About Wholesome Child
Wholesome Child aims to educate, empower and inspire parents to help their children develop a taste for healthy and nourishing foods right from the start.
Wholesome Child Description
Wholesome Child was created to provide informative and creative advice, support and inspiration to empower parents to make healthier food choices for their kids.
Wholesome Child founder, child nutrition expert and mother of two, Mandy Sacher, is a Paediatric Nutritionist and SOS Feeding Consultant. Her clinical practice focuses on prenatal and childhood nutrition, helping parents and mums-to-be-feed their children healthy, nourishing foods right from the start.
IMG_0358 copy_web
Mandy’s philosophy is simple: train children’s taste-buds to enjoy nourishing, nutritionally beneficial foods early as possible to ensure optimal development and establishment of lifelong healthy eating behaviours and food choices.
After birth of her first child in 2010, she became increasingly aware of the lack of nutritionally sound information being made available to first-time parents. She was alarmed at the amount of baby and toddler food that were marketed as being ‘healthy’ when the sugar, salt and preservative content were overly high. Mandy realised our journeys to junk food can begin with the squeezie yoghurts we are fed or the teething rusks we eat.
Wholesome Child is committed to helping parents understand the food choices available to our children, and to providing information and resources that make for easier access to better nutritional options than those available in the local convenience store.
Mandy’s career in children’s health spans more than a decade.
In 2006, she, along with other paediatric experts, founded the MEND Programme – an independent, not-for-profit organisation established to research (and prevent) obesity in children. Mandy and her colleagues at MEND developed one of the world’s only proven weight-loss treatments for obese children, based on ten years of research and clinical trials (http://www. mendcentral.org).
Mandy worked as research assistant on her brother, Dr. Paul Sacher’s book From Kid to Super Kid, compiling case studies and investigating methods to improve the quality of overweight and obese children’s nutritional intake in order to affect better health, self-esteem and motivation to exercise.
Mandy wrote for the Elfy Food Show (http://www. katebulkley.com/kilgarriff. pdf), a British animated mini-series about five healthy-eating elves on a mission to retrieve magical (healthy) foods. The programme promoted the virtues of fresh fruit and vegetables to a pre-teen audience and aired on Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonami.
Wholesome Child was born just after Mandy’s son, when her professional expertise combined with her parental interest in ensuring the best possible nutritional options for her own children.
For the past three years Mandy has consulted to day-cares on implementing more nutritional whole food menu plans and privately to parents of children of all ages. Wholesome Child’s nutritional workshops are held at preschools, mother’s groups, non-profit organisations and medical practices.
Feed Them Right From the Start is the Wholesome Child motto. More informed and better food choices to promote well being and healthier living for our children.
——————–
Qualifications summary:
Personal trainer and nutritional consultant (acquired from Keep Fit International in Johannesburg South Africa – 1996) ,
Bachelor of Communications in Journalism,
Bachelor of Communications in International Relations (UTS – 2004),
Co-creator of the MEND Programme (author of the training manuals and other practical elements of the programme – 2004-2008),
Certificate in Homeopathy , (2009-2010),
Certificate in Naturopathy (2009-2010),
Advanced Diploma in Nutritional Medicine ( 2012 -2014),
SOS Feeding Accreditation (2014).
Reviews
✨Today is my birthday✨ . I’ve decided to use this opportunity to stop and reflect on another year gone by - because as a mum, when do we ever have time to sit and contemplate? I can’t even finish a warm cup of tea! . I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has brought Wholesome Child into their home this past year. We’ve been on such a huge journey this past 12 months and it’s because of you our wonderful supporters . I’m so excited to see what this year bring...s. . Encouraging our children to eat healthy food is not always easy. Do I always get it right? The answer is no - but that’s okay because we are not meant to be perfect. We just do the best we can - parenting is not an easy journey, feeding, sleep training, potty training, howework ( Shew).. . So today I am going to relax and drink my cup of tea…because on Monday I begin on the next exciting project (which I cannot wait to share) and I’m sure it’s going to be quite sometime until I get a day to myself again. . Happy birthday to me and all the gorgeous women who are celebrating today - one year older and wiser ! 🎉 . . . 📷 @charlottecurd #birthday #birthdays #happybirthday #saturday #saturdaymorning #thankful #weekend #Livethelittlethings #love #photooftheday #picoftheday #amazing #bestoftheday #mumlife #mum #mumpreneur #author
See More
Today my baby girl celebrates her 5th birthday🎉 We gave her the name Summer and she embodies her namesake in everyway. She is warm, full of light and even on my hardest day she is my little ray of sunshine. - Summer is the miracle baby we never thought we would get to meet. We suffered so many losses before her so today I’m feeling all the more blessed to celebrate her five times around the sun 💗 - 📷@verveportraits... - #birthday #happybirthday #babygirl #girl #daughter #motherdaughter #miraclebaby #love #five #mumlife #family #familymatters #preschooler #wednesday
See More
All Natural Rainbow Cake 🌈 - On Saturday we celebrated our not-so-baby-girl’s birthday party with this amazing Rainbow Cake. - My ‘baby' is the inspiration behind this all natural Rainbow Cake recipe which features in the @Wholesome_Child book.... - We use the following superfoods to tint the colours of the cake layers. I often get asked if this changes the flavour the cake. People can be particularly suspicious of using turmeric however I’m pleased to say that the plates are always licked clean (no leftovers for this mamma)! 💛 plain batter 🧡 tumeric 💗 raspberry juice 💜 blueberry juice 💚 spirulina - When creating healthy party foods recipes I’ve been careful not to sacrifice on taste or fun. In my book I've included the best of these recipes - tried and tested over the years at my children's birthday parties. Because let’s face it our kids are the real food critics 😉 - @bondilicious_nutritious #birthday #birthdaygirl #birthdayparty #partyfood #healthypartyfood #kidspartyfood #rainbowcake #healthycake #healthycakes #unprocessedfood #glutenfreeliving #glutenfreecake #glutenfreecakes #dairyfreeliving #dairyfreefood #dairyfreecake #dairyfreecakes #cakes #cakelover #cakesofinstagram #cakestagram #ilovecake
See More
Today my baby girl celebrates her 5th birthday🎉 We gave her the name Summer and she embodies her namesake in everyway. She is warm, full of light and even on my hardest day she is my little ray of sunshine. - Summer is the miracle baby we never thought we would get to meet. We suffered so many losses before her so today I’m feeling all the more blessed to celebrate her five times around the sun 💗 - 📷@verveportraits... - #birthday #happybirthday #babygirl #girl #daughter #motherdaughter #miraclebaby #love #five #mumlife #family #familymatters #preschooler #wednesday
See More
Thank you Mama Disrupt for featuring our Lamb Kofta recipe. This is one of my fave mid-week dinners because the leftovers are perfect for the kids lunchboxes!
With gluten sensitivities, intolerances, coeliac disease and being coeliac becoming more and more commonplace, gluten-free products are being marketed to consumers as the ‘healthier choice’. But before you overhaul your family’s diet, it’s important to know that many of these products are not as healthy as they seem – and going gluten-free might not be for everyone. Read my latest article in Mamamia to find out more.
From my family to yours, I wish you all a very Happy Father's Day 💙
If you're like most families, you will no doubt be celebrating this wonderful day with family, which often means lots and lots of food. So if you're in need of a light dinner tonight, why not try our nutritious sweet potato and coconut soup?!
Sweet potato contains Vitamin A which is great for healthy immune function, vision and promoted bone growth. And Vitamin C which strengthens collagen in bones, cartilag...e and muscle, whilst promoting wound healing and a healthy immune system.
Full recipe ⤵️ https://www.wholesomechild.com/…/sweet- potato-and-coconut-…/ @bondilicioius_nutritious . . . . . . . . . . #wholesomechild #happyfathersday #foodstagram #igfood #wholesomechild #motherhood #familyfirst #family #familyhealth #wholefoods #mumlife #healthyeating #healthylifestyle #familyhealth #veganfriendly #eatinghealthy #sweetpotatosoup #sweetpotato #souprecipe #whatscookingoodlookin #coconut #vegetable #vegetablelove #vegetablelover #veggies #veggielife #veggiefood #vegetarianrecipes #vegetarianfood #vegan
See More
Is there such a thing as good fat and bad fat?
With so much controversy surrounding which fats, to use in your diet, it's important to take a balanced approach and incorporate a range of different fats in your diet. Below are some of my favourite choices, which I use to prepare my family's meals and are shared throughout the book.
Remember that a young child's energy needs are much higher than adults so low-fat diets do not provide an adequate supply of nutrients and may in...terfere with proper cognitive and hormone development. Bottom line...remove the processed carbs and include the healthy fats
Below are some great healthy sources of fat.
🥑 Natural peanut or almond butter 🥑 Avocado and cold-pressed avocado oil 🥑 Extra virgin olive oil and soaked olives 🥑 Virgin coconut oil, fresh coconut meat and coconut cream 🥑 Raw almond, cashews, walnuts and Brazil nuts 🥑 Oily fish ( wild salmon and sardines) 🥑 Chia, pumpkin, sunflower, flax and sesame seeds 🥑 Unsalted butter, fermented butter and Ghee
My latest blog post discusses this topic further. Link below ⤵️ https://www.wholesomechild.com/is-there-s uch-thing-as-good…/ @bondilicious_nutritious
See More
I had such an incredible night last night thanks to Gemma from Little Nicholson Street Play Centre for organising the event.
Thank you to the 50 mum's and dad's who attended. We discussed tips on dealing with fussy little eaters and lunchbox ideas. It was such a great night!
My next Fussy Eating Workshop is Monday 22nd October at 7:30pm in Bondi Junction. To secure your ticket, click on the link below
... https://www.wholesomechild.com/…/veggie -tricks-get-eat-veg…/
See More
Looking for something a little different for Father's Day breakfast? The Shakshuka with Quinoa & Greens is a yummy vegetarian, gluten free and nut free recipe that is perfect for the whole family. It's so good, Dad won't even notice that it's meat free 😉⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ -⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Loaded with essential Vitamins and Minerals, this delicious breakfast ensures your whole family is getting a range of essential nutrients such as protein, essential fats and antioxidant-rich greens and pro...tein. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ -⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ This recipe contains kale, spinach and chard, that's 3 leafy greens in one meal! It's a great one to get the kids involved, encourage them to crack the eggs and arrange the ingredients in the pan. Serve with a slice of gluten-free yoghurt bread or a rustic sourdough loaf and dad will be fully energised - and may even offer to look after the kids - ha ha. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ -⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Recipe below ⤵️ I would love to hear how your family enjoyed this meal, so please feel free to let me know 😘⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ https://www.wholesomechild.com/…/shaksh uka-with-quinoa-and…/ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @bondilicious_nutritious⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
See More
Introducing Solids the Wholesome Way - 17th Setpember
If you are struggling on which foods to offer first, if you are confused about when to begin, if you can’t decide between spoon feeding or baby-led weaning, if you are still struggling with milk vs. solids, if you want to learn techniques that prevent fussy eating, or if you just want to be inspired by recipes containing superfoods for babies – this is the workshop for you.
Click the link below to secure your spot! Do you... know of a mum who would find this helpful?
https://www.wholesomechild.com/…/introd ucing-solids-wholes…/
See More
Is there anything more heartwarming than a homemade Beef Stew?
Our Hearty Beef Stew is the perfect tummy filler for those colder nights. Loaded with nutritious vegetables to help boost the immune system in these colder months. It's so flavoursome that even the kids will love this recipe.
Let's talk Protein 🥩... Children aged 1-3 years require 1.1g/kg pf body weight or 13g of protein daily. For children aged 4-8 years the requirement is .95g/kg or 19g daily.
I always recommend trying to source quality meat. 100% Grass-fed beef is ideal. Don't be afraid to ask your butcher about the meat you are buying.
Full recipe below ⤵️ https://www.wholesomechild.com/recipes/he arty-beef-stew/
I feature a host of nutritious and delicious meals in my book "Wholesome Child: A Complete Nutrition Guide and Cookbook" https://www.wholesomechild.com/mandys-boo k/
@bondilicious_nutritious
See More
Living a healthy lifestyle doesn't mean you have to let go of those winter warming desserts. My Stewed Apple Crumble is a healthier version, meaning you can still enjoy one of your old time favourites! 🍏
Sweetened naturally with the delicious combination of apples, cinnamon and vanilla, means the whole family can enjoy this tasty treat without the risk of a sugar rush before bed.
Full Recipe ⤵️... https://www.wholesomechild.com/recipes/st ewed-apple-crumble/
More recipes can be found in my "Wholesome Child Nutrition Guide and Cookbook" ⤵️ https://www.wholesomechild.com/mandys-boo k/
Enjoy xx
@bondilicious_nutritious
See More
So often I’m asked if it’s okay to heat baby and young children’s food in the microwave. The article below clearly advises NOT to heat food in plastic - especially children’s food.
It also advises not to run plastic containers and bottles through the dishwasher. Exposing plastic to high heat can increase the chance of leaking dangerous chemicals.
Simple solution, use glass or stainless steel to replace plastic food containers in the home. It’s better for our families and be...tter for the environment.
Most of us are incredibly time poor and although the microwave appears to be the easiest option, using the oven, heating a pot on the stove or using a sandwich press also works really well and does not require too much extra time.
See More
In my book "Wholesome Child Nutrition Guide and Cookbook" I talk about an important topic relating to pesticides and how we can help reduce the amount we and our children consume.
When it comes to non-organic fruit and vegetables, always wash and peel where possible, and remove the outer leaves of lettuce and cabbage.
Soaking vegetables like broccoli, lettuce and spinach in water mixed with vinegar for 15-20min also helps remove unnecessary residue. Rinse after draining.
... If you would like to know more, please head to the link https://www.wholesomechild.com/mandys-boo k/ where you can purchase my book.
See More
It's a common misconception that in order to be healthy you can't enjoy chocolate as part of your diet. However, there are healthier ways to enjoy a choccy treat, even for those with dairy allergies.
In my Blog I share allergy friendly chocolate the whole family can enjoy. 😍
https://www.wholesomechild.com/allergy-fr iendly-chocolate-…/
As a mum, I understand how tricky it can be to feed your children healthy nutritious foods, especially when it comes to packing their lunchboxes.
Below are 5 simple lunch box swaps you can make to help reduce your children's sugar intake:
🥗 SWAP - Sultanas for Grapes. A small pack of sultanas contains 5 teaspoons of added sugar. Five to six (cut) grapes contain only 1 teaspoon of intrinsic sugars by comparison.
... 🥗 SWAP - Sweet popcorn for Plain or lightly salted popcorn
🥗 SWAP - Squeezie yoghurt for reusable pouches or other small, reusable containers filled with natural yoghurt, and if necessary, sweeten with a teaspoon of maple syrup or honey. Most squeezie yoghurts contain around 3 teaspoons of sugar.
🥗 SWAP - Chocolate milk for half chocolate milk and half plain milk
🥗 SWAP - Fruit juice for diluted fruit juice. One quarter fruit juice and 3 quarters water.
I have also written a blog post which you can find below ⤵️
https://www.wholesomechild.com/how-pack-h ealthy-lunch-kids…/
See More
If you’ve ever been curious as to what a ‘day on the plate’ of a nutritionist looks like, you’ll love this article. We share some easy & delicious recipes too.
https://cupcakesandcashmere.com/…/3-nut ritionists-on-their-…