See more over at - https://www.myfussyeater.com/

Eve: Today you’re going to be speaking a bit about myfussyeater which is you’re Instagram and your journey of starting pick plates. Do you want to tell us about yourself? (0:36)

Ciara: Most people would have seen me on Instagram or come across one of my recipes. I am a mum of 2, my kids are 10 and 7 now.

Eve: Amazing, and your known as myfussyeater over on Instagram so do you want to tell me a bit more of what you do? (1:17)

Ciara: So, it’s sort of a resource of recipes for kids and families with tips of how to get kids eating better. It started with my own experience with my daughter when she hit the toddler stage, she became really fussy. I was struggling a little with advice on the internet. There is so much advice out there for the weaning stage, but I found when she hit the toddler stage there wasn’t so much. So, I decided to do it myself, and started the website and uploading recipes, talking about what I was doing.

Eve: What were your daughters’ habits of eating that made you want to start this? (4:14)

Ciara: I think it was more that I didn’t appreciate the work and the effort that goes into feeding a child, because we were really busy with work and she went to an amazing childminder. She went there from when she was 6 months old, so all her weaning was done with the childminder and she had 3 meals a day there, so I was quite removed from the process and felt I just picked it up at the weekends. When she was 18 months old and I was at home feeding her, 3 times a day, I didn’t appreciate the work that went into it. she wasn’t eating a large variety of food, and just wanted plain food.

Eve: What are your tips for fussy eaters or the reasons why children go into that stage? (6:15)

Ciara: The first tip I always say to people is relax and just take a step back. It’s something most kids go through at some stage. Try to introduce foods very slowly, they need routine and consistency in their life. Getting them involved is really good as well, getting them in the kitchen helping even if it is just making a sandwich. Try to break the routine if it’s not working, there is no point doing it over and over again.

Eve: They’re great tips. I know you have another Instagram called pick plates so could you tell us about how this started? (8:56)

Ciara: Pick plates came about as I realised when I was feeding my kids, they ate a lot better when the food was on divided plates. As the kids got older and they had more friends coming round, they others were the same as well. When I use to serve platters of food separately and they were nicely presented, the kids used to eat more and some of my friends would say so and so doesn’t eat this at home but has eaten it now. I could only get similar plates to the pick plates now around Christmas time and they were bad quality, so I thought why not make my own and it went from there.

Eve: going back to your children, I know you have been quite open with Finn’s diagnoses of Autism. Could you tell us a bit more about this diagnoses journey? (12:42)

Ciara: So, we realised quite early on there was some issues there after his 2nd birthday. We were lucky we had good support from his nursery and local GP and he was diagnosed a year later at 3 and half. It has meant for Finn that he went to a specialist school, which is amazing. He was non-verbal for a long time and now its incredible and he’s come on so much. It’s not easy for him at all and were so proud of him.

Eve: What does motherhood mean to you? (17:30)

Ciara: It’s amazing, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I’m so happy I had my children and so grateful that I was able to have them. It’s a massive part of my life.