Half term and beyond: Ask an expert anything about kids nutrition - £200 voucher to be won

[EllieSmumsnet]

Did you know research by GoGo squeeZ shows that British children consume over 40% more added sugar during the school holidays? With half-term approaching, many parents are looking for ways to keep their kids energised while cutting down on sugary snacks.

That’s why we’re thrilled to have Lucy Upton, a leading UK Paediatric Dietitian, here to answer your questions on providing nutritious, balanced snacks and meals during half-term and beyond. Whether you're seeking nutritious snack ideas, advice on managing sugar intake, or tips for ensuring your children stay full of energy throughout the holidays, Lucy is here to help!

Drop your questions below, and let’s tackle half-term snacking with nutritious, delicious solutions!

• Everyone who shares a questions on the thread below by 29/11/2024 will be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky Mumsnet user will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice
• Lucy Upton will be back soon to answer some of your questions

Expert Bio:
Here to answer your questions about nutrition during half term and beyond, Lucy Upton is a leading UK Paediatric Dietitian with over 14 years of experience. Passionate about children’s nutrition, Lucy supports families with advice to overcome feeding challenges, and creates nutritious recipes using her expertise learned from diverse NHS settings, including GP clinics and specialist children’s hospitals.

Here is what GoGo squeeZ has to say:
"GoGo squeeZ fruit smoothie snacks are made from 100% fruit, contain only naturally occurring sugars and are a source of fibre for a nutritious and mess free snack. GoGo squeeZ is perfect for busy kids and parents, whether it's in lunchboxes as a school friendly snack or for half term adventures, it's an easy way to squeeze in one of their 5-a-day."

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ
Insight Terms and Conditions apply

My toddler would love to eat nothing but fruit all day. Is there a risk of too much fruit if he has some at every meal and snack? Do I need to ration him?

I swapped from sweeteners to sugar, and always check the labels on food for those with high fat and sugar - I like to bake for half term, but this means high fat high sugar cakes and biscuits - what would you recommend for healthier baking ? what food ingredients substitutes could I use ?

How do these purees not go off quicker? Always baffles me.

What are your top 10 budget buys to keep kids full untill meal time.

Are smoothies genuinely recommended as a healthy alternative? Still contain natural sugars and are really discouraged by dentists (teeth extraction number 1 reason for children's hospital stays!?)

There is a lot of packing for these smoothies - they are an option for children I'm sure - but buying one a day is a lot of packing to recycle - could you make a larger glass bottle to be decanted for children ?

Have you come across citric acid intolerance before? My DS has had years suffering from stomach pain and itchy skin. After a exclusion diet we narrowed it down to citric acid. It's in bloody everything!
But he is 100% better unless he has some by mistake. Is it something you've seen?

Giving a balanced diet, a bit of everything is what I want to give, sweet, savoury, and filling. So my question about half term - I'd like to batch cook vegetable pasta, and oat fruit crumbles - but how would you make them less boring of you are offering a similar meal for the week.

How much sugar is too much ? how many chocolate bars or sweets would you say is an ideal amount - children deserve treats - but in with a balanced diet, plenty of fruit and veg, and water (we don't have juices) - and good oral hygiene.

I've read smoothies break down fruit sugars and the body absorbs them differently?

My children are at the very bottom end of healthy bmi scale. They are both veggie. What high calorie snacks would you recommend that are healthy?

How would you calorie count for a teen - if they are very sporty and active - mine can eat half a loaf of bread and jam in one sitting ? If they burn it off - is it a bad thing ?

NHS guidance states that undiluted smoothies should only be given to children aged 5 and over and only with a meal and in moderation, up to 150ml. Given this guidance do you think the marketing of them to children and parents be restricted?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/what-to-feed-young-children/

Lucy, would you ever recommend an ultra-processed fruit product over just eating a whole piece of fruit? Does it annoy you when companies try to claim their products are healthy when they’re processed to such a degree?

What advice to a DC who wants to become vegan - I want to support -shopping is a nightmare, as is cooking, any tips ?

Hello, what are your go-to pasta ideas - It's cheap, filling, we can add 'thing's but I get bored with the pasta bakes and veggie pasta dishes ?

in a vegetarian child, how do you pack in enough protein?

I would ask your dentist for advice

This is very interesting too !

https://www.sciencealert.com/low-sugar-in-babys-first-1000-days-reduces-chronic-disease-risk-wartime-study-finds

The most common reason for young children to be admitted to hospital is for general anaesthetic tooth extraction so no, toddlers should only drink milk or water.
HTH

I often make bliss balls with medjool dates as a 'healthy' alternative to processed cakes or chocolate but I'm mindful they are also high in sugar and its got me wondering, are they really better than the alternative?

Hi, what are the best filling but nutritious snacks to get a teenage boy through mid afternoon munchies? We already do a lot of hummus, looking for variety!

I look For ready made snacks, as I am disabled, but I’m also on a budget at the healthier ones are always the priciest! What’s the best budget option (they eat a lot of fruit already, and always have a couple of pieces in their lunchboxes

I’ve read that puréeing fruit or veg is not as healthy as eating it whole. Is that true and if so, why?

I often purée veg to hide it in my child’s dinner as she won’t eat it otherwise.

Is 5 a day still a thing ? I really struggle to get 2 or 3 a day into my children - including hidden veg in a bolognaise - I like to air fry veg - but would love some tips on how to air fry carrots, parsnips and what other veg or fruit In can cook in my airfryer