I am not sure how I feel about Food. I am even more unsure how Food feels about me. It is safe to say that we would both probably opt for the “It’s complicated” box if we were to ever come out in a social networking kind of way.  On a good day, Food and I spend a substantial amount of time together and on a bad day, we barely cross paths. However, it is the good days that make me feel bad, and the bad days that just feel oh-so-good.  I know I am not the only one who shares this completely unstable relationship with Food but sometimes it is comforting to feel like ‘I am The One.’

Statistically 70 per cent of all females have a rough time with weight, body image and food. Men are also increasingly jumping on this bandwagon. It is disturbing to see that with the amount of issues we already have as a species, how high weight loss is on our list of priorities.

The problem is that unfortunately Food isn’t our culprit. I for one absolutely love my food. How could a heaped plate of slow-cooked goodness served with a side of buttery richness and a slice of gooey decadence ever be evil? It is our attitude towards it that is.  Unless you are gifted with a super high metabolic rate (and yes they do exist) it is near to impossible to fully enjoy a spectacular, albeit high calorie meal, without some version of post traumatic stress striking you.

It was the birth of my son, or rather the day he was weaned onto solids, that made me realise something needed to change. For his sake I had to end my open enmity with certain food groups. I did not want to be guilty of tainting his perception of food. I researched endlessly into the correct nutrition for him and to my horror I had to forget all that I applied in my diet and go for seemingly outrageous concepts such as (gasp!) high fat and high carbohydrate choices. I discovered that until the age of two, a child needs to have full fat dairy incorporated in his diet. After that one can replace it with skimmed/semi skimmed versions. Fat is vital for brain and organ development and though it should never be restricted in infants, by the age of 2 about 30-35 per cent of their daily calories should come from fat. Iron deficiency is linked to learning and behavior difficulties in children. Apparently cow’s milk does not have enough iron content which is why it is very important to add iron fortified cereals, meats and fish to their diet once they are on regular milk.

I have found many parents afraid of introducing fish to their young ones. Most doctors recommend fish from the age of 10-12 months. For shellfish it is suggested due to the possibility of allergies to wait until the age of three. Fish contains all nine amino acids – the building blocks of proteins required to make up tissues, muscles, glands, organs, tendons, nails and hair. Our body does not produce amino acids therefore we need to take it in through our diet. If the fish is from a reliable source and has not gone bad (rule of thumb: good fish shouldn’t smell ‘fishy’) then it is the best form of protein for a child’s development.

Fish is also very easy to “conceal” in a child’s meal. My favourite way of feeding fish to my son is to flake either grilled or pan fried white fish into his mashed potatoes. To make his mashed potatoes a little healthier, I add some pureed spinach which I saute in garlic and a bit of butter.  Sweet potatoes are also a great source of essential nutrients for children and not as starchy or maligned as their cousin, the white potato. As most children, my son adores potatoes, so to keep his favorite dish healthy I add half a sweet potato to one white potato and it goes unnoticed. The combination of fish, spinach and potatoes is a definite hit with him and a complete meal in my books.

There is no happy ending here. Despite my endless research on baby food I will not say that I am completely at peace with my own outlook on food. However, I can safely say I am doing my bit to ensure I do not take my attitude into the next generation. If that means I simply smile and chew when my little helper eagerly stuffs complex carbs into my mouth at meal times (potentially equivalent to my carb requirement for the next week) so be it.

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