school that you talk yourself out of going! Thousands of moms are doing it — you can too!

Christine Jensen is a business writer comparing various mba courses online to find the one that works for her.

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5 Solutions to Get You Out of an Economic Slump

Apr 26th, 2012 by Jennifer

Ask any parent and they’ll tell you that times are tough. Whether it’s due to unemployment, wage freezes or the economy out-pacing your paycheck, the recession has hit almost everyone in one way or another. While it’s stressful to deal with an economic slump on your own, it can be even more overwhelming when you have a family to support. Here are five ways that can help you not only survive, but get out of, an economic slump:

Cut Your Spending

When you make less, it stands to reason that you need to spend less. But how do you do it? Where can you cut costs without affecting your family in a dramatic way? Look at the extras. With summer quickly approaching, you’ll undoubtedly be spending more time outside as a family. Do you need 300 cable channels? Can you reduce your cell phone bills? Look for the little extras around the house that are great to have when you can afford them, but easy to get rid of when times get tight.

Eat In

Eating in is not only a great way to save money but a great way to get healthy. If you stop to consider that a family of four can easily average $50 for a meal out, you’ll see that eating at home can save quite a bit of money. If your children love to eat out, let them order their favorite meal one night a week right from your kitchen. If you don’t know how to cook what they ask for, chances are that you can find a great recipe online!

Carpool

The rising costs of gas aren’t making it easy for anyone to commute! If you have a two-income family, consider carpooling in order to save on gas. Depending on the type of car you drive, you may be able to save hundreds of dollars a month in gasoline. If your kids are involved in after-school activities, contact other parents and set up a carpool for the kids. You may be surprised at just how many parents are willing to get involved.

Free Activities

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun as a family. Look around your city and see what you can do for free. City parks make great places to play a game of Frisbee or eat a picnic lunch. The beach is a fun way to spend an afternoon! You may even find some museums and attractions that offer free or discounted rates for children. Contact your city’s chamber of commerce for more ideas for great activities that you and the family can do on a budget.

Start Saving

For most people, losing a source of income or facing an economic hardship is a wake-up call. Now is the perfect time to start saving if you haven’t already. Even putting just $100 a month into a savings account will give you $1200 a year. If your employer offers direct deposit, ask if they can put a portion of each check into a savings account and make a deal with your partner that the money will not be touched. Add up your monthly bills and multiply your total by three and set that amount as your savings goal.

With creativity and perseverance you and your family can get through an economic slump and come out on the other side the better for it. With a bit of ingenuity, you can have just as good a life with less money. Follow these five tips and you’re sure to get over this bump in the road.

Christine Lukes is a personal finances guru and freelance blogger. She often recommends finding the best cd rates for people who have cash they do not plan to spend immediately as a great way to earn some extra interest.

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Feeding the Kids on the Run? How to Make Fast Food Nutritious

Apr 14th, 2012 by Jennifer

Do your kids love fast food? If so, they aren’t alone! In our society, we have become used to instant gratification and, unfortunately, that comes in the way of our food as well. With our busy lives, we don’t always have time to put a four-course meal on the table to ensure that our families are eating healthy. Not to worry! There are ways that you can make fast food nutritious if you take the time to learn.

Here are five ways to make fast food as healthy for your kids as possible:

1. Portion Size

No matter how much your children beg, they don’t need a 20-piece box of McNuggets or a Big Mac like Daddy has. Remember that your children need no more than 1,400 calories per day and that even that number may be on the high side. Consider buying a sandwich for each of the kids and yourself and splitting a medium fry between the three of you. If the whole family is out for a meal, buy a large fry and divvy it up appropriately.

2. Try For a Healthy Balance

You’ve already taken your kids to the fast food place, there’s no sense in denying them what they really want. However, if your child is simply dying for a milkshake, order them a baked potato instead of fries to go with it. If they are chowing down on a burger, order them a side salad or a cup of fruit to round out their meal. Make sure that your children understand that this is part of being treated to a meal at the fast food restaurant ahead of time and you may find yourself avoiding a meltdown!

3. Watch the Buffets

Buffets offer as quick a meal as any fast food chain and are becoming more and more popular. People often eat over capacity at buffets all in the name of getting their money’s worth. Rather than loading up your plate, and your children’s plate, with calorie laden fare, opt for the salad and fruit bars. It’s much easier to find healthy options at a buffet than it is at a traditional fast food restaurant so there’s no excuse to not eat a nutritionally sound meal.

4. Water, Not Soda

Have you ever stood behind someone in a fast food restaurant and giggled to yourself when they super-sized their meal and coupled it with a diet soda? Most people do this because they prefer diet soda over regular but they’ve got the right idea. Diet soda has fewer calories than its “regular” counterpart. Take it one step further for yourself and your family and order water instead. In fact, if you drink a glass of water about 15 minutes before you sit down for your meal, you’re likely to eat less. Yet another great reason to always keep a bottle of water handy!

5. Research Your Choices

You don’t have to memorize the caloric content of every menu item at your local fast food restaurant but it would benefit you to do a bit of research before your next outing. Look online and find out which menu items are the healthiest and which restaurants offer the best choices. When you arm yourself with this information you’re more apt to make smart choices the next time you stop for a quick bite.

Fast food is obviously not the meal of choice for most moms but there are days that it simply can’t be avoided. If you must stop for fast food, do your best to make the healthiest choices for both you and your children.

Renee Varney is a mom and freelance blogger, she occasionally writes for delivery.com a site she loves using to find local Delivery Restaurants – particularly Burger Delivery.

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Managing Your Family’s Medical Records

Apr 12th, 2012 by Cherrell

With all the complications of parenthood, think how much easier your life could be if all your family’s medical records could be managed electronically! Rather than scrambling to phone different doctors to gather as much information you can, in the face of an emergency or urgent medical situation you would have all of the information you need in one place. Here are five ways that electronic health records can streamline your family’s records:

1. Doctor Visits

Have you ever switched doctors, dentists or chiropractors, only to be asked for the date of your last medical appointment, check-up or treatment? Are you embarrassed when you have to tell the nurse or receptionist that you don’t know? With EHR (electronic health records), you and your medical team will have instant access to a full history of your doctor visits.

2. Diagnoses

If you do happen to remember the last time you visited the doctor, do you remember what you were diagnosed with? When filling out new patient forms, do you stumble over the section for previous medical conditions for yourself or your child? If your spouse were to be injured, would you be able to tell the medical staff at the hospital about previous diagnoses? If you are like most people, you will forget at least some of this information. With electronic health records, your medical team will be able to see every illness that you, or members of your family, have been diagnosed with.

3. Treatment

Accidents and injuries can be traumatic, both physically and mentally. Remember your home-care instructions can be difficult and, though you are often sent home with paperwork, what if you misplace it? With your medical records being in electronic format, your treatment instructions can be emailed to you in an instant, ensuring that you are taking care of yourself, and your family, exactly as you should be.

4. Prescriptions

Electronic health records can dramatically cut the wait time in the pharmacy. Rather than being handed a paper slip by your doctor, which you then hand to the pharmacist, your prescriptions will be transferred to your pharmacy directly from your physician’s office. Even better, your doctor and pharmacist will have the same information with regards to past prescriptions, allergies and even possible drug interactions between old and new prescriptions.

5. Travel

Most people look forward to their summer vacations with excitement. What happens when, while on vacation, you fall ill or your child has an accident requiring medical care? Having EHR means that any doctor, hospital or clinic you visit will have access to your medical records back home. Rather than having to wait for you to recall information, the medical staff can look up your information electronically, saving precious time.

While there are plans to have a national system of electronic health records, the program has yet to reach fruition. It is looked forward to with much anticipation by both medical professionals and the general public alike. Until the system goes national, however, it is up to you to keep track of your family’s medical records. To make it easier, there are apps and websites that you can use to keep track of this information in one convenient place. My Life Record Personal Medical Record and iTriage are great choices for your mobile device; websites like MyMedicalRecords.com and AccessMyRecords.com offer people the ability to store all of their family’s medical information in one location.  Until the electronic health records program is nationally utilized, these apps and websites are the best way to keep your family’s medical information a touch or tap away.

Connie Prescott is a conservation writer who works with NRDC and other organizations to protect our health and environment. Currently she is helping spread awareness of several suggested changes to the CMS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking among health care providers to help them know more about the current Meaningful Use Criteria in an attempt to improve the overall healthcare system.

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5 Fun Ways to Encourage Children to Exercise

Apr 10th, 2012 by Cherrell

Child and teenage obesity is on the rise in many developed countries such as the UK and U.S.  In America, the percentage of children aged between 6 – 11 years who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to almost 20% in 2008. What’s important, as a parent, is to recognize the road to obesity as soon as possible  – and to do something about it before it’s too late. And doing so doesn’t always mean you have to spend a lot of money. The simplest form of exercise is walking, and that’s free.

Why Kids Gain Weight

Eating too much fast food, playing computer games for hours on end, and not getting enough exercise are some of the reasons why children gain weight and then fail to lose it. But parents have to take some of the blame too, as they are the ones who allow their children to get away with these things and who don’t encourage them to spend more time outdoors or take exercise.

Introduce Them to Exercise

Getting kids to exercise can seem daunting, and making a point of it might put them off or make them too self-conscious to participate. If your child is overweight and you want to introduce exercise into their daily routine, perhaps it’s better to do so without making your intentions obvious.  The way to do this is to get them involved in fun activities that burn calories – and there are plenty to choose from.

Consider the amenities local to you and ask yourself how you can use them to your advantage. Think about the activities your child would like to do, and what you can do too, and lead by example. Parks are great places to exercise, but so is the backyard. The ultimate target is to keep active.

Great Ideas for Fun and Healthy Activities

Here are a few easy ways to help your child become more active and healthier:

1.     Cycling – Riding around the local neighbourhood or park for at least an hour a day burns up hundreds of calories. Cycling on roads should be avoided whenever possible, and everyone should always wear protective helmets.

2.     Walking – to the shops, to visit friends or just to get outdoors. It takes roughly 15-20 minutes to walk one mile and this too burns up calories.

3.     Games in the park – such as football, soccer, baseball, Frisbee, hide and seek, tag. There is a game that works for every child; you just have to find out which is best for yours.  Once you know what they like and can do well, either play along with them or help them get involved with a local team.

4.     Skateboarding or roller blading – There are usually skateparks in every town, and of course roller blades can be used almost anywhere.

5.     Dancing – This is something you can do inside the house if you find it difficult getting your child outdoors. Playing a CD is good enough to get going, but kids like to learn the dance routines too.  So tune in to MTV, or log on to YouTube and hunt down tracks that are upbeat and have energetic dance routines.

These are just a few ways to encourage children to be more active. If you do a little thinking I’m sure you can come up with many more.

Author Stephen Thomas is a freelance writer and contributor to a money saving tips website.  He is the proud father of a two-year-old boy.

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Affordable Homes from Recycled Shipping Containers!

Apr 6th, 2012 by Cherrell

As we’ve seen over the past few years enduring a faltering economy, housing isn’t affordable for all. In a country where we take having a roof over our heads for granted, many people have lost their homes due to the inability to make their mortgage payments. We once assumed that when our children grew up, they would be able to purchase a home of their own. Those dreams are less of a reality for most young Americans coming of age these days.

But take heart — thanks to creative builders this trend may turn on its head. Steel shipping containers are being turned into affordable housing for the masses and, if builds continue, more people than not may find that they can indeed afford a piece of the “American dream.” From additions to fully functional homes, these portable storage containers are hitting the highways, bringing “green” spaces to the global community.

A Home of Your Own

An innovative group of entrepreneurs in New Mexico turned a graduate school business project into a company called PFNC Global Communities. PFNC stands for “por fin, nuestra casa,” and translated, means “finally, a home of our own.” PFNC aims to convert used steel shipping containers into housing for those in need the world over. The real coup is that the container homes cost less than $10,000 a piece!

Covering just 320-square feet, these prototype homes are outfitted with a kitchen, sleeping area, bath and toilet. Windows are cut into the containers walls for ventilation and electrical systems are put in place to provide both power and heat. Because of their design, the homes have the capability of standing alone or being stacked on top of one another into an apartment building of sorts. Because they are resistant to rust, mold and damage, these homes will last far longer than homes built using traditional methods.

Disaster Relief

In the wake of tsunamis and earthquakes across the globe, California-based Aquentium has created a deployable, disaster-relief structure using a single recycled shipping container. Using a 20-foot container, the company’s designer, Theodore Ciotti, designed a foldout housing structure that takes up one 450-square feet of space. The temporary housing unit features a bathroom, kitchen, living room and two bedrooms. Small enough to fit into a tight space, the portable storage container is still large enough to comfortably house a family on a temporary basis.

Not only do steel shipping containers make efficient homes, they are being used for everything from retail stores, coffee shops and daycare centers. Because these containers can be fabricated off-site, they can literally be assembled and fully functional in less than one day. From office buildings to apartments, from works of art to retail outlets and restaurants, recycled steel shipping containers are finding their niche in our modern world.

When you stop to consider the fact that there are enough shipping containers on our planet to circle the globe twice, it makes sense to use them in new and innovative ways. When countries like the United States experience a drop in trade, these containers sit unused — taking up valuable space. In fact, some cities in America have so many unused containers piled up that the sun appears to set an hour earlier over some neighborhoods! Rather than sitting idle, these containers can be turned into amazingly useful structures needed the world over.

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What are The Real Costs Of Graduate School?

Mar 29th, 2012 by Jennifer

If you’re considering enrolling in graduate school, there’s little doubt that the thought of cost has entered your mind. It would be nice to find out that grad school will cost you X amount, across the board, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. In fact, depending on which school you choose to attend, your costs can vary significantly.

What is the real cost of graduate school? Your costs will depend on many things; not the least of which is tuition. Read on to find out just how much it may cost you to further your education:

1. Private Colleges

If you choose to attend a private college to pursue your graduate degree, you can expect to pay anywhere between $20,000 and $40,000 per year. Assuming that you can complete your degree in two years, you can reasonably expect to pay between $40,000 and $80,000 for your master’s degree. Remember: this is the cost of tuition and nothing else.

2. Public Colleges

The cost of a public graduate school is not quite as steep as that of a private institution. If you choose to attend a state school, or other public school, expect to pay anywhere from $7,000 to $50,000 for your degree. Keep in mind that, at a public school, you are much more likely to be offered government assistance than if you chose to attend a private school.

3. Relocating

It might surprise you to find out that many people have to relocate in order to attend graduate school. While there are thousands of colleges and universities in the country, not all have a graduate program. If you are serious about attending graduate school, you may find it necessary to pull up stakes and move to another section of your state, or even to another state altogether. The average costs associated with relocating a family is more than $15,000. Keep in mind, as well, that the cost of living in your new city may be higher than it was in your hometown.

4. Books

College books are ridiculously expensive; ask any college student and they’ll agree! As more students are turning to outside sources to rent their textbooks, more college bookstores are offering the option. If you rent your books, you can often save more than half the cost of buying them, even when you factor in what you’ll make selling them back at the end of the semester. You can easily expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $800 for your textbooks, depending on the number of courses you take and the manner with which you decide to procure your texts.

5. Lost Income

Many people forget to consider that lost income is a very real cost to be factored in to the journey to graduate school. If you currently have a full-time job, it can be very difficult to maintain while completing your master’s degree. Most people find that they have to scale back their work hours in order to complete their studies, if not quit their jobs completely. When considering the costs of attending graduate school, don’t forget to factor in any income that will be lost by cutting your hours at work or quitting your job.

Graduate school is expensive, there’s no doubt about it. Unlike pursuing an undergraduate degree, there are very few ways to offset the costs that come with graduate school. You should know, though, that those with master’s degrees can make anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 more than their peers with bachelor’s degrees. The money you make with your degree will often offset what it will cost you to earn it. Weigh the numbers carefully and you’ll find that the expense of graduate school is more than worth it.

Nicole Morgan is a career counselor, and blogs for bestonlinembaguides.org where you can find information about the best mba programs. She enjoys finding students unique career opportunities!

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It’s Important for Babies and Toddlers to Have a Balanced Diet

Mar 29th, 2012 by Stephen

When I was growing up in the eighties my mum taught my sister and I three major skills – cooking, cleaning and ironing. She did this because it was the natural thing to do and it gave us the domestic life skills needed to look after ourselves when we left home.  Sadly, judging by some of the shows on TV and discussions on the radio, it seems these skills are no longer passed down through the generations quite so often.

Take the Time to Prepare Your Family Meals

Of the three skills, cooking is probably the one skill everyone should learn and teach their kids. If you can’t cook, and if you are not weighed down with enough cash to eat at fancy restaurants every evening, you could end up living on a diet of unhealthy take-aways and pre-packaged oven or microwaveable meals. Such a diet is bad enough for adults, but for a baby or small child it’s even worse.

It’s easy to get all preachy on this subject, and perhaps doing so is the wrong approach. Instead it is better to look at ways of breaking the cycle and teaching parents why babies need a balanced diet from a very early age.  If you look online and around this site you will find lots of information on the importance of a balanced diet for babies and toddlers. When they are very young they need to eat lots of fat and very little fiber. This is because fiber is too filling and too much of it makes baby too full to eat anything else.

Balanced Diet for Babies and Toddlers

Starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, pasta, cereals and rice provide the energy a baby needs to grow and should be served at every meal, along with fruit and vegetables.

Fruit and vegetables contain a whole range of minerals and vitamins which are important for a baby’s development.  It doesn’t matter if the fruit and veg you serve is fresh, frozen or if it comes from a tin — a baby should have some fruit and veg with every meal. A pureed apple or crushed banana makes a nice, healthy desert for a baby.

Dairy products such as yogurt and cheese are rich in protein, calcium and some vitamins and minerals.

Meat, fish and alternatives including eggs, tofu and pulses are all high in protein. Fish and eggs should only be served to babies over six months.

Foods high in fat and sugar such as butter, cakes and biscuits provide baby with lots of energy, but they only contain small amounts of vitamins and minerals – it’s best to serve these types of foods occasionally, or as a treat.

For more information on feeding small babies and toddlers, have a look online. There are plenty of resources for you to use; sites offering advice, recipes and diet plans.  If you need to improve your cooking skills then you could buy a book, or watch TV chefs, look at videos on YouTube, or ask a friend to join you in a cooking course.

Stephen Thomas is a freelance writer and editor of a how to website. He is the proud father of a two year old boy.

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