First 1,000 Days ambassador, celebrity chef, and dad Neven Maguire is calling on the parents of Westmeath to submit their very own tried and tested recipes for the First 1,000 Days parents recipe competition. The competition is in search of the best recipes that are suitable during the first 1,000 days of life, which includes pregnancy, breastfeeding, weaning, and toddlerhood, right up to two years of age.
A growing body of research has shown that the first 1,000 days of life are a critical window of opportunity to influence future health and wellbeing.
Recipes can be submitted for any first 1,000 days stage and will be judged by dieticians from Danone Early Life Nutrition who are behind the First 1,000 Days movement.
Contestants can enter as many times as they like and winners will get an opportunity to attend Neven’s new cookery school in Blacklion, Co Cavan at the end of the year for a ‘Cooking for Friends and Family’ full day class and an overnight stay for two in the Farnham Estate Hotel, Cavan.
Each winner plus a friend will learn to perfect their skills in the kitchen with Neven who will discuss menu planning, budgeting, and food preparation when cooking for large numbers. He will teach winners how to organise their day, plan ahead, and prepare some items in advance, and winners will get to enjoy everything they cook on the day. Recipes will also be featured in the First 1000 Days recipe book, and will be available to download at www.first1000days.ie
Speaking about the competition Neven said, “I want mums-to-be and new parents to realise that getting the nutritional balance right during the first 1,000 days of life really doesn’t have to be difficult. While the recipes I create in the restaurant are complex, the dishes I cook at home for the twins are simple, healthy, and delicious.”
Parents with a suitable recipe can submit their recipes now at www.first1000days.ie
