Beware these Christmas foods
Christmas is the time when everyone throws caution to the wind and just tries to enjoy themself. After all, Christmas Day comes but once a year and even your little ones will catch on to the excitement.
But come the day after, if you’re not careful, baby may have a terrible stomach ache, or even a baby hangover if you’re not careful about what you allow him to try.
There is no reason why your child should not enjoy Christmas as long as food handling is done in a safe way.
Here are some tips for both you and baby.
1. As long as the food is safe, it can be consumed by the child. However, be careful of the small child swallowing big pieces of meat as this could result in the child choking. Portions served should therefore be closely monitored by an adult.
2. Don’t give your children sorrel with alcohol added. The child should also not be given rum or any other alcoholic beverages.
3. The alcohol in Christmas cake is usually low enough for kids to have a little bit, but even if the alcohol level is low, remember the level of sugar involved. This can keep your child hyperactive all day and you know what that means! A small slice may do, just to make him feel he’s a part of the festivities.
4. Pregnant women should eat a range of wholesome and nutritious foods during pregnancy, even more so at Christmas time. Pregnant mothers should not drink alcoholic beverages during this time. This includes sorrel, depending on the amount of alcohol it contains. When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, the drug travels through her bloodstream and into the placenta. The placenta provides nutrients to the foetus during pregnancy, and it will also transfer harmful substances taken by the mother. That means that when mom has a glass of wine, her baby has a glass of wine too. Even moderate alcohol consumption during pregnancy may contribute to early miscarriage.
5. Too many sweet treats should also be avoided by the pregnant woman, however, Christmas cake eaten in moderation should be alright.
6. Take care to ensure that if you are cooking a large bird – like a turkey – the meat is cooked properly. Be sure to follow the instructions about the length of cooking time and temperature required. This is because of the risk of salmonella infection. There is also a risk that undercooked meat could contain a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, an infection usually harmless to adults but which can cause serious problems for an unborn baby.
