Lovely Manda from FlyingStart Magazine sent me a book. The moment I opened the pack and got the book out if it, my first though was “recycled paper” – nice to touch, somehow rough and natural. And there it is – my attention was rived on the headline – “Recycle!” – How genius, I thought! My 2-year old daughter grabbed the book from my hands, intrigued by the brilliant illustrations and the five push-up tabs inside. She sat next to me, waiting impatiently to read the story together. There are two little kids in the book, taking us through the “secrets of recycling” and eco-friendly life in an engaging and fun way! The book educates little toddlers how to help the planet by taking materials to the recycling bins, showing which ones can be recycled and how, using reusable bags in the shop, and more! A few minutes later my little girl was pushing the sturdy tabs, sorting the recycling, finding out how to save water or how to make toys out of old boxes, rather than throwing them away. It is now her favourite book, learning and having fun at the same time, which I find brilliant start for her to join our eco-friendly efforts at home!
The book is published by Campbell Books and it is due to be released on 7 May 2010.
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March 7, 2010
Mumpreneur Hillary Graves at Little Dish
Hillary, your business sounds great. Tell us where it all started and how you came up with the idea?
I’ve always wanted to run my own business, and in 2004 I met my business partner John Stapleton, who was on the founding team of the New Covent Garden Soup Company. We’re both passionate about healthy food for kids and wanted to provide a truly healthy alternative to home cooking that parents could feel good about feeding their children. As a result, Little Dish was born in April 2006 offering busy mums something that hadn’t been available before – a fresh, nutritionally balanced meal that allowed them to feel a little less guilty when they didn’t have time to cook. Our Little Dish recipes contain no added salt or sugar and are made with 100% natural ingredients replicating what mothers make in their own kitchens. We want kids to eat healthily and love their food, while mums and dads feel confident in the nutritious recipes that we make.
Being a mumpreneur is not easy. How do you juggle between work and kids?
It’s definitely a challenge. As a working mother of 2 young children, you have to be extremely organised (and have a sense of humour as nothing ever goes exactly to plan!) I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home some days, so that I can spend time with my two little ones. We also have a lovely nanny who looks after Monty and Ridley when I’m at work. They often pop by the office to say hello which is always a treat. In my opinion the key is getting a good team in place; your business is all about its people and we’re really lucky to have a brilliant team helping us fulfil our vision of feeding fresh, healthy food to as many kids as possible.
Little dish is a lovely brand name! Please tell me a bit more about the Little Dish products: how do they differ from others like Annabel Karmel’s or Cow & Gate’s ready meals? What ingredients do you use, what age group they are suitable for, and how do you manage to preserve them?
Little Dish is the first brand to launch a range of fresh, healthy food for toddlers and young children (12 months +) made with 100% natural ingredients and no added salt or sugar. All of our recipes are created with a paediatric dietician, and every dish is taste tested by lots of kids. The Little Dish company mission is to encourage as many children as possible to eat fresh, healthy food from an early age, to discover new flavours and textures and enjoy mealtimes.
Our competitors offer ambient pots and trays with long shelf-life and traditional ready meals made with salt and sugar. We’ve opted to make fresh food made with 100% natural ingredients that is sourced as locally as possible, with no added salt or sugar, providing the nutritional value that growing toddlers require. There are no preservatives in our meals and by working closely with the supermarkets we ensure that our meals are on shelf the next day. It is hard work, but we’re committed to giving mothers fresh, healthy recipes just like they would cook at home!
I love the “all natural ingredients” idea! – Does it mean there is no added sugar, salt or preservatives and colourants?
That’s right – we’ve opted to make wholesome food with no added salt, sugar, additives or preservatives.
Where can parents find your products – are they available to order online, too?
We are currently listed in Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Ocado.com. You can find out exactly where on our website.
Which are your little ones’ favourite dishes from the Little Dish range?
Monty is 3 years old and his favourite at the moment is Vegetarian Lasagne. Ridley who turns 1 next week loves the Fish Pie and the Cottage Pie.
What would be your ideal toddler Easter menu, some secret recipes (they may already be included in your products range)?
Both children like lamb, so perhaps a lamb and lentil casserole which is already a favourite in our house. And Monty loves to bake, so I’m sure we will make some Easter cup cakes.
Your top tips and recommendations for fussy eaters?
Here are four tips that I have found to work:
- Patience and perseverance – keep trying foods that are rejected and don’t make a fuss if they are refused.
- New foods – encourage toddlers to try new foods regularly and reinforce that they cannot have treats and puddings until they have finished their main course.
- Food names – we always refer to broccoli as ‘green trees’ and lasagne is a favourite in our house so other dishes, like enchiladas, get called ‘Mexican lasagne’ which works well.
- Getting involved – if you are cooking from scratch get your little ones to help, if they stir something or add in an ingredient they are more likely to want to taste and enjoy the food.
On a more personal note, which has been the most precious moment with your kids so far?
There are so many, but I especially love the weekends when I don’t have to go to the office.
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March 3, 2010
“When a child is born, a mother is born! – I like that and I truly believe that not only we raise our children, but also our kids help us learning to be mothers.
I will tell you how my precious little girl makes every day Mother’s day for me.
She makes me smile, even when I am angry
She makes me feel proud of her – even if she hasn’t climbed a mountain
She says “I love you, mummy” and I am trying to hide my tears of joy
She makes a mess every day during mealtimes
She likes to have all my attention, 24/7
Sometimes she is feeling poorly and feeling safety when feeling me around her only
Sometimes she falls down and wants mummy to kiss her and take off her pain
Sometimes she may have a temper tantrum and I need to be there for her
One day she might get in trouble and I will be still there for her – to help, to talk, to listen
One day she will become a young lady and my sleepless nights will come back again – this time not due to baby cry but worrying if she is alright
One day she will have a boyfriend and I will start feeling scared and experiencing the “empty nest” syndrome. I will know she would soon leave home and will have a family on her own. I will feel lonely and also happy for her at the same time…
One day I will be spending my Sunday evening with her little ones, reading them stories and feeling like heaven of being their granny. My daughter will be smiling at us, remembering the times she’s been sitting on my knees and holding my hand.
Always I’ll be giving her all my love, expecting nothing in return. And she will always make my day feel like being Mother’s day!
Whatever she does, I love her! And on Mother’s day I want to thank her for being my little girl and for making me the happiest mum in the world!
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March 1, 2010
Calling all mums of bottle-feeding babies! – We need you for our exciting product testing!
For a chance to take part and try the BPA-free, anti-colic and anti-leakage BabyBorn Free bottles, join our Facebook page HERE and explain WHY you want to test them! At the end of the month we will send you the products to test and will ask you to review them later on.
As simple as that!
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March 1, 2010
How to get your 30% discount
You can buy any Weleda body or facial care product and get 30% off (excludes medicines). The offer is valid for one order only placed up until 31st March 2010.
If you are not already registered with Weleda you will be asked to when you get to checkout.
• First fill your basket with some lovely Weleda products
• Then go to checkout
• Scroll down the page and click on Redeem a Promotion Code
• Enter GKID to see the discount on you order
Happy Shopping!
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February 15, 2010
Over 70% of parents believe kids tend to get more infections when hygiene in the nursery is poor, but only 7% claim hygiene in their child’s nursery is outstanding. These are some of the results revealed in a recent parents’ survey, run by GreenKiddie.co.uk. The survey is part of GreenKiddie’s national campaign “Close2Nature” for better children’s health and well-being in nurseries. Close2Nature campaign aims to provide easy-to-use tips and advice for daycare providers and help them adopt our eco-friendly strategy for their premises in order to help with improving children’s health.
For this campaign GreenKiddie is partnering with Change4Life initiative run by the Department of Health, and focuses on 5 main areas:
- Provide better food and nutrition at nurseries
- Reduce toxics in the daycare premises
- Help children stay active
- Improve hygiene in daycare premises
- Help nurseries become more eco-friendly
There are over 850,000 children under 5 years of age in the UK attending either part-time or full-time daycare (DCSN, 2009). This means that nurseries’ environment plays crucial role for children’s health. Making nurseries more eco-friendly and encouraging them to reduce chemicals and toxics at their premises will promote better baby and children’s health and well-being, reducing the infections and straightening their immunity.”
The survey, based on the 514 parents’ replies, reveals that 18% of kids in nurseries are not having their 5 a day portions of fruits and vegetables, based on food being served at the nursery. Fish, helping children’s brain development, is being served on a weekly basis in only half of the nurseries, and 17% of kids are not being served the extremely important for kids’ growth high in protein food like meat and eggs. Some 15% of nurseries provide kids with very unsatisfactory amount of milk and diary products during their 10-hour stay at the premises, so kids are not able to get the calcium they need for this age. As little as 2 out of 100 nurseries serve organic food in every meal, where 15% of nurseries have never sourced organic produce for the kids. Home-made food has never been served to every tenth nursery, and in these cases processed food is what kids eat on a regular basis. Every third nursery adds sugar and/or salt in kids’ food, and only 4% follow the guidelines for avoiding salt in cooking for kids under 3-years old.
The eco-friendly efforts are outstanding in only 3 out of 100 nurseries, and are qualified as poor and unsatisfactory in 15% of cases. It looks like great percentage of nurseries are doing great when it comes to recycling, reusing and using eco-friendly craft-materials (42%), although improvement others is needed. When it comes to soaps, washing powders and cleaning materials about 20% will not even try to be eco-friendly. Most of the above soaps, cleaning sprays and washing powders contain harsh chemicals which not only reflect the environment, but are also toxic and irritating for the sensitive kids’ skin. Around the same percent of nurseries (20-25%) are not making any efforts to use BPA-Free baby/kids food equipment, biodegradable or cloth nappies (although in most of them parents are advised to provide nappies in their choice). About the same percent of nursery staff are willing to “go green”, but don’t seem to have enough information and knowledge on how to do that, according to parents.
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February 3, 2010
Eating great food when pregnant and then giving your children an organic start in life makes them more likely to grow up happy and healthy. Planet Organic, the UK’s leading organic supermarket, has everything you and your baby need to get off to the best start.
“I have raised three organic children who are happy, healthy and beautiful. I know that organic is the best you can give your kids.” Renée Elliott, founder of Planet Organic and mother to Jessie, Nicholas and Cassandra.
Be the first in line for “The Best Recipes for Babies and Toddlers”, Renée Elliott’s cutting edge book which shows you how to use highly nutritious ingredients to create fabulous meals your children will love.
Sign up at www.planetorganic.com/baby and have a look at their full range of organic baby food, baby clothing, natural nappies and nappy creams as well as supplements to support you throughout pregnancy.
Visit www.planetorganic.com/baby for…
- Advice on how to feel better and grow a healthier baby by eating the best possible foods.
- A supplement plan for your journey from the first trimester through to breast-feeding.
- No-nasties nappy creams as well as the cutest organic baby clothes and natural nappies.
- A great selection of only organic baby foods, as well as easy, healthy recipes.
- Regular tips, special offers and to swap stories with other mums.
Use promo code ‘GREENKIDDIE” to get a 10% off all products when you shop at www.PlanetOrganic.com. Offer is valid until the end of March 2010.
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January 31, 2010
Dear Friends,
There’s less than a week till we announce the winner in our “Love is” competition, receiving the fabulous Sweet & Dreamy gift box from Lush! So far we’ve received hundreds of emails, answering that simple question in the most inspiring way. We wanted to thank you all… and to share some of your most interesting, funny, a bit bizarre, sad, gentle and inspiring thoughts.
Love is… kissing your partners eyelids when they are asleep. Victoria Laithwaite
Love is… eating the last rolo so your loved one doesn’t put on weight. L. Mundy
Love Is… waking up and seeing my early-bird little boys smiling face beaming at me! Ms Linda Johnson
Love is…holding my hair back, when I’m throwing up because of chemo treatment. Sarah Williams
“Love is… lying in a hot bath of Lush Sweet and Dreamy gift box products with my wonderful husband! Hayley Williams
Love is…. bringing me a sandwich when I’m up with the baby at 3am! Kathryn MacKinnon
Love is cuddling up to my beautiful Italian girlfriend Vivienne. I am profoundly deaf and she is hearing and she is truly amazing beyond words the way in which she has coped with me and loved me for who I am when I am really hard work and I feel that this should be recognised. She makes my dinners, washes my clothes puts my butties up for work and is always on hand to talk through any worries and concerns as she is a brilliant communicator. Paul Marshall
Love is my son waking me up with a hug and saying i love you mummy. Vicki Francis
Love is…wishing someone a future of happiness, even if that future does not include you! Robert Macolive
There is still time for you to enter the draw and win the Lush gift box for either yourself, of for the love of your Valentine!
Good luck, everybody!
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January 23, 2010
GreenKiddie.co.uk has been nominated for The Mumpreneur Awards 2010! We have been nominated in three categories: Best Start Up, Best Online Business, and Best Green Business.
A shortlist will be selected during August. The Mumpreneur Awards’ independent panel of judges will deliberate and the winners will be announced at The Mumpreneur Conference on Saturday 18th September 2010. The ceremony will take place at The Heart of England Conference Centre, Warwickshire.
The Mumpreneur Conference and Awards 2010 is an event aimed at supporting and celebrating mums in business. A full day of fun, you can meet like-minded women, join in with a selection of our 6 seminars, listen to the inspirational speakers, and more. Tickets cost just £20 which includes access to the entire conference, the award ceremony and lunch. A must-attend event for any mum in business, or considering her option.
The Mumpreneur Conference is organised by Ella Events, a business run by two mums in business based in the West Midlands. Ella Events began with organising Baby Fairs around the region, and by combining their best skills, Amanda and Laura are able to organise fantastic events to support small business, local parents and business mums. With six children aged 5 and under between them, and their own individual businesses, they know better than anyone else what can make an event suitable or busy mums juggling business life with their family, which is why the Mumpreneur Conference is aimed to be affordable, accessible and fun for all business mums in the UK.
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January 20, 2010
The Better Nursery Food Now Campaign, which calls on the Government to implement nutritional standards for nursery school food, has now launched a Facebook campaign to spread the word and engage mums and dads in supporting. The campaign is being run and promoted by The Soil Association and Organix, the baby and toddler food company.
The Better Nursery Food Campaign aims to increase the pressure on Government by highlighting examples of nurseries where parents are dissatisfied with the nutritional standards of nursery food. Whether it’s a nursery serving junk food, or food with artificial additives and e-numbers, or poor food generally, we are asking parents and nursery workers to post their experiences on the Facebook page and sign the petition to take to government.
The experiences from mums and dads will enable the Better Nursery Food Now campaigns team to step up the pressure on Government to put in place nutritional standards that will cover all nurseries, guaranteeing better food in nurseries.
Just to remind you that, according to the report Georgie Porgie Pudding and Pie – exposing the truth about nursery food:
- There are no clear nutritional standards for UK nurseries.
- Some nurseries spend as little as 25p per meal, per child.
- Colourings and additives, not allowed in manufactured foods for children, were regularly being permitted in nurseries.
- Foods banned or restricted in primary and secondary schools – like chips, sweets and chocolate – are still regularly served in nurseries.
- No Government Department was willing to take responsibility for the quality and monitoring of nursery food.
BBC 1 Panorama programme on Monday 25 January at 8.30pm will be investigating “What Is Really In Our Kid’s Food”. The programme has discovered that one in five children starts school already overweight and, according to the latest research, children who are fat by five are likely to stay that way. Shelley Jofre investigates the food being dished up to pre-schoolers at nurseries and at home. There’s a rapidly growing market in ready meals specifically for toddlers, but are they really a healthy option? The programme looks behind the marketing claims
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January 20, 2010
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