Thursday 11 December 2014

KiddiChef has been shortlisted for a Medical & healthcare business award!

Here at KiddiChef we are excited to announce that we have been shortlisted for a medical and healthcare business award. We were nominated by Medilink’s 2014 medical and healthcare business start up awards and it has recently been announced that we have now been shortlisted. It’s exciting that a business which was launched in 2012 is doing so well and being recognised on this scale.

With the change in family lifestyles some working parents do not have time to cook healthy meals which they would like for their children. Therefore KiddiChef aims to help parents provide the nutritious, great tasting meals for their children. Kiddichef is changing parents and children’s views towards food and is encouraging much healthier lifestyles to help stop the obesity epidemic which Britain faces. Our aim is to get as many parents as possible to join us and our cause. This is why KiddiChef is so proud to be acknowledged by a healthcare organisation such as Medilink.







KiddiChef understands that parents worry about their children’s healthy and well being and with approximately 13.1% of 4-5 year olds being overweight and 9.5% being classed as obese KiddiChef aim to be at the forefront of changing this trend towards obesity and educating children and parents on healthy eating. KiddiChef meals have been created with help from experts such as doctors, nutritionists and dietitians.  Each perfectly proportioned meal is packed with all the nutrients your child needs and still tastes amazing.









We hope this pioneering concept will help improve the health and wellbeing of young children and we are honoured by such level of recognition in such a short time.

We can’t wait till the 8th of January to find out if KiddiChef have been lucky enough to win the award and go through to the national finals.

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Friday 15 August 2014

Home made fruit rollups

Picture: Sondi Bruner
Prep time: 5 mins
Serves: 6

Ingredients
2 cups organic strawberries
¼ tsp cinnamon

Instructions
1. Blend the fruit until smooth, then spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
2. Leave it on at the lowest temperature until the fruit is dry (times vary depending on the oven).
3. Cut into strips. Best stored in a glass container in the fridge.

NB. The rollups might need to cook for hours but it will all be worth it when you taste their rich goodness. 

Monday 9 June 2014

A very special gift for a very special dad

Father’s Day craft ideas


https://www.flickr.com/photos/funky64/4151956139/in/photolist-7jcW8v-7jTRUF-eMCNC7-5KVDcA-8Haq7E-uvq6-nB5Vm-6aMTyX-Fx3oc-3GwP3-7kC29c-fYGk5-9W9avF-6pMUkX-4AepWD-9qJ9Lw-5YYGWN-eynw5V-5ekp9h-6ya5A8-2MrfU-feqVDr-33AruF-4uzwP-9W94Y4-RmpiU-mbRBh-6eAVb5-6yc4kV-8XHGtN-67aJht-81WNVK-bTpUs4-8iJLee-mrtX74-bYfPzS-4NNdco-nrpNCv-2hDjuf-c2v1jN-eYwuzh-hTbyvb-9UPMpy-9VxQBH-eNKU9u-KqoWR-mafdeG-bsdVKS-3gopTz-6NXPw/
disgustipado, Flickr
 A father is a special figure in every child’s life – he is his son’s favourite superhero and his daughter’s most fearsome protector. The love between a dad and his child can be witnessed in a thousand small gestures – it’s in the utmost trust in his daughter’s eyes when she reaches up to him to be carried, it’s in his son’s boisterous laughter while sitting on top of his broad shoulders, even in the quiet strength he offers when he gets up in the middle of the night to soothe nightmares so you can have a few more hours of precious rest.
Dads are often the pillars holding us and our homes stable. As the famous saying goes, anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad. So this Father’s Day take the time to prepare something special for your special man. Even better, let your kids actively participate in the preparations so they can also show their love.

Here are a few crafty gift ideas:
1. Handmade cards
Why not take the tradition of gifting cards a step further and create personal customized cards for your own daddy?

Or design this super cool and super easy superhero face mask. All you need is coloured paper (or you could use colourful markers), tacky glue and an elastic cord. To make it even better, have your kids write something on the back of the mask.

2. Collage me this
If you feel like spending more time preparing gifts, why not design a fun collage? You can use old pictures but if you want to let your creative flare free, why not have your kids make signs of I love dad because.. and do a fun photo shoot?

3. A little something for the working dad
If you want your special man to carry your gift with him throughout the day - make it work-related! A fun decorated pencil holder or a handmade cup holder for the office workers, a colourful car wash or tool kit for those preferring to get their hands dirty.
For details on how to prepare these little gifts and for more fun ideas check out our Pinterest board, follow us on Twitter or visit us on Facebook.

Friday 6 June 2014

What you’re doing wrong and how to make it right – healthy eating tips

National Healthy Eating Week


Parents always want what is best for their children and strive to cultivate a healthy lifestyle in their household. However, children are often not quite as enthused about carrots and beans as they are about Happy Meals and popcorn, leading to food wars on the dinner table.
Food education and nutritious eating awareness are the goals for National Healthy Eating Week, celebrated this June. Before you begin to experiment with recipes and creative ideas, parents must first understand what they have been doing wrong so far and how to let go of the bad habits.

1. If you eat this, you will get…’
Clay Bitner, Flickr
Those are words that should be eradicated from a parent’s dictionary, even if convincing your children to eat their vegetables without the promise of reward seems like a hopeless task. Bribing picky eaters into eating their salad might do the job and get you through the meal, but all it does is teach your kids dessert is something to be anticipated and desired because it’s a prize.

KiddiChef tip: Don’t turn ice cream into a ‘good behaviour reward’ and your children will soon stop expecting a sweet treat for every broccoli they eat.

             2. Indulging the sweet tooth once in a while is healthy

On the other hand, parents shouldn’t completely forbid the consumption of sweets either. While it’s true that the rates of obesity and diabetes among children are rapidly growing, outlawing sugar is incredibly extreme and could potentially have the opposite effect. Children are infamous for wanting what they can’t have; put a ‘NO CHILDREN’ sign over anything and you will be sure to have curious kids flocking around to see what the fuss is all about. Studies conducted in Penn State University have concluded that withholding snacks from the menu only leads to a stronger desire for sweets and children would gorge on junk food any chance they got.

KiddiChef tip: Introduce fruit as a snack – a delicious melon and mango salad after lunch can do wonders for your child’s health. However, don’t stop your kids from indulging in other types of sweets. In fact, let them choose their own desserts for the day – it encourages them to develop their own tastes and allows you to control their intake of sugar by balancing nutritious snacks with the less healthy packaged goods.

           3. Water is your new best friend

Source: Igorms, Flickr
A study published in Pediatrics journal calculated that children and youths take in between 10 and 15 per cent of their daily calories in liquid form. Juices, sodas, fruit drinks and any other type of sugar-sweetened beverages cannot provide any real nutrition. Your children end up consuming empty calories; without the presence of any solids they won’t feel truly full, which could again lead to obesity issues in the future.

KiddiChef tip: Stock up your fridge with mineral water bottles and make a habit of squeezing your own fresh orange juice. Try to drink soda pops only at work or while your children are at school so you can avoid setting a bad example. Visit our Facebook page for some deliciously fresh smoothie recipes (www.facebook.com/KiddiChef).

            4. Do as I do, eat as I eat

Quinn Dombrowski, Flickr
Children look up to the adults in their life, which is why it is up to you to set an example. You might need to ditch some of the foods that used to be suitable for you and your significant other before your baby came along. Instead, focus on nutritious seasonal meals with lots of vitamins and protein. You will notice your children want to imitate you so they are more likely to eat healthy if you eat healthy.

KiddiChef tip: Make sure to empty your plate; recent statistics show that children take their cue about how much they eat and when they stop by their mothers. Toddlers would copy their mother’s food preferences so make sure to eat your green beans and grapes.

            5. House rules

Palbo, Flickr
Encourage your children to be adventurous when it comes to their food. Introduce new vegetables, fruit and meals from distant countries and let them make up their own mind about whether they like it or not. Don’t let them refuse food based on its appearance without even trying it. Introduce a new rule ‘You can’t dislike it unless you've tried it’.

KiddiChef tip:  There is a difference between encouraging curiosity about food and forcing a child to eat. If they tried it a few times and still don’t like it, don’t insist on cooking the same dish. Your children will hate it and it will only amount to tiring fights around the table.

For more healthy tips visit our website or follow us on Twitter



Wednesday 22 January 2014

Sugar is the New Tobacco?

Recent headlines have outlined that an addiction to sugar is just as harmful to us as an addiction to tobacco. Figures are highlighted in the media on a daily basis, surrounding the amount of sugar that is present in almost all the foods we eat, from fruit juices to McDonald’s products.

But how do we stay clear of these hidden sugars? ‘Half fat’ or ‘reduced fat’ products are currently being criticised as the reduction in fat is replaced with extra added sugars for taste.

Mother of two, Amanda Cable became aware of her family’s sugar intake and decided to make a radical change. She thought by controlling her son’s food consumption by substituting sugary cereals and snacks with ‘healthier’ alternatives, would benefit him. This new regime was scrutinised however, exposing the hidden sugars that totalled to be almost double than of that in his previous eating habits.


The Recommended Daily Allowance for sugar is 90g or 22.5 teaspoons a day and less for children. Remember: the labels that shout out ‘LOW IN FAT’ or ‘REDUCED CALORIES’ do not always mean less sugar, so read the product labels to know what you and your family are consuming!

Kiddichef is a food catering service that produces fresh, healthy food, from scratch, on a daily basis and especially for children. Through their work ethic and ethos, KiddiChef avoids the issues surrounding these addictive sugars. We accommodate to the particular nutritional needs and dietary requirements of children, and protect your children from consuming hidden sugars.

Our products are honestly labelled, and free from the contributing factors of hidden sugars found in preservatives and genetically modified ingredients, with our fresh recipes incorporating the thriving fruit and vegetables of the current season. For more information on Kiddichef and our dietary and nutritional guidance, visit our website here.

Tuesday 14 January 2014

Have you got the Fat Factor?



You might do in 2050, but it’s nothing to brag about. Doomsday is closer than we think; it is currently pencilled in for 2050, when half the UK’s population will be obese. I’m sure you’ve all noticed the constant Change4Life adverts on our screens recently, but is it enough to stop Britain’s waistlines expanding, and is the change for life really working?

The latest report ‘State of the Nations Waistline – Obesity in the UK: Analysis and Expectations’ by Public Health England, has stated that unless hard hitting campaigns such as those against smoking are carried out, the date of doomsday will be even closer in the near future for Britain.

Following this report, this week, from 13th- 19th January marks National Obesity Awareness Week, which aims to put the obesity crisis at the top of Britain’s agenda. Schemes are being held all around the country, aimed at all ages to encourage changes to eating habits, ways of exercising and making everyone aware about the risks and problems that arise out of obesity. Find out which changes you can make to your lifestyle at http://www.noaw2014.org.uk.  

  

Birmingham based children’s catering specialist KiddiChef offers just this; a fun approach to healthy food for children from the age of 1 year upwards. By aiming at children of such an early age makes it easier to help stem healthy eating patterns that they can adopt for life. KiddiChef services to nurseries, schools and holidays clubs, working with other prominent environments for children. KiddiChef works closely alongside a strong team of experts, such as doctors, paediatricians and nutritionists, who provide the best foods for children, sans chemicals and toxins which are found in fast food.

Children are being targeted especially due to the sudden rises in child obesity over the past decade, and the 25% of children to be obese in 2050 will add to the percentage of obese adults. For children, obesity can start from the earliest ages, when they aren’t exposed to the best foods for them and their ever-changing bodies. Obesity in children can be easily prevented if they are able to have a hands-on approach to what they are eating, to educate and present healthy foods in a fun way. KiddiChef will be opening the first child-orientated restaurant in the West Midlands. The restaurant will have positive and educational approach to healthy foods, inviting children to use all of their senses to interact with the foods they are eating. For further information, contact KiddiChef at 0121 554 0469 and at http://www.kiddichef.com.
 


Wednesday 16 October 2013

Celebrate World Food Day with us!

This day is a wonderful opportunity to introduce your little ones to a new and unfamiliar cuisine. Delight their taste buds with this simple healthy Carribean recipe!