Celeste: I wonder if you have any thoughts on how much chocolate/ sweets/ biscuits/ ice cream a three year old should have? I don't eat them much at home and I avoid giving them to my daughter as much as possible but she has lots of friends who eat tons of this stuff and I feel mean always saying no. Am I being too fussy? Is one treat/ bad thing a day OK or do you think I should keep up the hardline? (She eats very well otherwise).

Annabel: I’m not against children having treats like chocolate, sweets, biscuits and ice cream in moderation. To ban them all together and make them the ‘forbidden fruit’ will only make them that much more tempting. Sugar is the main cause of tooth decay and provides no nutrients. It is much better to give children sweet foods at the end of a meal when there is plenty of saliva in the mouth to help wash away the acid that can cause tooth decay. It is the frequency with which sugar is consumed rather than the amount that does the most damage to your child’s teeth so choose healthy snacks between meals like fruit, raw vegetable sticks or Twiglets. Cultivating a sweet tooth is easy but changing bad habits is a very difficult task. In general it is much better to end a meal with fresh fruit rather than a sugary dessert and you should introduce a wide variety of fruits and present them in an attractive way. You can puree berry fruits sieve them and mix them with some juice then freeze them in lolly moulds to make delicious fresh fruit lollies.

Some desserts however do contain valuable nutrients for example a good quality ice-cream or rice pudding provides a good source of calcium.

susiet: My daughter is six (nearly seven) months old and has taken to solid food very well. She is a big fan of your recipes, particularly "Lovely Lentils"! My question regards chocolate - should Amy have tried it by now? My mum and other relatives are amazed that we have not given it to her yet. Am I a mean mum, or just sensible about my daughter's eating habits?

Annabel: Chocolate is not such a bad food it contains some ingredients that are good for you such as iron, magnesium and calcium (milk chocolate). There is also a good reason to crave chocolate as eating chocolate makes us feel good since it triggers the release of serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain, which have an uplifting effect. The downside is that chocolate is loaded with calories, bad for teeth and will take your child’s appetite away from more nutritious foods like my ‘lovely lentils’. I think at six months Amy still has plenty of time to look forward to the joys of chocolate and what she doesn’t know about she is hardly going to miss.

Incidentally if you add extra stock and seasoning to my recipe for lentil puree it will make a delicious soup for the rest of the family.

Wornout: I am becoming quite deseperate. My two and a half year old has always been a poor eater (even though I bought your baby/toddler book as soon as I started to wean him!). I took him to the doctors a few weeks ago because of his eating and also terrible nail-biting and a blood test which has come back shows that he is severley anaemic. I feel terrible and have asked his nursery to keep a food chart so I know what exactly he is eating as I have to work. He has been on ferrasmal for two weeks but I have not seen an improvement in his eating although his nail-biting has improved. I feel very desperate as I do not relish the thought of regular blood test for him or worse a stay in hospital, can you help please?

Annabel: Unfortunately many toddlers are very fussy eaters and although they are small they are incredibly stubborn. It’s important not give your two and a half year old lots of snacks between meals that might take his appetite away from proper food so it's best not to buy crisps, chocolate biscuits or fruit juices. Try to think of the foods that he will eat that are healthy and build meals around these – for example if he likes cheese you could make baked potato topped with cheese, macaroni cheese or cheese and tomato on toast.

Did you know that 25% of young children in this country are deficient in iron?

Red meat is a very good food for young children as it provides the best and most easily absorbed source of iron. A lack of iron in the diet can cause tiredness, lack of energy, lowered resistance to infection and can impair mental and physical development.

Very often it is not the taste of red meat that children object to but the chewy texture of meat, so it is important to cook meat until it is tender and mix it with soft foods like mashed potato or spaghetti. If I make a Bolognese sauce I often cook the meat and then chop it for a few seconds in a food processor so that it is easier to chew.

Here’s a tasty recipe you could try:

EASY BOLOGNESE SAUCE

This is a very quick and easy to make Bolognese sauce using a can of tomato soup as one of the ingredients. The commonest nutritional deficiency amongst children in the UK is iron deficiency and since red meat provides the best source of iron, it’s good to find some tasty recipes that include it which will appeal to children.

Bolognese sauce suitable for freezing

1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
15ml (1 tbsp) vegetable oil
500g (1 lb 2 oz) lean minced beef
½ tsp freeze-dried herbs
100g (4 oz) button mushrooms, sliced
1 X 400g (14 oz) can of chopped tomatoes
1 X 295g (10 oz) can of condensed cream of tomato soup
400g (14 oz) spaghetti

Saute the onion and garlic in the oil for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the beef and the herbs and saute until the beef has changed colour. Add the sliced mushrooms and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and cook over a medium heat for about 15 minutes. Season to taste. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a large pan of lightly salted water according to the instructions on the packet. Mix the cooked pasta with the Bolognese sauce and serve.

MAKES 8 PORTIONS

Recipe from Annabel Karmel’s Family Meal Planner published by Ebury Press £14.99

Nikkid:. My 2 1/2 year old will not each fruit (except bananas). He doesn't seem to like their texture as he will pick up a piece of fruit and then pull a face and throw it away. Any ideas of how I can introduce hidden fruit? 

Annabel: An idea that might appeal is to make ice-lollies using fresh fruit. Here’s a recipe for forest fruit lollies. Incidentally these can also be made using frozen mixed berries.

50g (2 oz) raspberries
50g (2 oz) strawberries
50g (2 oz) blueberries
50g (2 oz) blackberries
2 tablespoons icing sugar
1 X 150g (5 oz) pot of raspberry or strawberry yoghurt

Put the berries into a saucepan together with the icing sugar and cook over a gentle heat for a few minutes until the fruit is soft and mushy. Puree the fruit and sieve, then stir in the yoghurt. Pour into ice lolly moulds and freeze.

MAKES 4 LOLLIES

Candy: I'd just like to say that I have found your books very useful but as a mum who works full time with a partner who only cooks tinned spaghetti and baked potatoes, I need meals that I can prepare very quickly when I get home from work. Also, I'm trying to ensure that my children are vegetarian at home, even if I've not quite manged it when they're out with friends! Any suggestions for quick, easy, veggie family meals and/or easy lunchbox food, would be greatly appreciated

Annabel: I have just written a booklet on lunchboxes for Kingsmill who have launched a new bread ‘Kingsmill Wholewhite’ which is a white bread made using 1/3 wholemeal flour. There are some delicious recipes and ideas in the booklet and you can get a copy by writing to KINGMILL LUNCHBOX Biss Lancaster Euro RSCG 69 Monmouth Street London WC2H 9JW.

Here’s a couple of tasty vegetarian recipes for you to try:

SWEET AND SOUR VEGETABLE STIR FRY

1 ½ tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion chopped
60g (2 oz) baby sweetcorn cut into quarters
60g (2 oz) carrots, sliced thinly
90g (3 oz) broccoli cut into small florets
90g (3 oz) beansprouts
30g (1 oz) red pepper, cored, deseeded and cut into strips
1 spring onion, finely chopped
pinch of black pepper

Sweet and Sour Sauce
150 ml (1/4 pint) vegetable stock
½ tbsp cornflour blended with 1 tbsp cold water
2 tsp soft brown sugar
½ tbsp soy sauce

Heat the oil in a wok or frying pan. Add the onion and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sweetcorn, carrots and broccoli and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add the beansprouts, red pepper and spring onion, and stir fry for a further 2 minutes. Season with a little black pepper.

To make the sauce, blend the vegetable stock with the cornflour paste in a small pan. Mix in the brown sugar and soy sauce. Set over a high heat, bring to the boil and simmer for about 2 minutes, until the sauce is thickened . Toss the hot vegetables with the sauce, and heat through in the wok.

MAKES 4 PORTIONS

Recipe from Annabel Karmel’s Feeding Your Baby and Toodler publiashed by Dorling Kindersley £12.99

Cheesy bread and butter pudding
Makes 8 portions

25g butter
3 onions, sliced finely
1 tsp fresh thyme
1 clove garlic, crushed
50g grated parmesan cheese
50g grated Cheddar
50g grated gruyère
3 large eggs
8 to 10 slices white bread (medium sliced, crusts removed)
500ml milk
1/2 tsp English mustard
salt and pepper
butter to grease the dish

Preheat an oven to 190C (375 F). Melt the butter in a large saucepan and gently fry the onions for about 10 minutes until softened and lightly golden. Stir in the thyme and garlic and season with salt and pepper and leave to cool slightly. Mix together the three cheeses and stir into the onions.

Butter an ovenproof dish and lay in half of the bread, sprinkle over half of the cheese and onion mixture. Top with the remaining bread and sprinkle over the other half of the cheese and onion. Mix together the eggs, milk and mustard powder and season with salt and pepper. Pour over this over the cheese and bread and leave to soak for about 10 minutes.

Bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes.

MAKES 8 PORTIONS

Recipe from Annabel Karmel’s Superfoods for Babies and Children Ebury Press £14.99

Chicken recipes are very popular in my house and for a quick and easy meal mix together 2 tbsp soy sauce, 20g muscovado sugar and gently heat until sugar has dissolved stir in 1/2 tbsp lime or lemon juice and 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil and add just a little crushed garlic. Cut 2 chicken breasts into chunks and marinate in this mixture for one hour or longer. Thread the chicken onto skewers and cook in an oven pre-heated to 180C/350F for 4 to 5 mins each side, basting occasionally.

Gingjo:My daughter had dreadful eczema and we kept her off dairy and eggs after a doctor said she was allergic to them. Now coming up to three she eats cheese and the occasional yoghurt with no ill effects, but has never developed a taste for milk or milky things. I now have a new baby and wondered what your advice regards weaning him would be, and if I do have to avoid dairy again what I can give him to make sure he gets enough calcium (I gave my daughter calcium syrup but was never convinced she was absorbing it as someone told me that calcium was difficult to take as a supplement). Also any appetising calcium rich egg/milk free recipes a fussy toddler might manage?

Annabel: It might be safest to hold off dairy products for a while until your son is a little older. Interestingly most children who are allergic to dairy products outgrow the allergy by the age of two or three.

Other good sources of calcium are dark green leafy vegetables, tofu and sardines. There are some very good non dairy products called (I believe) Provamel. They are like yoghurt but do not contain milk. You can also buy ice cream made from Tofu, I think it is called Tofutti.

Ems:We've really enjoyed your books, especially the early days food, weaning and the combinations, I especially remember the banana and courgette!

I just wondered what is your family comfort food, the food you give your children when they are ill and off school. My mum always gave us Heinz chicken soup and toasted soldiers. Do your children have favourites?

Annabel:My children's favourite comfort food has to be my chicken soup which everyone loves. The recipe is on page 62 of the New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner and they particularly like it when I add very thin noodles to the soup.

They also love my shepherd's pie which is in my Family meal Planner and my favourite comfort food is my Strawberry and Rhubarb Crumble which is in my new book Superfoods for Babies and Children.

Bon:My 16 month old daughter eats everything I put in front of her and then demands more. She's chubby but certainly not fat. Can children of this age ever eat too much? I consider her diet to be healthy with lots of fresh veg (she's not great on fruit) and at the moment allow her to eat as much as she wants.

Annabel: It's not unusual for 16 month old babies to be quite chubby, they usually lose this puppy fat when they start running around.

The important thing is to give her as much fresh food as possible. Processed foods tend to be high in saturated fat. Also try to get her to eat wholegrain cereals like porridge, muesli, Weetabix rather than the refined sugary cereals especially manufactured for children.

One reason why children put on too much weight (and the number of obese children has doubled in the last ten years) is because of the snacks they eat between meals. Limit foods like crisps, chocolate biscuits, fizzy drinks or fruit juices.

If your daughter doesn't like eating fresh fruit you could try giving her ice-lollies made from fresh fruit. See the answer to the next question

Bon: Thanks for your reply. Your tips are helpful, especially the idea of giving them ice-lollies made of fresh fruit, which she'll definately go for! But could you confirm, is it impossible to over-feed a child healthy food?

Annabel: Yes it is possible to overfeed a child with healthy food.

Too much protien will turn to fat and fruit is high in sugar even though it is natural sugar. Dried fruit is particularly fattening.

I think a mum's instinct is always the best and if you feel your child is putting on too much weight go and see your doctor to put your mind at rest .

Enjoy the ice-lollies!

Qd: My three and a half year old will not eat any fruit except apples, usually with cheese or fed by me. He ate bananas until he was about one and now flatly refuses to try any new fruit and just says he doesn't like it even though he hasn't tried it. He will eat vegetables because they are easier to lose in other food. I just wish he would eat fruit. Have you any advice please?

Annabel: How about trying to make ice lollies using fresh fruit? Here’s a recipe for a strawberry lolly. You could also use a mixture of berry fruits instead and then use blackcurrant juice instead of the orange juice. You could also try making fruity milkshakes or fruit smoothies.

STRAWBERRY SORBET ICE LOLLY

50g (2 oz) caster sugar
60ml (2 fl oz) water
250g (9 oz) strawberries, hulled and cut in half
I medium orange, squeezed

Put the sugar and water into a saucepan and boil until syrupy (about 3 minutes). Allow to cool. Puree the strawberries and sieve to get rid of the seeds. Combine the strawberry puree, syrup and orange juice and pour this mixture into ice-lolly moulds. Freeze until solid.

MAKES 6 LOLLIES

tech: My four month old baby girl has started solids but hates anything savoury. She will eat any type of sweet pudding such as fromage frais, stewed apple etc but give her anything savory and she just won't eat it.

Annabel: Some of the root vegetables like sweet potato are naturally very sweet so it's worth trying. You can also mix vegetables and fruit together for example sweet potato with a little orange juice or sweet potato with apple. Sweet potato is also very nutritious as it is very rich in vitamin A.

Another vegetable that might appeal because of its sweet taste is butternut squash. Again you can use it on its own or combine it with fruits like pears, peaches or plums. There are lots of recipe in my books that mix savoury and sweet tastes together for example, chicken with grapes.

Joe:My son has just turned one and has had a few of your recipes since weaning. However, with his teeth coming through he has his off days where food is concerned. Can you recommend anything that he might find easy and appetising to eat and also something that will not take very long for me to prepare (some of your recipes take me twice as long as you state and I wreck the kitchen). Also nutritious snacks to carry around when we are out and about.

Annabel: Young children tend to like fried rice and here’s a tasty easy to prepare recipe to which you could add some chopped cooked chicken to make a more complete meal.

225g (8 oz) basmati rice
75g (3oz) carrots, peeled and diced
75g (3 oz) frozen peas
75g (3 oz) red pepper, de-seeded and diced
2 eggs, lightly beaten
a little salt
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 spring onion, finely sliced
2 tbsp soy sauce

Wash the rice thoroughly and cook according to the packet instructions in a saucepan of lightly salted water. Steam the carrots, peas and pepper until tender (about 5 minutes). Season the eggs with a little salt and fry them in 1 tablespoon of the oil until set, then cut into thin strips. Meanwhile, put 2 tablespoons of oil into a wok or frying pan and sauté the chopped onion until softened. Add the steamed vegetables and rice and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the egg and spring onion and cook, stirring for 2 minutes more. Sprinkle with the soy sauce before serving.

MAKES 4 PORTIONS

Here are some ideas for healthy snacks :

Carrot and Cucumber Sticks if you chill these in the fridge, they can be quite soothing for sore gums.

Fresh fruit – you can buy mini fruits like small bananas, clementines or apples which are ideal

Mini sandwiches with nutritious fillings like peanut butter, Marmite, cream cheese and cucumber or egg mayonnaise with salad cress

Dried fruit particularly dried apricots

Mini cheeses

Twiglets or vegetable crisps


Quimble: Firstly I'd like to say how much your book has helped me with feeding my baby. I can't imagine managing without it now! Have you ever thought about including a section for meals which can be eaten when on the move, when you can't always heat things? I have taken the chicken salad puree (from the 6-9m section) on journeys with me because it only has to be kept cold, but I would welcome more ideas for a baby who is of the age (9m) where he can't quite manage sandwiches. (Most of it gets dropped!).

Annabel: These chicken and apple balls are very popular and just the right size for little fingers, they would make good portable food and you make a batch and freeze them.

CHICKEN AND APPLE BALLS

This is a tasty recipe, very easy to make and the apple blends really well with the chicken to bring out the flavour and keep it moist. These little balls make great finger food.

MAKES ABOUT 10 CHICKEN BALLS

3 chicken breasts
1 large eating apple, peeled
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped sage or parsley, or a pinch of mixed dried herbs
½ small onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 crumbled chicken stock cube (for babies over 1 year)
2 tablespoons fresh breadcrumbs
plain flour
vegetable oil

Chop the chicken very finely in a food processor and grate the apple. Mix the lemon juice with the apple. Combine the chicken, apple, fresh or dried herbs, onion, finely crumbled stock cube (if using) and breadcrumbs. Form into about 10 little balls and roll in flour. Heat the oil in a frying pan and when it is really hot, shallow-fry the balls until they are golden and cooked through (about 6 minutes).

MAKES ABOUT 10 CHICKEN BALLS

katehb: Any tips on what healthy finger foods to give my eight month old daughter? She has six teeth now and bites and chews well.

Annabel: Raw vegetables like carrot, cucumberor red pepper sticks make great finger food and you can let her dip them into a vegetable puree or tasty dip made with mashed avocado.

Dried fruit particularly dried apricots make good finger food.

Strips of grilled cheese on toast make good finger food.

See also my recipe for Chicken and Apple Balls these are just the right size for little hands and they are delicious.

Tracyr: My son is five months and has been eating solids now for about six to seven weeks. He eats cereal for breakfast, vegetables plus a yoplait for lunch and fruit for dinner. He has three milk bottles a day of 7oz. Should he be eating more at this stage? Also can I start giving him meat, chicken and pasta now? I also have a daughter who is just over two years old who has always been a terrible eater. She eats well only when she fancies which is not very often! On average she eats two out of three meals properly and can often just eat a piece of toast for dinner or a just a yoghurt and some fruit. I rarely give her chocolate and crisps in between meals unless she has eaten well that day or she is at friends. How can I get her to eat more or should I stop tearing my hair out. I know her weight and height are fine for her age, but I still can't help worrying.

Annabel: Milk is still the most important food for your baby at five months so don't cut down on the amount you are giving him yet.

I recommend introducing meat, chicken and fish at around six months. The iron stores inherited from mum start to run out at the age of six months so red meat is important in a babies diet as it provides the best and most easily absorbed source of iron. Very often it is not the taste of red meat that babies dislike but the texture, so it is a good idea to mix red meat together with root vegetables or pasta. You can introduce pasta at six months but most babies find it too lumpy until abut eight to nine months.

As for your daughter - it is very common for toddlers to become fussy eaters. Babies grow more rapidly in their first year than at any other time in their life so growth and appetite tend to slow down in the second year. It is very important to limit snacks and drinks between meals. Also be consistent with your rules if she doesn't eat her meal don't make a big fuss just say fine it's obvious that you are not hungry and let her wait for the next mealtime. Some children are never allowed to feel hungry as mum is always at hand to offer some food - but it is a good lesson to learn as even at two they will remember that if they refuse to eat now they will be hungry later.

kmg: A big thank you - both my boys were weaned on your recipes - I used to do a big cook up every couple of weeks, and then feed them from the freezer. It saved loads of time, and they are both now (at two and four) terrific eaters - not fussy at all. I also got to cook lots of things I'd never cooked before - like watercress - what a faff - I've not done that again! But also Fennel - which tasted great, but I've never come across another recipe with fennel in. Do adults get do eat it too? What can you do with it that's rather more grown up?

Annabel: I'm so glad that your boys enjoyed my recipes and have grown up to be such good eaters. It makes my work so worthwhile to hear that !

Believe it or not I'm not a great fan of fennel myself but I do notice on restaurant menus that it is often put together with fish.

Hawkes: I did have a very healthy five year old who ate well without too much fuss but suddenly he's decided that he doesn't like sandwiches. This is a problem as he's about to stay for lunch at school and this has to be a packed lunch. Do you have any non bread ideas? I have tried him with rolls, wraps etc but to no avail.

Annabel: I have just written a booklet on lunchboxes for Kingsmill who have launched a new bread ‘Kingsmill Wholewhite’ which is a white bread made using 1/3 wholemeal flour. There are some delicious recipes and ideas in the booklet and you can get a copy by writing to KINGMILL LUNCHBOX Biss Lancaster Euro RSCG 69 Monmouth Street London WC2H 9JW.

. In cold weather it can be nice to have something hot in your child’s lunchbox like tomato soup in a flask.

· Raw vegetable sticks and cherry tomatoes with a dip

· Chicken on a stick perhaps satay chicken or see my recipe for chicken and apple balls above

· Most children will leave food that takes a lot of effort to eat as they want a quick re-fuelling stop leaving maximum time for the playground. Its best to give clementines already peeled and wrapped in clingfilm or cut a kiwi in half and let your child scoop out the flesh with a teaspoon.

· Pasta salads are good see the tasty recipe below it is a great favourite with my family.

CHICKEN AND PASTA SALAD

This is the most delicious, easy to prepare chicken salad and it’s great for lunchboxes.

600ml (1 pint) chicken stock
2 chicken breasts
100g (4 oz) pasta bows cooked and cooled
100g (4 oz) canned or frozen sweetcorn
18 small cherry tomatoes cut in half
2 spring onions, finely sliced
½ baby gem lettuce, shredded

Dressing
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
½ tsp sugar
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp chicken stock from the poaching liquid

Poach the chicken for about 10 minutes in the stock, then leave to cool completely. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and cut into bite-sized pieces (this can be prepared the night before). To make the dressing, whisk together all of the ingredients (or use a hand blender). Combine all the ingredients for the salad and toss in the dressing.
MAKES 6 PORTIONS

Lorien: Could you share your views on the value of organically-grown vegetables and fruit? I live in Malaysia, where there are very few health and safety guidelines on the use of pesticides/fertilizers. In consequence I have taken to using organic veggies for my 10-month-old. These are significantly more expensive than other produce and I wonder if you think it makes a difference or not?

Annabel:I’m not entirely convinced that organically grown vegetables and fruit are worth the extra money. Provided you wash or peel fruit and vegetables I don’t believe there is any evidence that they contain sufficiently high levels of pesticides to harm children. Personally I would far rather see children eat more fruits and vegetables organic or not.


Natt: I have an 11-month-old who wants to eat anything anybody else is eating (and seems to enjoy things like gherkins!). I am a vegetarian and sometimes eat meat substitute products ( eg soya protein sausages). I wouldn't normally give these to the baby (who has chicken and fish in his diet anyway) but he's always grabbing whatever I'm having. Is there any reason he shouldn't try these things? Also what would you recommend for innards for sandwiches for his age-group? He has got to a stage where he much prefers things he can eat with his fingers.

Annabel: I have found that young children often enjoy eating the strangest things and are more sophisticated in their tastes than we might expect. My three children love pickled cucumbers so I’m not at all surprised that your 11 month old enjoys eating gherkins.

A typical adult vegetarian diet may not suit a young child as it tends to be quite bulky with lots of pulses, beans etc. Young children need more concentrated calories as otherwise they could easily feel full without being able to consume the nutrients that they need. Foods like cheese or eggs are good for growing children. Also red meat provides the best and most easily absorbed source of iron and 25% of young children are deficient in iron so its good to include meat in your child’s diet provided you are not a strict vegetarian.

Here are some suggestions for sandwich fillings and its fun to cut sandwiches into novelty shapes using cookie cutters:

Grated cheese and carrot with mayonnaise
Chopped hard-boiled egg mashed mixed with salad cress and mayonnaise
Peanut butter and sliced banana
Mashed sardines with tomato ketchup
Grated cheese, Marmite and shredded lettuce
Cream cheese and cucumber
Thinly sliced Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato


Valen: First of all I want to say thank you for your wonderfull book: Super foods for babies and children. It has been very well received at home not just from my nine month old baby but my husband also that thinks that your recepies are very tasty!!!
I live in England and as you know the quality of the beef is not very reliable. What do you recomend for my baby proteins intake that is not poultry or fish?

Annabel:I'm so glad that you are enjoying my Superfoods book - I also feed my husband from this book. Please let me know the recipes that your husband enjoys and I will then let you know which are my husband's favourites from the book!

I would still give my baby red meat, it contains iron which is very inportant for both the physical and mental development of your child. If you ask your butcher to mince good steak or buy organic beef you should be absolutely safe.

Another good source of protein is lentils and there are some delicious lentil recipes in my Superfoods book Tasty Brown Rice with Lentils or Carrot Puree with Lentils and Cheese.

Cheese and Eggs are another good source of protein and you should try my carrot, chese and tomato risotto and the cheesy bread and butter pudding.

Tiu: What are your views are on bringing up children on a vegetarian diet?

Annabel:A vegetarian diet is fine for children provided it contains cheese and eggs. Some adult vegetarian diets are too bulky, they contain a lot of pulses, beans and rice and young children only have small tummies so they would feel full before they were able to eat enough of the nutrients that they need to grow properly. Also a lotof fibre in the diet can inhibit the absorption of minerals such aszinc, iron and calcium and can cause diarrhoea.

Eggs and cheese are energy dense foods which is what young children need.

Tiu: Thanks Annabel, She gets plenty of eggs and cheese. She also drinks about a pint of milk a day. We have started giving her semi-skimmed milk now she is two, rather than whole milk. As far as I know she's still getting all the vitamins etc she needs from it, but not so much fat. Is that right?

Annabel:Semi-skimmed milk at two is fine but shouldn't be given before that age.

Denizanasi: I think my problem is a very common one. My five month daughter started solids one month ago and she accepts very well any kind of fruits I offer, baby cereals with breast milk but no vegetables. I have tried different combinations with carrot, courgette, potato, peas and spinach but she rejects it after two or three spoons. Now I don't insist much because I am still feeding her with breast milk... but one or two months later I'll be stopping feeding. What do you suggest?

Annabel: I find that root vegetables tend to be popular with babies as they have a naturally sweet taste and puree to a smooth texture. You could try sweet potato, pumpkin, butternut squash. You can also mix root vegetables with fruit which might be a good idea in your case since your daughter already likes fruit. Try combinations like parsnip and apple, carrot mixed with a little orange juice or sweet potato and pear.

Hola: Protein at every meal?  We run a parent run nursery an we try to feed the children with a balanced diet (and sometimes we struggle to find creative solutions, so I look forward to reading your book) Here's our next challenge:
After more than one year of a vegetarian diet, the children seem to have a great appetite for meat. What is balanced diet of animal and vegetable protein? Do they need protein at every meal? (they're between 18 months and two years).

Annabel:It is reassuring to know that protein deficiency is almost unheard of in this country and most of us eat more protein than we need. The major protein foods are meat, chicken, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans and lentils. It is good to serve one of these foods for lunch and supper. As a rough guide children should eat meat or chicken 3 to 4 times a week and it is recommended that two portions of fish are eaten each week, one of which should be an oily fish like tuna, salmon, mackerel or sardines.

Wheely: How can I get my three year old to eat vegetables and salad?

Annabel: I make a delicious hidden vegetable tomato sauce which is great with pasta. The vegetables are blended into the tomato sauce so that children can’t pick them out!

TOMATO SAUCE WITH HIDDEN VEGETABLES

A delicious tomato sauce flavoured with a hint of creamy mascarpone cheese. A great way to get children to eat vegetables because this sauce makes them invisible and what they can’t see, they can’t pick out. Serve with pasta of your choice.

Suitable for Freezing

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
75g carrot, peeled and chopped
½ red pepper, chopped
100g courgette, chopped
20g butter
½ leek, chopped
75g mushrooms, chopped
3 ripe plum tomatoes, chopped
1 tbsp fresh basil leaves
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
salt and pepper
400ml passata
a pinch of sugar
50g mascarpone cheese

Saute the onion and garlic in the oil for 2 minutes until beginning to soften. Add the carrot and saute for 4 minutes. Add the red pepper and courgette and saute for 2 to 3 minutes until beginning to soften. Add the butter, leek and mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, passata, basil, parsley and salt and pepper and simmer covered for 15 minutes. Blend in a food processor. Press through a sieve and stir in the mascarpone cheese.

MAKES 4 ADULT PORTIONS

Recipe from Annabel Karmel’s Feeding Your Baby and Toddler published by Dorling Kindersley £12.99

Hawkes: Really found your books useful in weaning both children and beyond. I did have a very healthy five year old who ate well without too much fuss but suddenly he's decided that he doesn't like sandwiches. This is a problem as he's about to stay for lunch at school and this has to be a packed lunch. Do you have any non bread ideas? I have tried him with rolls, wraps etc but to no avail.

Annabel: I have just written a booklet on lunchboxes for Kingsmill who have launched a new bread ‘Kingsmill Wholewhite’ which is a white bread made using 1/3 wholemeal flour. There are some delicious recipes and ideas in the booklet and you can get a copy by writing to KINGMILL LUNCHBOX Biss Lancaster Euro RSCG 69 Monmouth Street London WC2H 9JW.

· In cold weather it can be nice to have something hot in your child’s lunchbox like tomato soup in a flask.

· Raw vegetable sticks and cherry tomatoes with a dip

· Chicken on a stick perhaps satay chicken or see my recipe for chicken and apple balls above

· Most children will leave food that takes a lot of effort to eat as they want a quick re-fuelling stop leaving maximum time for the playground. Its best to give clementines already peeled and wrapped in clingfilm or cut a kiwi in half and let your child scoop out the flesh with a teaspoon.

· Pasta salads are good see the tasty recipe below it is a great favourite with my family.

CHICKEN AND PASTA SALAD

This is the most delicious, easy to prepare chicken salad and it’s great for lunchboxes.

600ml (1 pint) chicken stock
2 chicken breasts
100g (4 oz) pasta bows cooked and cooled
100g (4 oz) canned or frozen sweetcorn
18 small cherry tomatoes cut in half
2 spring onions, finely sliced
½ baby gem lettuce, shredded

Dressing
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
½ tsp sugar
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp chicken stock from the poaching liquid

Poach the chicken for about 10 minutes in the stock, then leave to cool completely. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and cut into bite-sized pieces (this can be prepared the night before). To make the dressing, whisk together all of the ingredients (or use a hand blender). Combine all the ingredients for the salad and toss in the dressing.
MAKES 6 PORTIONS

samuekane: My son is now eight months old and becoming very independent. Any tips on finger foods? Is he old enough for raw vegatables? He still has no teeth but manages lumpy food.

Annabel: Before giving raw vegetables, I would advise steamed vegetables. You can lightly steam sticks of carrot or small florets of broccoli or cauliflower. Once your baby has more teeth you can move on to raw vegetables.

The problem with raw vegetables is the danger that your baby could bite off a piece and then choke on it.

Valen:My husband really enjoys all your recipies but he loves all of those which have fruit in them. Could you tell me what the F in a blue circle means in your book? I think the V in the green circle is for vegeterian isn't it

Annabel: The 'F' in the blue circle means that the recipe is suitable for freezing.

The recipes that my husband particularly enjoys from my Superfood book are the Chicken Salad with Sweetcorn, Pasta and Cherry Tomatoes, Delicious Chicken Burgers, Strawberry and Rhubarb Crumble, Thai Style Chicken Curry with Pilau Rice, Mild Beef Curry, My Favourite Fish Pie, Mixed Berry and Peach Crumble.

It was great talking to all of you and its nice to know that my recipes are being enjoyed by young and old alike !

Remember : The best form of preventive medicine is a well-stocked larder.

Best Wishes to you all.

Annabel Karmel