Recipe: Apple-y Sunday Snack

Have a Apple-y Sunday! This recipe will entertain the big and the small kids at home. 

Try it chilled.

For a local twist, replace the green apple with guava n the berry with fresh rambutan flesh. All fresh fruits is added last, before serve.

Steps:

1. Boil quinoa in water at a 1:2 ratio. 

2. When quinoa is expanded and soften, add raisin, cranberries or dried fruit. Cook for 5min.

3. Remove from heat.

4. Add milk powder, fresh pulps of lime, and freshly shredded green apple. Stir to mix well.

5. Portion into small container. Keep in refrigerator for 2 hours before serve.

Understanding Children Behaviors, a Way to Manage Fussy Eater

I was given a great opportunity in 2015 to share some knowledge on feeding children with fussy eating behaviors, particularly those with sensory issues, following my exposure to working with the feeding team.

As a dietitian, working with the multidisciplinary feeding team was a privilege. The feeding team is a resource too scarce to find in Malaysia.

I shared my experience in a nutshell. The way to manage difficulties in feeding children of all ages is through thorough understanding of their thought processes and natural behaviors.

Follow this link for the video record:
https://www.facebook.com/malaysiandietitians/videos/933288113451701/

You and baby weekly meal planners

If you're wondering what to give your baby in her first weeks of starting solids, look no further than our meal planners and recipes. 

Our meal planners cover the first 10 weeks of starting solids. Find out how to make eating with your baby easy and a real treat with our planners and recipes: 

You and baby meal planners from six months

• You and baby meal planner: week one

• You and baby meal planner: week two

• You and baby meal planner: week three

• You and baby meal planner: week four

• You and baby meal planner: week five

• You and baby meal planner: week six

• You and baby meal planner: week seven

• You and baby meal planner: week eight

• You and baby meal planner: week nine

• You and baby meal planner: week ten

This article was first published on: 
http://www.babycenter.com.my/c1046350/you-and-baby-weekly-meal-planners#ixzz45VLT018M

Grandparents are Eager to Feed

The grandparents is the 2nd most excited group of people when a new born has arrived. They want to share as much knowledge as possible base on their personal experiences. They want to share their spare hands, and selflessly contribute to baby sitting.

For my job, I have met many caring grandparents. I felt their joy emanated through their little gestures. 

1. A grandfather worried that his DIL is not producing enough breast milk on day 2 after labor. He decided to buy infant formula from my department. I felt his awkwardness as he tried to explain his needs. Though, lastly, I explained to him and advised him to be patient. :)

2. Two grandmothers, a paternal and another maternal grandmother, came together without the child's parents, to seek advice on how to feed their fussy, but otherwise healthy grandson. They took turn to explain their views and feels, very eagerly but thoroughly. I admired their mutual respect for each other. 

3. A grandmother took up the role as the primary care provider for a 4 year old that was not thriving (Failure to thrive). She followed her daughter and granddaughter to dietetics follow up at my clinic almost every time. She had a lot of worries and even hide some, as found later. I knew she wanted so much to help. I knew she's worried about her own inadequacy, being less educated. Every time I turned my head, I caught her attentiveness to the whole issue. This grandma from a kampung in Perak was too lovely to meet.

4. A grandmother came to me after my talk on feeding group therapy, she has many concerns about her daughter not feeding the grandchild enough food. We chatted. We passed the message to the grandpa who cane late. The old folks were reassured and found some directions. 

The grandparents are truly important people, especially for the young families. Like our Chinese saying, when there's an old granny at home, we have a treasure in house! They bring great help. I feel truly happy for those who have grandparents lending hands as needed.

Happy parenting! Happy communicating well with all in the family!  

this post was first published on 03/01/14

http://www.babycenter.com.my/thread/591867/new-grandparents#ixzz45VIrr1ny

Feeding Difficulties Bring the Ties Closer

Feeding and growing are not naturally acquired for many children. In many instances, it requires strong determination and long period of time to attain. 

As a dietitian/feeding therapist for children with feeding difficulties, the process and time i have observed my children needed were even greater and longer. I pay absolute respect to my patients' parents who send their kids for feeding group therapy with all their might and resources. 

1. Sweet AA is son to PnZ, a loving mother. PnZ has hidden hope and set realistic goals; brave AA is eager to learn and to cope with his "food phobia". You have to watch the way the mom and child smile with each other; heavenly. I seriously think with such great care from PnZ, AA will grow to become a very happy and contributing person to our society, despite some God given disabilities.  I simply love this pair of mom and son.

2. Smiley YX is daughter to MrsC, who would spend every ringgit she has on any food, tool and therapy that might help her daughter that is not eating and growing. 5 years has flown by, age is counting, yet mommy's energy is not dissipating to the slightest. She's still sending me new product info every now and then and ask me "should YX take this product? I heard it is good."

3. Angelic HE is a daughter to MsJ, a single mom who fight for all her resources and time to give HE the best she could. MsJ is a tough mommy and i sensed that a challenging daughter to HE's grandparents. I love her strength and willingness to take up new challenges, such as the cumbersome ketogenic diet therapy in order to help her daughter.

Many parents are giving all of themselves patiently and silently to meet their children's special needs. I pray for them and wish that their children will one day achieve their full potentials.

This post was first published on 08/01/2014
http://www.babycenter.com.my/thread/599111/feeding-difficulties-bring-the-ties-closer-#ixzz45VIBSvaA

Build bonds while building muscles

I met a dad who has gained weight very quickly after the arrival of his new bundle of joy. It's a baby boy! It was not a surprise to learn that he started putting on weight during the wife's confinement months.

For this good daddy, he suspended his training for marathon for months to assume his new role in parenting. 

The new parent and his wife were eager to get back in shape. Together, they started managing their food intake. Cooking at home, packing lunch to work, drinking less sugary drink, etc were all well done. However, time and attention is too scarce to spare with a new baby in house to resume routine physical exercise. 

We decided for the dad to restart his routine exercise, with an obvious goal in mind, look for a few exercises suitable for his weight and for his new babysitting role. We picked a few activities, i.e. swim again but do so with his son, evening jog but with his child in the stroller etc. We aimed to build bonds between the dad and child, while building muscles.  

A few days back...at my own backyard...

I carried my own 4 year old at my back, secured him with a piece of sarong, straightened my posture as much possible, climbed up and down the staircase at home. I did that before his afternoon nap. He enjoyed it and eventually fell asleep. For me, I build bonds (with my son) while I build muscles too.  :)

This post was first published on 14/03/2014
http://www.babycenter.com.my/thread/714965/build-bonds-while-building-muscles#ixzz45V3AMTOA

April is the World Autism Awareness Month! Have You Met an Angel?

My best kiddy patient was a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. He was handsome, sweet, huggy and soft spoken. I remembered. It was our first meeting when 5 y/o PY came with his parents. The family had had issues getting PY to eat his meal independently and to express hunger, or fullness.

PY came to the clinic. Calmly, he walked around our confined clinic. He stood next to me, leaned on my arm rest and stared at me. I offered him a tight hug. I asked him to sit on my laps. He did. He did that calmly throughout the 45min of assessment and conversation among his parents and me. I thought i saw his parents being surprised and a little worried. PY was too kind to a stranger. 

PY didn't speak much. His speech was delayed, our speech pathologist said. "Was it good, dear?" "Good"..."Did you enjoy the class?" "Enjoyed". The conversation would be followed by a nice moment of peacefulness. Silence.

In February and March of 2015, I waited for my therapy sessions because i knew PY was attending. Every time i saw his angelic face, my mind and soul was purified and uplifted. I was ready to go all out again.

I was warmed by PY's subtlety.  Never before in my lifetime, as a children dietitian, i felt so close to my patient. I was truly grateful to have known this family and this child. 

PY learned, in his own way, at his own pace. He had sensory issues that limited his food intake. At 5 year of age, he only eats 5 or 6 food. Dirtying his palm was a big deal to him. This boy used his finger tips to "knead" the sweet potato dough during our therapy classes. :)

We played to work on his feeding problems. The sessions were good for him. I was glad PY parents were supportive and have kept sending him back for the subsequent sessions. We were glad to see improvement in him after the group sessions.

I hope to see PY soon and to meet all other children like PY. They would be the reasons I remain a children dietitian/feeding therapist.

Apr 2 is the World Autism Awareness Day! Have you met an angel? I have. :)

This post was first published on 02/04/2014
http://www.babycenter.com.my/thread/754491/apr-2-is-the-world-autism-awareness-day#ixzz45V2jPwo5