Solid Start

09/09/2025

Not everything needs to be 'healthified'. Sometimes, it's best to make food we actually want to eat and enjoy. For me, that's flapjacks with oats, seeds, nuts....and yes, sugar too.

Save this recipe for the next time you want a lunchbox bake (for yourself or for the kids)- or share with a friend who's tired of dry, crumbly 'healthy' flapjacks.

28/07/2025

I had way too much fun putting this one together 😅

These are the things I sometimes hold back on saying out loud… not because they’re not true, but because I know how easy it is to feel judged or overwhelmed during weaning.

But sometimes the stuff that’s hardest to hear is exactly what we need to hear. Especially when social media makes it feel like everyone else has it figured out.

So here you go — 6 things I’d tell you if I wasn’t scared of hurting your feelings ❤️
Swipe through and let me know which one made you wince (or laugh) the most.

👉 If you’re muddling through weaning and want clear, calm advice without the pressure, my Ready Steady Wean course is for you. Link in bio.

11/07/2025

Too hot to cook? ☀️
You can feed your baby well without turning on the oven. Cold meals are just as nutritious as hot ones.

Use the rule of thumb:
🥩 Iron-rich food
🍞 Energy food
🥕Fruit or veg

Perfect for quick lunches, dinners, holidays, or days you’re just not up for cooking. And yes—shop-bought baby food has its place too.

For more ideas (and reassurance!), my Ready Steady Wean course is packed with practical tips and sample meals. Covered by health insurers, too.

Let's start a list for other parents. What's your quick go-to summer meal for your family?

03/07/2025

“But they’re not eating any meat… where will they get their protein?!”

This comes up all the time — especially with fussy eaters who may live on beige food.

But here’s the thing: protein is in way more foods than we think.
That “carby” diet of cereal, milk, bread, pasta, and even the odd biscuit?
It already adds up.

💪 Just 300ml milk = 10g
💪 A bowl of Cheerios with milk = another 7g
💪 4 slices of bread = 14g
💪 100g dry pasta = 5g
💪 2 Oreos? Even they chip in 1g each!

And that’s before we even mention beans, eggs, cheese, lentils, meat, fish, nuts…

👉 If your child eats enough food, they’re probably getting enough protein — even if they don’t love meat.

17/06/2025

They’re grabbing at my food—surely they’re ready?”

Not necessarily. 👶
Being curious about your dinner doesn’t mean your baby is ready to eat it!

It’s one of the most common myths I hear: that showing interest in food = ready for solids. But the real signs are about *development*, not just enthusiasm.

✅ Sitting upright (even with a bit of support)
✅ Lost the tongue-thrust reflex
✅ Picking up food and bringing it to their mouth

And the recommended age? For most babies, it’s around six months**—and that’s backed by evidence from WHO, UNICEF, SACN, FSAI, and more.

If you’re feeling confused or unsure, you’re absolutely not alone. That’s exactly why I created my Ready, Steady, Wean course—to give you the confidence to start solids the right way, at the right time.

📌 Save this post to come back to later!

03/06/2025

Photo dump from Bloom 🌸
1. The NDC stand looking great
2. Really enjoyed being part of the panel on school lunches and the role of school milk – thanks for having me
3. ALways enjoy hearing different perspectives on food and how we feed our kids
4. Ate my way around the food stands (obviously) 🍓🧀5.Loved the ethos behind – such a great initiative
6. Great cocktails too! 🍹🍸
7& 8. The gardens were absolutely gorgeous
9. Thanks to my sister for being great company, taking all the pics and sorry (again) for calling you out for still hating mushrooms 😅❤️
10. Inspired by the upcycling to make my own steel planter… using an old filing cabinet from Done Deal

Did you go?

28/05/2025

‘You let them get away with everything!’
That was the bombshell from my 18-year-old over dinner last night.
Apparently the younger two get way more sweets than he ever did.

And… he’s not totally wrong.

When I think back, I was more controlling with the older two — especially around food. But when I started Solid Start in 2016, I really got stuck into the evidence. I came across Ellyn Satter’s work, intuitive eating, and began focusing more on how I was feeding, not just what. It changed things.

Yes, the younger two probably do get more sweets. And no — they’re not less obsessed with them. They’d still sell their granny for a packet of jellies.

One is pretty adventurous with food, the other… not so much.
But the biggest shift has been in me.

Less pressure. More trust. And a whole lot more perspective.

Parenting (and feeding) changes over time — and that’s not a bad thing. It’s just real life.

Have you noticed your approach has changed as your family’s grown? I’d love to hear how.

22/05/2025

28/04/2025

😵If your toddler isn’t eating “proper” dinners right now...
It’s not a failure. It’s not a bad habit.
It’s normal.

🥖Toddlers often stick to the foods they feel safest with — and sometimes that just means pasta or bread. They are still learning about food, even when it doesn't look like it today.

👩‍👧‍👧Family mealtimes are about more than what’s eaten — they’re about sitting together, sharing the experience, and helping your child feel relaxed around food (even if they only nibble at one thing).

ℹ️When you focus on YOUR job — offering balanced meals and a calm atmosphere — and let your toddler decide WHAT and HOW MUCH to eat from what’s offered, you’re supporting their long-term relationship with food.

💬If this is something you're working on at the moment, I’d love to hear — comment below with a “yes” if this sounds like you!

🔗And if you want a bit more support putting this into practice, my Feeding Your Toddler course walks you through it in a really practical, reassuring way. And you can claim on your health insurance under 'dietitian'.
(You’ll find the link in my bio.)

You're doing great.

08/04/2025

There’s so much protein hype these days, it’s no wonder parents feel unsure. You can’t walk through the supermarket without seeing high-protein everything… and suddenly it feels like your 4-year-old should be sipping protein shakes 🙈

But here’s the reality: most children are getting more than enough protein.

In fact, the average Irish child aged 5–12 is eating almost 60g of protein a day. That’s way above the recommendations—and that includes fussy eaters too.

So before you start adding protein powder to porridge or doubling up on meat, take a breath.

✅ Regular family foods—milk, eggs, beans, cheese, bread, pasta—all count.
✅ You don’t need to track grams or stress over every bite.
✅ A varied diet across the week is what really matters.

Swipe through this post to see what your child actually needs and how it all adds up—even when they eat like a bird 🐦

📩 Want to learn more? I’ve written a blog all about protein for toddlers—what they need, where to get it, and how to stop second-guessing meals.

👇 Comment ‘protein’ and I’ll send you the link!

16/02/2025

I finally made it to Copenhagen! Ever since watching The Killing, I’ve wanted to visit, and it did not disappoint. ❄️🇩🇰

1️⃣ Obligatory snowy selfie – freezing but happy
2️⃣ Nyhavn looking picture-perfect
3️⃣ Smørrebrød, because you have to
4️⃣ So much snow – even more magical than I expected
5️⃣ All the wool shops… I could have stayed all day
6️⃣ €18 for this. Still in shock.
7️⃣ Peak hygge

Loved every bit – the food, the atmosphere, and all things Scandi

13/02/2025

Weaning support, made simple.

No more second-guessing or scrolling through conflicting advice—everything you need is inside Ready, Steady, Wean and available instantly when you buy.

✔️ Know when & how to start
✔️ Safe finger foods & meal ideas
✔️ Practical, no-fuss weaning advice
✔️ Claim on your health insurance!

Link in bio to join today!

Have questions about Ready, Steady, Wean? Drop them below and I’ll answer! 👇