Family Meals and Weaning Tips from Yummy Little Belly Author, Romina Bertinazzo
Sitting down and sharing mealtimes with every member of the family, no matter how young, is something that Romina Bertinazzo is passionate about. We caught up with her to find out how she encourages little ones to get stuck in at mealtimes from preparing to eating!
Romina Bertinazzo has drawn quite a crowd on instagram. With over 1.2 million followers who love her simple cooking demonstrations and hands-on weaning advice, it was only a matter of time before her delicious social squares got served up as pages. To celebrate the launch of her book, Yummy Little Belly, which caters for babies and toddlers from 6 months plus, we caught up with the London based, Italian mother of two to find out how she encourages children to tuck in, her favourite snacks on-the-go and how she keeps veggies in plain site and still gets her kids to eat them!
How important do you think it is for a family to have their mealtimes together?
It’s incredibly important to me and my husband. Mealtime is a special moment that brings our family
closer and is vital for teaching good eating habits. I’ve found that children learn by watching, so
sharing our meals lets us model healthy eating and strengthens our family bond. At our home, we
keep mealtimes device-free, no TVs or iPads, except for special occasions. We make a point to eat
together every evening and this is a tradition I deeply value and strive to maintain.
What is your favorite go-to meal for the whole family?
My go-to favorite is definitely pasta with lentil ragù. I always have some in the freezer for those busy
days. It’s a complete meal with pasta for carbs, lentils for protein, and a mix of vegetables in the
ragù. It’s nutritious, satisfying, and a big hit at our table.
What’s your top trick for getting kids to eat a variety of vegetables?
I’ve found that involving kids in meal preparation works wonders. When they help make their meals,
they’re more likely to try and enjoy what they’ve created. It also exposes them to different foods in a
fun way!
Do your Italian roots inform the way you cook?
Absolutely! My Italian heritage has a huge influence on how I cook. Most of my recipes are grounded
in Italian traditions, focusing on simple, high-quality ingredients with minimal spices. It’s all about
letting the fresh ingredients speak for themselves, which is a big part of Italian cooking.
At our home, we keep mealtimes device-free, no TVs or iPads, except for special occasions. We make a point to eat together every evening and this is a tradition I deeply value and strive to maintain.
What are your daughters’ favorite recipes from your book?
My daughters’ favorites are Hulk Omelette (spinach omelette), bolognese pasta, and oat banana
waffles. These dishes are a regular part of our weekly menu at home!
Tell us five essentials for your store cupboard when cooking for kids.
Choosing only five essentials is tough, but for cooking for kids, I always keep these in my store
cupboard: oats, bananas, eggs, peas, and pasta. These ingredients are versatile and can be used to
create a variety of healthy and quick meals.
Would you say fun plates and cutlery sets encourage kids to feel enthusiastic about mealtime?
Definitely! From my experience, fun plates and cutlery can make mealtime more enjoyable and less
monotonous for kids. Colorful and playful dinnerware often makes them more excited about eating
and trying new foods.
What’s your favorite meal from childhood?
Without a doubt, mashed potatoes! It’s a comfort food that I could eat in huge quantities!
What weaning tip do you always pass on to friends?
Don’t stress too much! Children, much like adults, have varying appetites and preferences. There will
be days when they are hungrier or less interested in food, and that’s perfectly normal. Instead of
forcing them to eat, we should encourage them to listen to their bodies and respect their hunger
cues. This approach has really helped me handle the stress of weaning with more ease.
What snacks do you always carry in your bag?
I always carry pancakes with me. They’re easy to prepare, healthy, and can be made in many
different ways to keep things interesting. They’re delicious both warm and cold, and you can add a
variety of nutritious ingredients to them, making them a versatile and convenient snack option.
TRY IT: We love the range of easy to prepare kids' meals in Romina's book and have this sneak peek recipe for you to try at home. These banana oat waffles made with just three ingredients look delicious!
Banana and Oat Waffles
Waffles make a wonderful snack or breakfast for little ones. Their shape makes them easy to cut into fingers, which is ideal for baby-led weaning. I serve them with plain yoghurt, fruit and a touch of maple syrup for a fancy breakfast, or simply plain as a snack or lunchbox filler. Don’t have a waffle maker? No problema! You can use this batter to make pancakes instead!
- Preheat a waffle maker and lightly grease it.
- Put the banana, egg and oats into a foodprocessor and pulse until it forms a smoothbatter.
- Spoon the batter into the waffle maker.
- Cook the waffles according to your wafflemaker’s instructions until golden.
- Let the waffles cool slightly before serving.
- Buon appetite
INGREDIENTS
1 small ripe banana
1 small egg
40g (11/2oz/generous 1/3 cup) porridge oats
virgin coconut oil or unsalted butter, for greasing and frying
STORAGE
Store the cooled waffles in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat from chilled or frozen in the toaster until warmed through.
TIPS
Be sure to preheat your waffle maker. If you don’t, the exterior of the waffle won’t crisp up properly.