The holiday season in the UK is a time of togetherness, celebration, and, of course, family meals. When you've got little ones starting on their weaning journey or someone with special dietary requirements you don't want to be making multiple versions of one dish, there is enough to do without adding more stress to your cooking.
With a bit of extra planning, it’s easy to create a dinner that’s delicious and satisfies everyone's desires for Christmas whilst making sure it meets the needs of babies and those that need to watch the foods they eat.
Here’s how to make that happen this Christmas:
Traditional Christmas Foods to Watch Out For
Many Christmas staples are delicious but often loaded with sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, which aren’t ideal for young children and can impact the whole family’s health. Let’s look at a few traditional dishes and ingredients that are worth tweaking:
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Roasted Turkey: While turkey itself is a lean source of protein, the skin and gravy can add unnecessary fats and salts. Roasting it with minimal seasoning and adding herbs like rosemary, thyme, and garlic can boost the flavour naturally. Babies can enjoy plain shredded turkey without added salt or skin.
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Stuffing: Many stuffing recipes are high in salt and sometimes include sausage meat, which can be too salty for young children. Consider making a stuffing that’s vegetable-based, using ingredients like chestnuts, mushrooms, and herbs, with oats or breadcrumbs as the binder. This way, everyone, including weaning babies, can enjoy a portion.
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Roasted Potatoes: Crisp roasties are often made with lots of oil or fat and salt. To make a baby-friendly version, try lightly coating them with a small amount of olive oil and rosemary instead of salt. A mashed portion of roasted potatoes can be set aside for babies before adding extra seasoning for the adults.
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Christmas Pudding and Mince Pies: These classics are typically full of sugar, dried fruits, and brandy or other spirits. For a more baby- and family-friendly dessert, try a fruit compote or a naturally sweetened apple and pear crumble made with oats.
Read more blogs from Your Family Nutritionist here.
