Online and in the shops: Baby Nutrition

Celebrity chef and dad, Neven Maguire will team up with Danone Baby Nutrition to host a series of free cooking demonstrations focusing on recipes to help mums during the first 1,000 days of their child’s life. The first of these will be on Wednesday next September 18, at The Marker Hotel, Dublin 2 at 11am. It is one of a number of events planned to highlight the baby food manufacturer’s First 1,000 Days ‘movement’ which aims to drive awareness of the importance of correct nutrition from pregnancy to age two. Maguire will demonstrate how to cook a range of dishes for the four key stages which make up the first 1,000 days of life; pregnancy, breastfeeding, weaning and toddler. To sign up for a cookery demo and find out more, see www.first1000days.ie.

Diet supplements

A new study carried out at the Oxford University has shown that supplementing your child’s diet with the omega 3 fatty acid DHA could help improve their reading ability. The study involved 493 schoolchildren aged seven to nine years, selected for below average reading performance. Children who were given a DHA supplement over a 16-week period showed a significant improvement in reading ability, working memory and behaviour, compared to the placebo group. Researchers also found that most of the children ate fish less than twice a week and 9% did not eat any. MorDHA Mini is a high DHA, strawberry-flavoured supplement designed for children under five, €13.25 for 30 capsules. MorEPA Minis for children aged five and over are €19.95 for 60 capsules from pharmacies and health stores; www.shieldhealth.ie

Fruit Juicer

The new Russell Hobbs Desire Whole Fruit Juicer, €89.99, could help you squeeze in your five a day, especially if you’re a busy parent with kids who have to be tempted to eat their fruit and veg.

* ie.russellhobbs.com

Storage bags

Save the Planet Jumbo Storage Bags are made from 90% recycled plastic bottles, €5.99. See www.littleones.ie