The RTÉ presenter posed with the adorable Cal for a photo shoot, marking her role as an ambassador for The First 1000 Days campaign.
Speaking excitedly about her role, Maura revealed that she is looking forward to inspiring and educating other mothers across Ireland of the importance of good nutrition in the first 1000 days of a child’s life.
“I was always aware of the importance of good nutrition from an early age, but since becoming an ambassador for The First 1000 Days movement back when I was pregnant with Cal, I have come to truly understand the long-term health implications for him,” said Maura.
Referring to little Cal’s upcoming first birthday celebrations, Maura added that she has already noticed the benefits of a healthy diet on her little boy.
“It has been a joy to see him develop and grow from a tiny baby to the strong, healthy and happy toddler that he is becoming,” she said, adding, “From the moment he was weaned we have been conscious about getting those key nutrients into him like Iron and Vitamin D.”
The First 1000 Days campaign is focused on the four key stages from pregnancy, breastfeeding, weaning on to solid foods, and the toddler stage; and offers some key tips for parents to consider when striving to get nutrition plans right for their little ones.
Among these tips, The First 1000 Days recommends that parents:
- Include two small servings a day of iron rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs and fortified foods.
- Include Vitamin D in the daily diet with foods such as oily fish, eggs, fortified cereals and milk; and
- Eat as a family and lead by example. Toddlers like to copy their siblings and parents and so eating as a family will make them more likely to eat their meals and enjoy them too.
For more information, visit the website at www.first1000days.ie, or the Facebook page.
