Processed meat is a food that I find is not often talked about in infant or childhood nutrition guidelines (or not talked about enough) and I am yet to find a child who doesn’t like processed meat. So, what are the current recommendations and should we include processed meat in our children’s diets? Processed meat is any meat that has been transformed through salting, curing, fermentation, smoking, or other processes; this includes hot dogs, ham, turkey, salami, fritz, prosciutto as well as canned meat. Processed meats are certainly convenient and most kids love them, but they high in salt, high in fat, and they also contain chemicals that are confirmed to cause carcinogenic compounds when consumed (YUCK!).
– The Australian Cancer Council recommends “Cut out processed meats altogether or keep them to an absolute minimum. Processed meats include bacon, ham, devon, frankfurts, chorizo, cabanossi and kransky.”. – The Australian Dietary Guidelines for children recommend “limiting consumption of foods high in saturated fat, including pies, processed meats and commercial burgers, among other foods.”
So here are some great sandwich filling ideas to serve instead of processed meat:
Cheese and Tomato Sandwich
Grated cheese and grated carrot wrap
Vegemite and cheese bagel
Tinned tuna, mayo and cucumber sandwich
Tinned salmon, avocado, and cheese sandwich
Left over roast chicken (or chicken schnitzel) and lettuce sandwich
Falafel wraps with hummus, tomato, lettuce, avocado
Brioche with veggie burger, tomato and avocado
Flat bread ‘sushi’ wraps – avocado, tuna and mayo, and cumber
Lunch Burrito – tortilla with scrambled egg, tomato and cheese
Pizza top English Muffin – English muffin cut in half spread with tomato paste, melt cheese, sliced olives and pineapple
Egg sandwich – boiled egg, mayo, lettuce
Cream cheese and tomato bagel
Peanut butter and sliced apple sandwich (one for the weekend as most schools in S.A are nut free)
Falafel wraps with hummus, tomato, lettuce, avocadoLunch Burrito – tortilla with scrambled egg, tomato and cheeseCream cheese and tomato bagelTinned tuna, mayo and cucumber sandwich
It can sometimes be hard to find activities, programs and things to do that are suitable, or "cool enough" for older kids, but they're out there believe us! We've rounded up what we think are the best ideas and places to visit for older kids in Adelaide over the school holidays! There are some free options as well as places you will need to book ahead - so grab your teen and start planning!
Looking for fun, affordable ways to keep the kids entertained? You're in the right place! Adelaide is packed with free things to do with kids—from nature-packed adventures and epic playgrounds to cultural spots and seaside strolls. Whether you're a local family or visiting on a budget, these ideas will help you discover the best free kid-friendly activities in Adelaide that won’t cost a cent but will make memories worth a fortune. So grab the kids, pack some snacks, and start ticking these off your list!
As the warmer weather is approaching and we are able to enjoy our parks and beaches again I want to explore two of my favourite things…art and mindfulness! We can create art anywhere! It is such a great medium to allow us to be ‘present’ or ‘in the moment’ as we are thinking and concentrating on creating, allowing the pace of the world to just slow down. So welcome to the first part of Mindfulness in Art! Nature Mandalas A Mandala is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘Circle’ and represents harmony and balance. Nature mandalas can be made anywhere, with anything! I was lucky enough to spend some time on the beautiful Kangaroo Island in the holidays and collected shells and plants with my boys to create mandalas on the beach. You need to start at the centre and place your collections in a pattern, from the middle and working out to the sides. As my canvas was huge (the whole beach) I just needed to decide when it looked balanced and in harmony. During this quiet time, we were also able to observe (due to the silent time) a pair of nesting oyster catchers quietly going about their business…
Anna Ritan APD BND is a Paediatric Dietitian and Nutritionist and creator of Nourish Little Lives. Anna created Nourish Little Lives to provide parents with evidenced based nutrition information to allow parents to make informed decisions about their child’s nutrition. She is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian with 12 years of experience, specialised in Paediatric and Neonatal Dietetics, and has worked with thousands of babies, children and families. As a busy mum of 3 young children, her approach to nutrition is individual, practical and realistic with strategies that work for you and your family.
For more information, ideas and recipes for all things baby, kids and family nutrition follow Anna on www.instagram.com/nourishlittlelives