• That your toddler(s) need to eat more often than your older children. Make sure that you always have slices of fruit, raw vegetables, whole grain breads, small tubs of fruit yoghurt and crackers and slices of cheese available.
• That over 20% of Western children are overweight and have a good chance that 48 to 70% of them will remain that way into adulthood. It is so vitally important for parents to set a good example of healthy eating. Children do develop eating habits similar to those of their parents. Scary Thought?
• That each food group provides some, but NOT all, of the nutrients a growing body needs. Foods in one group cannot replace those in another group. Each major food group is equal in importance and each are necessary for good health.

Which Side of Foil do you Use?

I have been asked so many times which side of aluminium foil should be "in" and which side should be "out". For cooking, there are very definite reasons why the foil is made with a shiny side and a dull one.

The shiny side radiates heat. So if it is placed outwards, the heat penetrating it will be gentler than it would be if the foil were dull side out.

Use the shiny side outwards to protect food from harsh heat and to prevent food from browning too much.

The dull side conducts heat, so, if it is placed outwards, more heat gets through. Use it this way for roasting meat.

For freezing, we wrap food with the dull side outwards, - but the only reason for this is that it is easier to write on the dull side!

Have you ever tried to successfully spread thick Marmite (or Bovril) on hot, buttered toast?

1. For a smooth spread, remove the lid of the jar.
2. Place the Marmite jar in the microwave oven.
3. Microwave on 100% (High) power, 30 seconds.
4. Not only will the Marmite spread evenly, there’ll also be less wastage.