Ask Birds Eye’s nutrition expert your questions about children’s nutrition to win a £150 voucher NOW CLOSED

[AmeliaMumsnet]

With the internet and TV playing host to such a broad range of voices and opinions, there’s no limit to the amount of information you can find about children’s nutrition at the touch of a button. But with so much information out there, it can be difficult to know who to trust. So, Birds Eye have asked children’s nutrition expert, Lauren Woodley, to answer some of your questions and hopefully help to make tea time slightly less stressful.

Here’s what they have to say: ‘Tea time can be the most stressful part of the day when you have a family to feed and coming up with nutritious and tasty meals that your DCs will enjoy is not easy. That’s why Birds Eye frozen chicken is always made with 100% chicken breast, barn-reared chickens and no artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. We’ve enlisted the help of nutritionist Lauren Woodley to answer some of your questions, and hopefully make tea time that bit easier!’

Post any questions you have about the nutritional value of the foods you give your children on the thread below and we’ll choose 20 for Lauren to answer. Everyone who posts their questions will be entered into a prize draw for a £150 of their choice (from a list).

Here’s some information about Lauren Woodley:

‘Lauren Woodley is a registered nutritionist working for Birds Eye. She holds an accredited Nutrition BSc, and has had a career as an industry nutritionist for the past five years. Lauren is especially passionate about nutrition education, demystifying nutrition science and translating it into simple, consumer-friendly messages.’

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw,

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

My 10 year old really dislikes breakfast I have a struggle weekly trying to find something she will eat that isn't like a chocolates pop tart or chocolates croissant which are just full of sugars - do any of those cereal bars out there really provide enough goodness to start your day - as she doesn't like toast or cereal with milk (which the other 3 children will all eat) xx

I am rather confused about fruit sugars. How much fruit a day is recommended?

how many calories should a fit active 12 year old girl be eating ?

I struggle to decide between limiting salt and limiting sugar when making choices for my children. Any advice greatly appreciated.

What are good ways of getting calcium into my dairy & soya free toddler who goes through fussy and non fussy stages. Any help is greatly appreciated.

My just 12 year old has decided to become a vegan. She doesn't like quern or soya mince and I'm worried about her getting the right balance of nutrients for her pre teen developing body.

Is Weetabix with honey an ok breakfast?

How do you recommend giving children adequate choline in their diet?

What goes into the coating/breadcrumbs/batter on your chicken and how is it cooked? Is it fried or oven baked for example.

I'd like to know what it's made from and overall how healthy it is.

As I wouldn't feed my children birds eye chicken at the moment because it appears really unhealthy. Would like to be proved wrong though as it seems like an easy tea option!
Thanks

How can I explain the importance of a balanced diet in a way that will make my 10 yo DD want to have a balanced diet?!

My son is a typical fussy 3 year old when it comes to veg. He has a good varied diet otherwise and eats a lot of fruit. Is he missing out on essential nutrients with his veg refusing however?

My kids are all fussy eaters esp my eldest son, i supplement them with multivitamins and omega...exactly how effective are these and do they actually provide the vital nutrients in the required daily quantity

Should teenagers be taking any vitamin or mineral supplements?

My daughter is 3 and her favourite food is eggs...How many eggs and how often is ok for a small child?!

DD can be fussy. She won't eat any salad items at all. She is starting to eat less meat than she was. She will eat most vegetables. She is starting to go off breakfast. She is 9.

As a fussy eater myself, I cannot force her to eat anything that she doesn't like, but don't want her to end up overweight. I am not sure what to do really, to encourage her to try different things. Any advice?

My four year old really loves fruit. Could she ever eat too much?

Please could you explain how much sugar is recommended for children aged 1-6 each day?

My 15 month old HATES vegetables, when I say hate, I mean really hate. He eats plenty of fruit but can sniff a vegetable a mile off. How can I get veggie goodness into his diet?

At what age should I start encouraging my DCs to eat low fat versions of milk, yoghurt etc?

How much calcium should I be aiming for with my 2 and 3 year olds diet. The little one will glug milk, but what is the recommended amount of calcium containing food to have daily, and what does that equate to?

My eighteen month old doesn't seem to know when to stop eating. He seems content mostly with my guesses at what makes a toddler sized meal that he has at home and doesn't ask for snacks between meals, but if we eat out he'll certainly finish a typical children's meal and has been known to polish off an adult meal (we're veggie and he has a dairy allergy, so sometimes it's all that's suitable) quite happily without seeming uncomfortable afterwards, so now I wonder if my servings are too small. I'd love a good recommendation for portion/meal sizes for toddlers.

When is sugar bad and when is it not? For instance dried fruit has lots of sugar. And no added sugar juices the sweeteners, good or bad versus full sugar varieties? It's so confusing!!

Why is ready-made food (the shop-bought sort) always so heavily seasoned? Birdseye fishfingers being an exception, as it happens!

One of my children has asked to have adult sized protein portions. I'm fine with this as he's now getting older and I don't want him to stuff himself with too much bread.

Can you recommend any healthy protein to eat in addition to meat, fish, and eggs? He's not a cheese or beans fan yet, but we keep trying! Thank you.

Can you clarify the advice on Vit D supplements for kids? What's are good sources in their diet?
Thank you