Mom Life Made Easier: Ask a Loblaws Pharmacist or Dietician

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Loblaws Companies Inc. All opinions are 100% mine.Some days I feel like I can hardly do a good job of feeding myself healthy meals, so as a first time mom, knowing what, when and how to feed my kids has been a major learning experience. Did you know one year olds can be picky eaters? Yeah, me neither, until a few weeks ago when mine decided to actually start refusing to eat what was in front of them. I thought I had little angels who would eat anything! WRONG!Needing all the help I can get to get my littles to eat anything that isn't covered in cheese, I went to my local Loblaws store and spoke to a Loblaws Dietitian. Here are 3 things I learned:

1. I was reassured that trying is the first step, and not to give up! Kids do become pickier with foods, and it can take several attempts before they will accept something new (hellooooooo broccoli! Still trying). Just keep at it!
2. I was also made aware that similar rules apply to both adults and toddlers as far as how much of each meal should include grains, fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy. I have to say, getting my kiddos to eat leafy greens like spinach is difficult. They eat one leaf at a time, very reluctantly! So putting them in smoothies has been a great way to make sure they get it and don't know about it! The dietician also reminded me that this same "blend it in" method works for sauces! Spaghetti, anyone? Whole grain, though, of course!
3. When introducing them to new foods, only try one new thing at a time and make sure other familiar things are on their plate, and that those are things you know they like! They're maybe more likely to go for the new food. Or not. If not, remember tip #1!

I got way more than I expected out of this visit, because I didn't only learn about ways that I can make sure my kids get the nutrients they need, but I also learned how I can do that for myself. Here is a BONUS thing I learned: the Guiding Stars program. This, in particular, will make grocery shopping much easier for me! You can actually see how a food is rated (0, 1, 2 or 3 stars, 3 being the highest and best rating) right on the shelves at participating Loblaws stores. So good!On top of offering an in-store dietician, select stores also have a Loblaws Pharmacy with pharmacists who can help with any health or well-being questions you may have - they don't just renew your prescriptions, ya know?! Loblaws Pharmacists can also help you with ways to manage things like blood pressure, diabetes, and can assess any current medications you may be taking. On top of that, they can suggest FOODS that can help you as well.I don't know about you, but I figure if I'm going to be at the grocery store at least once a week anyway (let's face it, it's more like three times!), and I can go to someone if I have questions or concerns about what I'm eating or not eating, about how to combat the cold going around, or if I just have general questions about ways to help me and my family with our well-being, I'm going to take advantage of it.If you want to know more about how these Loblaws Pharmacists and Loblaws Dietitians can help you, there's a Loblaws Facebook Live event happening March 22 at 8pm EST and you can ask questions and have them answered right there!