See what users would like to know about getting the nutrients they need from the food they eat

[EllieMumsnet]

This thread is now closed for questions

As parents we always want our family to have the best and most nutritious food to help fuel our bodies. With so much information out there on nutrition it can be difficult to get through to the best advice for a balanced diet for you and your children. Dr Catherine Birch, who is working with Noluma on the issue of light-protection, is here to help and will be answering any questions you have around your family’s nutrition, vitamins, balanced diets and more!

Here’s a bit more information about Dr. Birch: "Here’s a bit more information about Dr. Birch: “An expert in food and nutrition, Dr. Catherine works at Newcastle University researching factors that impact food such as climate change, shopping behaviours and new technologies. She recently co-authored a report on the nutritional value of milk and the impact light can have on its essential nutrients. She is passionate about ensuring we all eat healthy food, food waste is minimised and your food stays fresher for longer.”

Do you know your Vitamin A from your Vitamin B2 and D? Do you know why it matters to you and your kids? Do you know which foods help fuel kids growth? Maybe you’d like more information on the best before date, what packaging keeps food fresher longer, and/or how to prevent your food from spoiling so quickly.

Whatever questions you have on these or other subjects, ask them on the thread below and we’ll choose 10-12 for Dr. Catherine to answer. Everyone who posts a question will be entered into a prize draw where 3 MNers will each win a £100 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw.
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

[DaisyEmma]

How do you know if you are deficient in necessary vitamins or nutrients? We are vegan and although certainly feeling much healthier than before, I sometimes wonder if we are getting everything we need?

[FreakForHummous]

Any advice for fussy eaters?

DS is 11 and does eat some veg and fruit but very limited in the types he will eat. I've tried practically everything over the years to encourage him to try different foods and he will still only eat a combination of about 20 different things as he says everything tastes too strong. I'm vegan but DC do have some meat and dairy. DS won't have dairy at all so has vegan alternatives mainly. How do I ensure he's getting everything he needs?

Also interested in the answer to DaisyEmma's question

[elizaco]

What ingredients would you use to make the perfect smoothie?

[MadeForThis]

My 17 month old is a nightmare to feed. She eats a good range of food but stops each meal after 6/7 bites.

She gets a multi vitamin every day.

Can you advise on how best to ensure she is getting enough nutrients when the amount she eats is so small?

She's also still breastfeeding.

[JulesJules]

There's been quite a bit in the news about vit D supplements recently - should we all be taking them? Or a multivitamin?

[DeepestBlues]

Is it possible to 'overdose' on iron if a large variety of foods with it in, i.e. big portions of dark green leafy vegetables, salads etc, are eaten daily? How much is too much? What are the health risks?

[boptanana]

Will taking a vitamin supplement make a difference to my children’s immune systems and reduce the likelihood of them picking up bugs in the winter?

[StickChildNumberTwo]

How do I get the most vitamins and minerals out of fresh fruit and veg?

[BursarsDriedFrogPills]

How much is it really worth worrying over "fussy eaters". My DC eat OK, not super adventurous but not overly limited. Both prefer fruit to veg, we limit treats etc but otherwise can I relax in assumption they'll self regulate in terms of their other needs (eat carbs when they need carbs, eat protein when they need protein etc)?

[cobhamhall]

My 14 Yr old has numerous food allergies and overweight.Will not eat any veggies and likes only one fruit!How do I get veggies into them?!I also worry about omega 3s as they have a fish allergy.

[Lovelydovey]

I’ve noticed my 7yo is putting on quite a lot of weight - any tips for managing this at an early stage before it becomes an issue? He is always hungry and has a voracious sweet tooth!

[Serin]

Nut butters, do you think there are any draw backs to mine eating the stuff in vast quantities?
Also is the higher quality, expensive stuff (and different types like cashew/hazlenut) any better than shops own brand, palm oil issues aside.

[dannydog1]

Is it really true that frozen vegetables are as nutritious as fresh? I find it much less wasteful to use mainly frozen.

[Kahlua4me]

I have recently been told that everybody should be following a low carb/high fat diet as the traditional food pyramid is incorrect. This type of eating seems very popular now too but I do wonder how safe it is and it seems to go against everything I have been taught about food and diet.

Is this true and is it healthy for children?

[longwayoff]

Chewing and swallowing works pretty well for nutrient extraction. Its worked for millennia.

[bikerclaire]

My boyfriend has a calcium deficiency and has drunk extra semi-skimmed or skimmed milk to help counter this for years. I'm worried that our 2.5yo daughter might have inherited this as she's got several holes already that need filling, though she does tend to fall asleep 'on boobie' and is still taking breastmilk at night. I'm trying to gradually wean her off at nights, offering water instead but I'm mostly wondering what I can do to best help improve both of their calcium intake and absorbtion please? She and her daddy are omnivore and I'm pescetarian (though I did get some meaty cravings when pregnant!).

[avocadochocolate]

There are a lot of media reports that suggest you should avoid a lot of carbs, especially wheat-based, because cavemen did not eat this kind of stuff and our bodies do not process the modern 'industrialized' wheat that well. It seems that we are supposed to replace some of these carbs with extra lean protein. Is this nonsense or is there some truth in it?

[JC4PMPLZ]

Is it true that contemporary fruit and vegetables contain far fewer vitamins than in the past - because of our industrialised farming methods?

[Ringsender2]

My dairy (and egg and nut) allergy son has rice milk
We put him on that at about age 2 as we were worries about phyto oestrogens in soya. However, I am worried about arsenic levels/cumulative impact from rice milk.

Any words of wisdom on this? He is now a teen

[Anj123]

My daughter has eczema and I wondered if there were any foods she should avoid or eat more of? Can eczema be diet related?

[Skyejuly]

We are vegan. How can I make sure we do not get an b12 deficiency?

[Gatoadigrado]

Are there any supplements you would recommend taking on a regular basis?

[Rosehassometoes]

How many fruit/veg a day should we be aiming for. Is 5 really enough. Should it be 10?

What are the best fish/seafood to eat and frequency? As an Island I often think we should eat more, how much is too much?

[AbbiCMumsnet]

Thanks for all your questions, and congratulations to @emphasisofmatter, @jacqui5366 and @Lovelydovey for winning a £100 voucher!