Don’t panic if your already fussy eater(s) get even pickier as soon as the weather heats up.

“It’s common for children’s appetites to decrease in the heat, and this may mean some mealtimes are only a few mouthfuls — and that’s OK,” says Lucy Upton, specialist paediatric dietitian and British Dietetic Association spokesperson. “I’d always recommend avoiding any pressure or panicking if this is the case, most children’s appetite improves once things cool down.”

Make the most of the cooler times of the day in the mornings and evenings, she suggests and consider switching up which foods are offered when. “Offering smaller, more frequent meals and using snacks as ‘mini meals’ can be helpful as a starting point,” she says. “Food-wise, I tend to focus on fluid-rich foods and, where possible, nutrient-dense options, making small tweaks to preferred meals to support acceptance.”

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D?sseldorf, NRW, Deutschland, Business, Arbeit, w46, Werbeagentur. Loft, modern, B?ro, Office, StilThe Midlife MOT is open to all and covers three key areas: work, wealth and well-being (Photo: Westend61/Getty)

Feeling insecure at work
in your 50s? You’re not alone

The final decades of work

There’s this assumption about being put out to pasture… but now that we’re living and working longer, we have to challenge myths around ageing and remember that over-50s are a crucial part of the workforce…

LYNDSEY SIMPSON, AUTHOR OF AGE REBELLION AND FOUNDER OF 55/REDEFINED

The current situation

By 2030, almost half of all employees in the UK workforce will be over 50.

36%

Now one in three workers are over 50. 

Yet more than a third of those between 50 and 69 believe that their age puts them at a disadvantage when they apply for jobs. 

37%

The Age Without Limits study from 2024 shows that 37 per cent of workers between 51 to 70 felt badly treated in work because of their age.

The things to do, says Simpson

Online travel booking. Teleworking. Online shopping and e-commerce.More and more people are using AI for counselling (Photo: Oscar Wong/Getty/Moment RF)

Keep learning new skills

We need the same level of career planning in
our fifties as our twenties. It’s possible to reinvent yourself again.

Embrace technology

It’s nonsense that older people can’t pick up how to use new tech.

John?r Bildbyr? AB +46 8 644 83 30 www.johner.se info@johner.se sales@johner.seCaption: John?r Bildbyr? AB
+46 8 644 83 30
www.johner.se
info@johner.se
sales@johner.se
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Think about money

Do you need a pay rise? Could you trade some of that money you earn, to work a bit less, and do more things you enjoy?

The things not to do

Become full-time childcare

Grandparenting on the horizon? If you don’t want to do childcare, have the conversation early – even before a child becomes pregnant – that you plan to continue working and love your job.

Indoor image of thoughtful puzzled senior woman with gray hair in glasses looking at paycheck holding head in hand, upset with high rent charge, sitting at kitchen table in front of laptopCaption: Indoor image of thoughtful puzzled senior woman with gray hair in glasses looking at paycheck holding head in hand, upset with high rent charge, sitting at kitchen table in front of laptop
Photographer: shurkin_son
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto

Grandparents and granddaughter gardening together - stock photoGrandparents and granddaughter gardening together – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Accept redundancy too quickly

It’s going to be so much harder to get back into work if you don’t have a plan before you take that leap.

The things not to do

Rush into retirement

Senior bed woman problem pain headache home elderly mature pain bedroom upset unhappy female caucasian adult relationship retirement old difficulty ache head sick migraine hangover sleep - stock photoSenior bed woman problem pain headache home elderly mature pain bedroom upset unhappy female caucasian adult relationship retirement old difficulty ache head sick migraine hangover sleep – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Everybody thinks early retirement is the dream but the reality can be different. There can be loneliness, lack of purpose and a sense of invisibility. 



5 min read

By November, UK food prices will be 50 per cent higher than they were at the start of the cost-of-living crisis 

With that in mind, food editor Sophie Morris shares how she saves money on her weekly shop

Easy ways to save on the weekly shop

NORTHWICH, ENGLAND - JULY 06: Whole chicken sit on display in a Tesco supermarket on July 06, 2022 in Northwich, England. The British Retail Consortium recently said food manufacturers and supermarkets are having to pass on some of the cost of soaring raw materials to consumers, leading to the price of basic goods throughout the UK rising at the fastest pace since September 2008. Fresh food prices increased by 6% in the year to June 2022 coupled with an increase in inflation, and fuel and energy prices to create a cost of living crisis. This is leading to millions of low-income households going without essentials items, falling behind on bills and taking on debt. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)Caption: NORTHWICH, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Whole chicken sit on display in a Tesco supermarket on July 06, 2022 in Northwich, England. The British Retail Consortium recently said food manufacturers and supermarkets are having to pass on some of the cost of soaring raw materials to consumers, leading to the price of basic goods throughout the UK rising at the fastest pace since September 2008. Fresh food prices increased by 6% in the year to June 2022 coupled with an increase in inflation, and fuel and energy prices to create a cost of living crisis. This is leading to millions of low-income households going without essentials items, falling behind on bills and taking on debt. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Photographer: Christopher Furlong
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Getty Images Europe

Avoid chicken breast

Boneless chicken thighs are all meat and a much tastier product.

Don’t plan everything

If you plan every meal all week, there’s no leeway for necessary last-minute changes of plan (or leftovers).

Man Cooking By Woman Chopping Carrots In Kitchen - stock photoMan Cooking By Woman Chopping Carrots In Kitchen – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Young woman choosing dairy products from the refrigerator in supermarket. Healthy eating and lifestyle.Governments are not all powerful when it comes to huge international forces like those increasing global food prices (Photo: Oscar Wong/Getty Images/Moment RF)

Shop alone

There are so many products that children want to fill the trolley with – all kinds of exciting eye candy. It’s cheaper to go alone.

Easy ways to save on the weekly shop

Consider a vegetable box delivery

Having a Riverford box delivery helps Morris avoid impulse buys and go to the shops
less – even though the box is pricey. “It is expensive, but of great quality and organic”.

A woman choose vegetables in the supermarketMilk and potatoes prices are expected to increases sharply later this year, say supply chain experts (Photo: Kate Wieser/Getty)

Low carb, FODMAP diet food background with vegetables, fruits, smoked salmon, chicken fillet, greens, nuts, olives. Menu for healthy eating . - stock photoLow carb, FODMAP diet food background with vegetables, fruits, smoked salmon, chicken fillet, greens, nuts, olives. Menu for healthy eating . – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Track your spending

It doesn’t need to be an elaborate spreadsheet but without some kind of metric, it’s impossible to spot where you
can or must make cutbacks.

Easy ways to save on the weekly shop

Loyalty schemes not only give you points that can be spent, but often discount prices too (Photo: Reuters)The supermarket loyalty schemes vary in their generosity (Photo: Paul Childs/Reuters)

Look for yellow stickers

You can save plenty
over a year by never buying branded products at full price.

Take stock

Do a quick cupboard stocktake. You might find you already have three jars of one thing.

Mid-Adult Couple Calculating Their Finances On The Laptop In The Kitchen - stock photoMid-Adult Couple Calculating Their Finances On The Laptop In The Kitchen – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

dieting woman sneaking a biscuit treat from the cookie jar“Soft restrictions” aren’t infallible; we can always make the effort to get a ladder and get the biscuit tin down from the highest shelf (Photo: Getty)

Avoid packaged snacks

Packing fruit, biscuits, and nuts etc into a Tupperware to take out is more cost effective than buying tiny packaged portions.

Easy ways to save on the weekly shop

Be wary of DIY treats

“Faking” a takeaway at home can sound like a cheaper option, but if it’s something you don’t usually cook – that needs new ingredients – it could work out pricier.

A cooked piece of battered and fried cod in a fish and chips takeaway in London, UK, on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. The government has been criticized for waiting until the election of a new Conservative leader before announcing new policies to help families and businesses survive an exceptional rise in global energy prices. Photographer: Betty Laura Zapata/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesWhatever you buy, buy British if you can. That will help boost fishermen’s finances (Photo: Betty Laura Zapata/Getty)

A customer looks at packages of chilled chicken cuts in a part-empty refrigerated display unit at a Lidl supermarket store in Walthamstow, west London, on September 21, 2021. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)Caption: A customer looks at packages of chilled chicken cuts in a part-empty refrigerated display unit at a Lidl supermarket store in Walthamstow, west London, on September 21, 2021. (Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP) (Photo by TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Copyright: AFP or licensors

Do you need it now?

Returning a few things to the shelves that you won’t need in the near future can save you a healthy amount.

Skip a shop

Every time you make do with what’s at home,
you save big.

Shopping for food in a modern supermarketSupermarkets will find ways of holding down the price of the basics, and try to make their money on the fancy lines (Photo: Roy James Shakespeare/Getty)

Easy ways to save on
the weekly shop

Try a week or a month of shopping local,
and you might be surprised at the results,
in terms of cost and other benefits like supporting local businesses, and
avoiding car journeys and traffic.

Supermarket, Adult, Market - Retail Space, Seniors,Defenders of the triple Lock point to the fact pensioners are often asset-rich and income-poor. (Photo: Getty)

Go shopping when you’re not in a huge rush so you can make relaxed and informed decisions. Don’t expect to stick to your plan or make great choices when you’re in a hurry. 

I’ve been a cleaner for 30 years – these are the 10 products I swear by

Rebecca Jones has tried most cleaning products in her
decades-long career.

She shares the ones she can’t
live without.

The 10 best cleaning products

Best vacuum

Henry is a classic.
It has fantastic filters, sucks up pet hair quickly, and is great at cleaning up fine dust. 

Best mop and bucket

The Vileda H2PrO set is light, manoeuvrable and keeps clean and dirty water separate.

Portrait of a Window Cleaner Looking Through and Cleaning a WindowA reader has asked whether or not she should sack her cleaner because she isn’t doing a good job anymore (Photo: stock image of a man cleaning a window via Getty Images)

Best glass cleaner

The HG Glass and
Mirror cleaner removes stains without leaving smudges or streaks.

The 10 best cleaning products

Best multipurpose cleaner

Method’s multi-surface cleaner is plant-based, cruelty-free, and works great on grease, sinks, sealed wood surfaces, hobs, bins and sealed laminated floors.

Deep cleaning glass door handles for Covid-19 disease prevention. alcohol,disinfectant spray on Wipes of Banister in home for safety,infection of Covid-19 virus,contamination, germs - stock photoDeep cleaning glass door handles for Covid-19 disease prevention. alcohol,disinfectant spray on Wipes of Banister in home for safety,infection of Covid-19 virus,contamination, germs – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Best toilet brush

Unlike a regular toilet brush, nothing gets stuck in the bristles of Ibergrif M34152 Silicone brush. It also dries quickly, so
there’s less odour.

The 10 best cleaning products

Best mould remover

Jones uses the HG Mould Spray on walls, tiles, grout, windows and outdoor furniture.

A woman cleans a bathroom toilet with a scrub brush.(Photo: boonchai wedmakawand/Getty/Moment RF)

Best cloths

The Seep Eco Bamboo clothes have a streak-free finish and last.

Best carpet cleaner

Every home should have a bottle of Dr Beckmann’s stain remover, says Jones.

Dr Beckmann Power Brush Stain Remover Image from https://www.dr-beckmann.co.uk/products/pre-wash-stain-devils/Caption: Dr Beckmann Power Brush Stain Remover
Image from https://www.dr-beckmann.co.uk/products/pre-wash-stain-devils/

The 10 best cleaning products

Best stain remover

The Mr Siga Multi-Functional Eraser Sponge acts like fine sandpaper to lift
dirt, stains, and scuffs using only water.

hand up clothes Washing machine. Clean and Healthy Concepts(Photo: Viktoriya Skorikova/Getty Images/Moment RF)

Best kept secret

Jones uses Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser to polish stainless-steel, scour sinks and clean her fridge and cookware.

Around 957,000 people aged 16 to 24 are classed as NEET ie. not in Education, Employment or Training

But as youth unemployment rises, not all companies
are looking to universities to find their new recruits. Meet the people who have benefitted.

University of Birmingham graduates at a degree ceremony at the school's Great Hall.Poorer graduates will be hit hardest by the changes, the National Union of Students says (Photo: Andrew Fox/Getty/Image Bank)

For young people unable to attend uni

My whole life was being a carer, so I was very lost…

From the age of around 10, Bruce Devlin took responsibility for everything at home – from administering his mother’s medication, to doing the shopping, cooking, cleaning and supporting his mother’s mental health.

He scraped through school, leaving with the lowest grades.

Now, aged 26, he has secured a job by pursuing an unconventional route.

The charities helping them

Bruce followed an unconventional route.

Getting a foot in the door seemed impossible with his qualifications, lack of experience and connections.

His Job Centre work coach put him in touch with Generation, a non-profit which partners with companies to identify roles which they are struggling to fill.

He landed a place on Generation’s first IT support boot camp and benefited from CV and interview coaching.

Bruce is now a level three senior quality engineer with 2i Testing, a company which tests other companies’ software.

The result

Getting a full-time salary and being a contributing member of society is an amazing achievement. Without this, I’d be just another person on jobseeker’s allowance, wasting any potential I had.

BRUCE DEVLIN, 26, GLASGOW

The apprenticeship route

Jessica Andrea Carvalho had an offer to start a media and marketing degree but she rejected it at the last minute to avoid huge debt and years of classroom learning.

Avoiding increasing
NEET numbers

Young woman at her first job interview with the owner of a coffee shop - stock photoYoung woman at her first job interview with the owner of a coffee shop – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Generation placed 700 people
like Bruce in jobs last year.

The number of placements has jumped 20 per cent from last year.

42 per cent of their learners come from the UK’s most deprived areas.



10 min read

Young adults in graduation gowns joyfully tossing caps into the sky, celebrating achievement and new beginnings against a clear backdropPlan 5 applies to students who began university courses on or after August 2023
(Photo: Abraham Gonzalez Fernandez/Getty Images/
Source: Moment RF)

What do employers think?

Creating more routes in is not just about opportunity – it helps bring in talent with different experiences.

Paula Cunnington, the chief talent officer for Publicis Groupe UK, a network of marketing agencies that has hired 79 apprentices, says curiosity and real-world experience are far better indicators of future success.

Up to 75 per cent of us in the UK are not drinking enough water.

The human body can survive for a time without food, but it cannot survive for long without water.

Here are the signs you need more fluids, according to a GP.

How much we should drink

Water is the most vital component for life.

6-8

NHS guidelines advise we should be drinking six to eight glasses of fluid per day.

This does vary depending on our activity levels, the weather, and if we are ill.

80%

An estimated 50-80 per cent of our bodies and brains being made up of water. 

It allows us to deliver nutrients to cells in our blood, lubricates our joints, regulates our temperature and much more. 

How to stay hydrated

What to drink

Not all fluids are the same – water takes top spot, as it hydrates without sugars or calories, but lower-fat milks, sugar-free drinks or moderate amounts of tea and coffee can all count towards fluid intake.

Asian girl grocery shopping in supermarket. She is choosing fresh fruit juice along the beverage aisle, reading the nutrition label and checking ingredients on the bottle. Making a healthier food choice and balanced diet. Healthy eating lifestyleCaption: Asian girl grocery shopping in supermarket. She is choosing fresh fruit juice along the beverage aisle, reading the nutrition label and checking ingredients on the bottle. Making a healthier food choice and balanced diet. Healthy eating lifestyle
Photographer: d3sign
Provider: Getty Images
Source: Moment RF

Cheerful diversity friends toasting with coffees in a coffee shopA reader bemoans that his children spend money on fancy coffees and holidays with friends, never having a penny left each month
(Photo: Getty/Gorica Poturak)

What to avoid

Limit smoothies and fruit juices to 150ml per day because the sugar causes dental decay.

Signs you’re not drinking enough

1. Our brains

A woman lies back on a couch with her arm over her eyesThe pain from migraines is sometimes described as feeling like you’ve had an axe blow to the head (Photo: Getty)

When dehydrated, we can display an exaggerated response to pain and experience headaches. Concentration, attention, reaction times and short-term memory can also all be negatively impacted.



6 min read

Signs you’re not drinking enough

2. Our bodies

Another common sign of dehydration is constipation. Our skin can look duller, be less bouncy to the touch and be less elastic. 

Tired Asian businesswoman working on a laptop computer in the office - stock photoTired Asian businesswoman working on a laptop computer in the office – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Closeup portrait of gorgeous happy middle age woman looking at mirror touching her skin enjoying treatment for dry skin. Advertising of antiaging beauty skin care products(Photo: Ekaterina Demidova/Getty).

3. Our psychology

Research has shown that even mild dehydration can lead us to feel more moody, stressed and irritable. We can also feel more tired than usual, with less energy and motivation. 

Quick and life-changing tricks for a calmer, tidier home

Easy habits to declutter your home

Decluttering the closet, hands on waistI need someone to tidy up my attitude towards tidying. Who does one hire for that?
(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The habits audit

Subconscious habits can cause clutter so take regular pauses to stop and notice what you are doing during the day.

The re-entry reset

Establish a routine you follow every time you come home so the entrance stays clear.

Two young children wearing school uniforms exit their front door - stock photoTwo young children wearing school uniforms exit their front door – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

A mother and son on their way out of the front door for his first day at schoolLate toilet training has become more common, putting pressure on teachers and taking up learning time (Getty)

The exit mindset

Each time you leave the house, take a minute to think: ‘What can I take out with me?’ To the tip? To the charity shop? To recycle?

Easy habits to declutter your home

The drop zone

Doing a clear-out for charity doesn’t need to be a big task. Have a donate box in a practical location to drop any unwanted items as you come across them.

Man organizing and decluttering clothes at home(Photo: Westend61/Getty).

Woman taking photo of the shirt using her smartphone for selling or donating her clothes. Decluttering , Sorting Clothes, And Cleaning Up wardrobe. Reuse, second-hand concept. Conscious consumer.(Photo: Getty).

Dedicated home

Create a logical home for everything so it’s easier to find and keeps everything in place.

Easy habits to declutter your home

The quick scan

Each time you open a drawer identify a few items you can bin, donate or return to their rightful home. 

Woman carrying box while moving and cleaning up at home happily - stock photoWoman carrying box while moving and cleaning up at home happily – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Young woman at home. sorting through and organizing her wardrobeFollow these rules to declutter your own home (Photo: Nadzeya_Kizilava/Getty/E+)

One in, one out rule

To manage wardrobe clutter follow the rule that a new item can only go in if you give something else away. 

The daily check-in

Give yourself a few minutes at the start or end of the day to acknowledge the progress you’ve made.

Woman Refreshing the Bed with Clean Bed Sheets in a Bright Room - stock photoWoman Refreshing the Bed with Clean Bed Sheets in a Bright Room – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

It can be far easier to seek an internal promotion rather than a new job elsewhere

The statistics

A trend of ‘job hugging’

12%

In January, available vacancies were down 12 per cent compared to a year prior.

According to the ONS it marked 39 consecutive quarters of decline.

51%

of UK employees plan to stay in their current roles, as Employment Hero’s first Annual Jobs Report shows. Four in 10 say competition is too high to take the risk.

So how can you improve your current situation without leaving?

Learn to humble brag

Your wins don’t always speak for themselves. Share them. Jump into conversations beyond your usual remit. How people see you today shapes the opportunities that come your way tomorrow. Even small updates can have an outsized impact.

VICTORIA MCLEAN, CEO OF CITY CV AND AN EXPERT IN CV AND PROFILE WRITING

Drive Talent Investments with Strategic Workforce Planning. A female job-seeker answering questions during a job interview with a human resource manager in a business office. - stock photoDrive Talent Investments with Strategic Workforce Planning. A female job-seeker answering questions during a job interview with a human resource manager in a business office. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Make your case – with data

A man writes in a notebookCaption: Mid adult man with eyeglasses sitting on a comfortable sofa at home, thoughtfully writing notes in a small notebook while natural sunlight illuminates the room
Photographer: Milan Markovic
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+

Keep a log

The chances of your boss remembering what you achieved in Q1 by December is low so keep a success log.

Treat it as a proposal

Show impact, link it to organisational goals,
and outline future
value, says McLean.

Male candidate handshake with the recruiter at job interview - stock photoMale candidate handshake with the recruiter at job interview – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Remember that you may be able to find a new job within your current organisation (Photo: Shutterstock)(Photo: Shutterstock).

Don’t be shy

Ask your boss directly what you need to do to be promoted in the next six to 12 months.

Offer solutions to problems

Ask yourself: what keeps your organisation awake
at night?

Solve those problems and you shift from just doing your job to being a strategic asset.

Sharing your ideas and views with the people above you can really prove what you’re capable of.

Proactively initiate new projects
or processes.

 It ‘s daunting but getting people to see you in a more elevated position before you get there is really effective.

Worried businessman biting his nail while waiting for a job interview with other candidates in a hallway of an office building.Caption: Worried businessman biting his nail while waiting for a job interview with other candidates in a hallway of an office building.
Photographer: skynesher
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+

Ask for training

It’s a fantastic signal to show how serious you are about your development. 

As careers are no longer linear, a promotion may not be in your current role, but perhaps in the same company in a broader role.

Do some digging to find out what else might be available in other areas.

How to resolve the biggest rows that can end marriages

Private school, sex and housework can be some of the biggest causes of tension between warring couples.

Mike Talbot, a psychologist, and chief executive of UK Mediation [below], reveals how to fix them.

What couples row over

Parenting and schooling

Young couple having an argument. Woman is angry with man. - stock photoYoung couple having an argument. Woman is angry with man. – stock photo. (Photo: Getty)

Psychologist Mike Talbot says parenting can expose ideological differences in a couple. He encourages people to listen to each other, and find a “third way”, something that they come up with between themselves, rather than sticking to one person’s opinion.



3 min read

Money (or a lifestyle)

A mature couple sitting in bed and looking at each other angrily after a disagreementCaption: A mature couple sitting in bed and looking at each other angrily after a disagreement
Photographer: kupicoo
Provider: Getty Images
Source: iStockphoto

It’s common for couples to disagree on their property or finances.

Couples might have different ideas about what the best plan of action is for the future.

Dr Talbot says its important to find “common ground” on what both parties wish for, or worry about.



5 min read

Incompatibilities around sex

Dr Talbot has seen this when one person loses their sex drive. “It can happen when the couples get older, and she loses her sex drive during menopause, whereas the guy’s still as randy as he was when he was 20.”

Young couple having relationship difficulties at home. Both about 25 years old, Caucasian people.Caption: Young couple having relationship difficulties at home. Both about 25 years old, Caucasian people.
Photographer: GoodLifeStudio
Provider: Getty Images
Source: E+
Copyright: DAMIR MIHAJLOVIC

Millennial black lady vacuuming floor while her husband watching TV, not helping her with household duties, cropped view. Unrecognizable young couple having problem with domestic choresCaption: Millennial black lady vacuuming floor while her husband watching TV, not helping her with household duties, cropped view. Unrecognizable young couple having problem with domestic chores
Photographer: Prostock-Studio
Provider: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Source: iStockphoto

Domestic workload

We get people disagreeing about how tidy the house should be, how neatly dressed the kids should be… 

This goes back to the gender stereotypes.

The solution is to focus on value and to get the couple to think about the conflict in a different way.

Here, dietitians share the meals, snacks and sweet treats they feed their children when the temperature rises.

‘Picky plates and fridge raid dinners – and their favourite pasta served cold’ 

Specialist paediatric dietitian Lucy Upton

“Children dehydrate more quickly than adults and may take longer to recognise thirst, so I encourage them to drink plenty by keeping fluids visible and appealing. For example, I add sliced fruit, cucumber, offer different cups, and keep water really cool. Ice cubes can be a choking risk for children, so be mindful of these. High-fluid foods such as watermelon, pepper, cucumber, grapes and strawberries are all a good call.

“Breakfast options that can help support a good intake of nutrients and fluids in the morning include overnight oats (with milk, yoghurt, seeds, frozen or grated fruit, nut butter) or smoothie bowls made with frozen mango or berries, banana, yoghurt or kefir, and sprinkles like seeds and coconut. Add water or a little milk to make the consistency thinner and into a drink.

‘Children dehydrate more quickly than adults and may take longer to recognise thirst,’ says Lucy Upton

“Fridge raid dinners are low effort for hot parents, too. I like to make ‘picky plates’ or meals with cold meats, fish, boiled eggs or cheese, chopped fruit and vegetables, dips (like hummus, yoghurt, tzatziki) and bread, wraps, or crackers and oatcakes. I’ll offer my daughter’s preferred pasta dishes, but cold, such as pasta salad with peas and pesto or cold noodles with vegetable ribbons and a sesame dressing or couscous, rice or orzo salad with some beans, chopped vegetables and olive oil.

“For treats, I make ‘yoghurt bark’ – spread your preferred yoghurt out thinly onto a lined baking sheet, then add chopped fruit, chocolate pieces, seeds, coconut or a drizzle of nut butter and freeze. You can then break pieces off. Another easy option is dipping peeled bananas in yoghurt, adding sprinkles or coconut and freezing for another fruit-based ‘lolly’. Sometimes I’ll freeze whole fruit, like peaches or peeled pineapple, to grate on things like yogurt. Of course I turn to shop-bought options, too. I’ll often stock up on Pip Organic Rainbow Fruity Lollies, Little Jude’s Milk Lollies or Fruit Rocket Lollies.”

‘Watermelon slushies and coconut water ice lollies’

Registered dietitian Freya Perry

Toddler-friendly treats can be both cooling and tasty, according to registered dietitian Freya Perry. “When it’s hot, I’ll make homemade lollies with frozen fruit and Greek yoghurt. Blend two parts fruit to two parts yoghurt, then freeze into ice lolly moulds. Frozen mango or strawberry are especially delicious.

“I also love making coconut water ice lollies – they are super hydrating and high in natural electrolytes to help replenish all those lost in sweat. Watermelon ‘slushies’ are fun, too. I use one small watermelon and two limes. Cut the watermelon into bite-sized pieces, removing any seeds. Once frozen, blend with the juice of the limes and serve as a refreshing slushie.”

‘When it’s hot, I’ll make homemade lollies with frozen fruit and Greek yoghurt,’ says Freya Perry (Photo: David Myers)

‘BBQ leftovers, juicy couscous salad and fun-size ice-creams’

Consultant paediatric dietitian Bahee Van de Bor

“In hot weather I try to keep meals simple, relaxed and easy to assemble.

“For breakfast, I love overnight oats or oats with kefir-style yoghurt poured over and topped with crunchy peanut butter, sliced banana and berries. For lunch, the kids love stuffing their own wholemeal bread rolls with whatever they fancy, such as leftover cooked halloumi, cold cooked chicken pieces from the fridge, or other BBQ leftovers. I’ll usually serve this with easy vegetables like sweet cherry tomatoes, cucumber and baby carrots.

“I also love making salads using pre-cooked couscous or pasta that has been completely cooled and stored in the fridge, then tossed with baby spinach, sundried tomatoes, olives, feta or goat’s cheese and pomegranate seeds. These can be served with extra protein such as cooked chickpeas or oily fish drained from a tin, plus a very simple dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice and black pepper.

“Dinner is often very similar to lunch in hot weather. I make cold potato or pasta salads using steamed or roasted vegetables such as broccoli that have been completely cooled. During very hot weather, many children naturally prefer cooler foods and smaller meals. Naturally there’s bread on the table and if that’s all they end up eating for a couple of days during a heat wave that’s OK, too.

“The main thing I focus on is hydration. Plenty of water, cold fruit, chilled foods and keeping cool are the priorities during a heatwave, so I always keep plenty of ice in the freezer.”

‘Cold noodle salad with easy satay sauce’

Priya Tew, specialist dietitian

“As a dietitian with a family of six children with varying appetites and taste preferences, we don’t tend to limit or avoid anything in a heatwave, just have cooler meals and extra snacks on hand for anyone who hasn’t had much of an appetite at meals.

“The heatwave foods we turn to in our house are Greek yoghurt with berries and nuts and granola for a cool breakfast; cold noodle salad made with satay sauce (simply made with soy, peanut butter, sweet chilli sauce), thinly sliced veg and chicken or tofu; cold pasta salads which you can take with you on picnics or the beach and roasted chicken drumsticks eaten cold with salad and potato salad.

“We always have some shop-bought ice lollies in the freezer, but will also mix it up with frozen bananas and grapes, homemade squash lollies; frozen fruit and homemade smoothies.”