The Institute of Public Health (IPH) have published a new report on breastfeeding on the island of Ireland. The report found that breastfeeding rates are increasing across the island of Ireland.

95% of women know they should take folic acid, but a lot of them don’t. Why not? Here’s what they say...

Aileen gets all poetic on us this week and wonders if kids need so many treats at Hallowe’en…

I’ve grown up hearing this expression and I’d hazard a guess that most people brought up on the island of Ireland have too -  She’s a great eater isn’t she – the child in question is usually praised for their great appetite and then usually given "a wee bit more" of the food they’ve already finished.

I am Ash Bingham and I have two boys Toby (8) and Cooper (5). Join me on a two week journey. The first week with treats, the second week without.

How do treat foods, such as crisps, sweets, biscuits, chocolate and sugary drinks feature in your home?

We don’t want to take the fun out of Easter, but given how many Easter eggs children typically get, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at how much sugar even the smallest of eggs could be packing in their tempting festive shells.

Just like every other parent on the island, I find it challenging to limit my child’s intake of "treat" food. My knowledge of healthy eating doesn’t always help, when treats are simply everywhere a child goes.

I have watched with great amusement over the years the difference in my female friends’ and families behaviour during pregnancy number one and subsequent pregnancies. I did a quick survey to ask them the main differences for this blog. Here’s what they said... 

At safefood, we don’t usually tell people to take supplements. That’s because if you eat healthy, you can generally get all the nutrients you need from food. There is one exception though - that’s folic acid for women who are sexually active and could become pregnant.

You know sleep is important, but maybe it’s even more than you thought. Children who don’t get enough sleep are also at higher risk of becoming overweight later in life. So if you are struggling with your child’s sleep it’s time to make a plan.

The link between lack of sleep and weight was a surprise for many of the parents we spoke with during development of our new "Sleep" campaign. 

I have wonderful memories of hunting for chocolate eggs and gobbling them up. Now as a parent, I have been trying to think up ways to avoid my children eating so much chocolate, yet still having those magical moments.

I find myself more than a little annoyed with what’s happening in our supermarkets right now in the lead up to Christmas.

In this week’s blog, Dr. John Sharry, Parenting Expert, gives his top tips on using treat foods positively and sparingly.

It can be easy to fall into the trap of using treats as every day foods. This week Dr. John Sharry, psychologist and parenting expert, shares his top tips on how to avoid using unhealthy foods as treats. 

16% of adults living in poverty in Ireland have a job – these are the working poor.

I was surprised to see other kids on our road playing kerbs a few nights later while one of my neighbours stopped as he drove by and said “I hope you’ve remembered the extra point rule!”

If you were given responsibility for making a TV advert to raise awareness about childhood obesity and to get parents to do something about it, where would you start?

I recently took the survey on the homepage of the main safefood website to see how I am doing as a mum of two girls (aged 7 and 5) in terms of physical activity and food.

Nowadays bright, sugary drinks are the ‘norm’. You’ll find a bottle of pop in most houses and diluted squash is the regular drink given to many kids.

A few weeks ago we held a live Q + A chat on Facebook on reducing treats and sugary drinks for children. Those who took part asked some great questions. We would like to thank them and to share some of the key questions. Here they are...

Why sleep is important for your child’s health.

So how did back to school go yesterday? Tears? Tantrums? Excitement and joy?

But that’s enough about the parents, how did your child get on?!

Lillian Murphy, who has taken care of safefood’s helpline calls for the past 10 years, has all the answers to your most common questions…

As part of our Food Waste campaign we provided diaries for you to print out and fill in. Here in the office, four of us decided to join in. The results are in…

I made two resolutions this year…1). Procrastinate less, which I’m hoping to start in October or so, and 2). Exercise more and eat a bit healthier.

Last year neither child came home with one piece of fruit or one peanut. Instead they were laden down with chocolates, chewy bars, crisps, candied popcorn and a variety of other high sugar, high fat content 'GOODIES'?

My sister was very quick to remind me that my own Friday night usually starts out with “Can I have two number sixes and a number, a number 17?"

The blog is back! Sorry for missing the post last week. I was speaking at a conference we hosted on Thursday in Cork called "Salt: Hard to Shake" which launched new salt research and showed we're still eating way too much salt in our diets.