Menu

Ask The Dietitian

Julie Dowsett - Irish Pride DietitianJulie Dowsett has 20 years experience of working as a hospital dietitian and is a fellow of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, the professional body for dietitians in Ireland.

She has also been involved in a university post graduate training programme as well as a variety of writing projects for textbooks, health professionals, the media and the general public on all kinds of dietary and nutritional advice.

Q:How much dried or cooked pasta constitutes a serving on the food pyramid?

3 dessert spoons of cooked pasta or rice constitutes a serving on the food pyramid. This is only a guideline. Remember, the more active you are, the higher your energy needs will be and energy should come from the breads, cereals and potatoes shelf, and from the fruit and vegetable shelf.

If your physical activity levels are high, up to 12 servings from this group may be necessary. To make pasta and rice even more healthy, try to use the whole-wheat, wholegrain or brown varieties and use vegetable and tomato based sauces rather than the creamy ones. For more information on the food pyramid look here and click on the shelf to see the serving sizes.

Q:I am a new mother and trying to lose the weight I gained during pregnancy, can you help?

You don’t say how old your baby is. I would generally say don’t worry about it for the first 6 months, especially if you are breastfeeding as the hunger you get when breastfeeding is cruel! Also you are probably so tired it is very difficult to motivate yourself.

A good place to start is to try to stop any further weight gain. It is so tempting to eat snacks and quick food like take-aways when you are so busy and tired. Try not to have biscuits, cakes and chocolate around to reduce temptations. A good bowl of high fibre cereal for breakfast, brown bread sandwich and soup, or beans on toast for lunch and a satisfying dinner in the evening. Try to cook double dinners that you can freeze such as stews, casseroles and bolognaise with plenty of vegetables and maybe beans or lentils added to keep them filling but low in fat. Snack on toast with mashed banana, low fat yoghurts, fruit or popcorn and try to get out for at least one walk a day - not just good for your weight but your mind as baby often sleeps on a walk!

Q:What is the suggested daily intake of carbohydrates for Children that are 2 years old?

Children who are 2 should get about half of their energy in the day from carbohydrates. This means each meal should be based around carbohydrates without added salt or sugar. At breakfast give a cereal breakfast like porridge or other cereals which is wholegrain and not sugary. It is recommended that you change them regularly so your child develops a varied diet.

Lunch and dinner should include bread, potato, pasta or rice. One slice of bread at a sitting is usually enough but you will be guided by their appetite. Wholegrain and Wholemeal breads can be used but vary them with White bread as well, firstly to give your child's diet variety but also to avoid too much fibre intake.

Children who are 2 should get about half of their energy in the day from carbohydrates. This means each meal should be based around carbohydrates without added salt or sugar. At breakfast give a cereal breakfast like porridge or other cereals which is wholegrain and not sugary. It is recommended that you change them regularly so your child develops a varied diet.

Lunch and dinner should include bread, potato, pasta or rice. One slice of bread at a sitting is usually enough but you will be guided by their appetite. Wholegrain and wholemeal breads can be used but vary them with white bread as well, firstly to give your child's diet variety but also to avoid too much fibre intake.

Enter your question for Julie