Monday 21 January 2013

An apple a day keeps your asthma at bay


A study published today has revealed that the number of children being admitted to hospital with symptoms of asthma has fallen since the smoking ban, which took effect in July 2007.

Research shows there was a 12.3% fall in admissions in the first year following the introduction of the law, and these have continued to drop in subsequent years.

Asthma affects one in 11 children in the UK, and can be caused by a variety of factors including family history, exposure to tobacco smoke or premature birth.


There are many over-the-counter remedies to help manage asthma on a day-to-day basis, however many parents may not know that their child’s diet can affect the severity of their asthma.

As part of the KiddiChef grown-up forum, we provide information on how different foods can help disorders like asthma, eczema and hay-fever.

Asthma is a respiratory ailment that causes inflammation in the lungs. Omega-3 from flaxseed and fatty fishes, such as salmon, mackerel or tuna, may reduce asthma inflammation as well as promoting healthy brain and heart functions.


Fruit and vegetables rich in Vitamin C- may decrease asthma wheezing symptoms.  These include apples, berries, citrus fruits, cabbage, broccoli, leafy greens, sweet potatoes, carrots, tomatoes and red peppers. Foods made with vegetables and fruits, such as smoothies, juices, stews, pasta dishes and vegetable-based soups, are also rich in antioxidants.


Studies have found that people with asthma tend to have lower blood and tissue levels of magnesium, and increasing magnesium intake over the long run can reduce the incidence of asthma attacks. Magnesium rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, legumes, whole grains and tofu may prevent asthma attacks, whereas low dietary intake of magnesium-rich foods can increase asthma symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and chest congestion.

Seeds, nuts and plant-based oils such as sunflower seeds and oil, almonds, almond butter, hazelnuts, wheat germ oil, peanut butter, peanuts and soybean oil, provide your body with unsaturated fats and vitamin E nutrients. It has been noted that vitamin E may also decrease asthma-related lung inflammation.

Wednesday 16 January 2013

Reduce Food Waste


We throw away 7.2million tonnes of food and drink from our homes every year in the UK. This adds up to the average household wasting £480 a year and rising to £680 for a family with children. 

2 main reasons why we throw away good food
1)      We cook too much
2)      We don’t use it on time









 
This New Year, ditch the bad shopping habits and plan to cook fresh food, save money and eat more healthily. Cooking at home is important as it equips families to gain the knowledge and confidence to prepare healthy affordable meals. 

Understanding the fundamental principles of cooking and how to save money, shop smarter and to reduce food waste will not only help us save £££ it will postively impact the environement too.

 KiddiChef.com has helped with these 10tips to reduce Food Waste.






  1. Shopping matters: Reducing food waste begins at the grocery store.  Live by the motto “Buy what you need, and eat what you buy.”  Always have a plan and a list before going grocery shopping.  Check your pantry and fridge before you head to the store to make sure you’re buying what you really need.
  2. Buy fresh produce a week at a time: Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in bulk only if you will use them before they go bad. If you are able to get to the grocery store weekly, buy only enough fresh produce to last that week.
  3. Cook with canned and frozen fruits and vegetables: Canned and frozen fruits and vegetables can be a good solution if you aren’t sure you’ll be able to use up fresh foods before they go bad.  Bonus: they are often more affordable than fresh and can be even more nutritious. Just make sure they have no added salt, sugar or fats.
  4. Stock your pantry: A well-stocked pantry can be the secret to whipping up a tasty meal from food that would otherwise go to waste. 
  5. Adapt recipes to your needs: Learn to adjust recipes to meet your needs and use up what’s in your fridge.  Make changes to a recipe based on the foods you have at hand, including leftovers.
  6. Make the freezer your friend: Freeze bread when it won’t be used right away, or if you have some leftover from a meal (bread can be stored in a freezer for up to 6 months).  Freeze leftover vegetables for use in later soups or stir fries.  Chop and store fresh fruits in freezer to use for smoothies.
  7. Use up fresh fruit before it goes bad: Combine fruits into a fruit salad or top cereal with sliced fruit. Cook berries, apples or pears into a tasty pie or cupcakes. Use overripe fruit in muffins, breads, or pancakes.
  8. Use up fresh vegetables before they go bad: Add vegetables to soups, stews, casseroles, pastas, sauces, or omelettes.  Combine vegetables and a little salad dressing for a side dish or snack
  9. Transform leftovers into a new meal: Transform leftover mashed potatoes into a hearty soup by combining them with stock, a splash of vinegar, onions, carrots and any other veggies you have on hand.
  10. Stretch ingredients over multiple meals: Use ingredients more than once to save money and avoid food waste. Add veggies to pasta or combine to make a mixed salad. 
 For further information on healthy afforadble recipes visit our KiddiChef.com Facebook Page www.facebook.com/kiddichef

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Are you aware of the ‘hidden nasties’ in your food?

Change4Life – the government’s public health programme –have launched a new campaign to expose the high levels of sugar, fat and salt in food.

 
The scheme, which aims to reduce obesity, increase activity and improve lifestyle, aired its new advertisement this week.

 
It shows a large wine glass full of fat, which supposedly represents the amount of fat in a pizza and also claims that there are 17 sugar cubes in a bottle of cola.
It is hoped that this very visual representation of the‘hidden nasties’ will help people make better food choices.

 
Change4Life’s ethos is quite similar to that of KiddiChef in that we both want to create a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle.
 
 
KiddiChef’s meals contain only a varied selection of fresh, nutritious ingredients with no additives or preservatives.
 
 
However, we are not only about food, KiddiChef’s online community allows children and parents to feel part of fun, creative and inspiring hub.
 
 
Victoria Taylor, a dietician at the British Heart Foundation, welcomed the Change 4 Life campaign.

 
She said: "If we're to lessen the heavy burden of obesity, this campaign must provide the spark for a continued, joined-up approach to the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity across the UK."
 

 
We, at KiddiChef, hope that people take notice of the new campaign and bear it in mind when they are making food choices for themselves and their family.