Calcium – First 1000 Days

What is the First 1000 Days?

1000 days. Doesn’t sound like an awful lot does it? But the fact is that the first 1000 days of your little one’s life are a uniquely special time that can have a very real influence on how they develop, grow and learn — not just now, but for his or her whole life. Watch … read more >

Summer Pasta

First 1000 Days Team

This recipe was chosen as a winning recipe in our Parents Recipe Competition.

Author: Michelle Gayer, Cork

I’m pregnant at the minute and have always loved cooking. Now that I’m cooking for an extra special little one I’m taking even more of an interest and trying to eat a well-balanced yet still tasty diet to ensure myself and bump get all the nutrients we need!

Serves 4

Courgette & Potato Frittata

First 1000 Days Team

This frittata is packed full of nutrients, and toddlers, children and adults will all love it!

Makes 4-5 servings

Creamy Pesto Chicken

First 1000 Days Team

This dish is great served with new baby boiled potatoes in their skins and broccoli, or for a more casual meal, serve with pasta and some crusty wholemeal baguette.

Serves 4

Friday Night Fajitas

Kellie, Nutritionist

These Fajitas are great served with guacamole, tomato salsa and natural yogurt placed on the table in little bowls. If you are entertaining, you could serve with some Mexican rice too. If you don’t have all the spices, it’s fine to use a packet of fajita spice mix!

Serves 4 hungry adults

Toddler – Parmesan and Lemon Chicken with Sweet Potato Mash

First 1000 Days Team

Serves 4

Healthier Dip

First 1000 Days Team

Delicious dips, perfect for serving with vegetable sticks (e.g. peppers, celery, carrots) or baked pitta bread at your Christmas parties.

Toddler – Lemon Chicken and Broccoli pasta bake

Neven Maguire

“This recipe is perfect for using left-over roast chicken or even turkey, but a shop-bought cooked chicken also works well.”

Serves 9-10

Pan fried mackerel with mash and tomato stew

Neven Maguire

Nowadays, you’ll often hear people on radio and television talking about ‘good fats’ and ‘bad fats’, and they urge you to eat more oily fish for your intake of ‘good fats’. Well, let me tell you, that mackerel is one of the best examples of a good oily fish. As well as this important health factor, mackerel is also great value for money and has a lovely meaty texture.

Serves 4

To Serve:

Place mashed potato in centre of plate and spoon some stewed tomatoes beside it. Place fish on the mash and drizzle with pesto.

Toddler – Roasted piedmont peppers with feta cheese

Neven Maguire

Although the stalks of the peppers are not edible they do look attractive and help the peppers keep their shape. They make a fantastic starter or lovely side dish for a barbecue.

Serves 8

To Serve: Transfer the peppers to a serving plate and spoon over all the cooking juices. Scatter over the feta cheese and garnish with the basil leaves and serve warm or at room temperature. Cut the peppers into little pieces that your toddler can pick up with his hands.

Baby- Scrambled eggs with cheese and tomato

Neven Maguire

This is a fantastic recipe for breakfast, lunch or even supper and is so quick to prepare and cook. Avoid overcooking the eggs by stirring constantly with a balloon whisk and remember to keep pulling the mixture away from the sides

Serves 2-3

To Serve: Alter the consistency, depending on the stage of weaning, your baby is at. For older babies who are able for soft finger foods, serve the scrambled egg topped with a cherry tomato and with 1-2 thin toasted strips on the side.