There is nothing like late pregnancy to inspire all sorts of new feelings, including the mysterious “nesting” instinct, which can be alien to women who have previously shown no interest in housework. But go with it! Not only will your home be ship-shape by the time you have your baby in your arms, but you’re … Read more

6.2.5. Making Foams: Lecithin Foams are another area of play in modernist cuisine. If you ever happen to be served a dish that has a “foam” component—say, cod served on a bed of rice with a “carrot” foam or uni (sea urchin) in a shell with green apple foam, it was probably created by adding … Read more

6. Anti-Sugar: Lactisole This one is unusual. Unlike the modern additives covered so far, which have essentially focused on either trapping liquids in a gel structure or changing the physical state of food, “anti-sugar” is an additive used to modify a flavor sensation: it reduces the sensation of sweetness. (And no, mixing sugar and anti-sugar … Read more

Choosing a Pediatrician If this is your first baby, you will need to find a pediatrician to care for her throughout her childhood. There are many fantastic, experienced doctors around, but you’ll need to do some homework to ensure that you find someone who shares your approach to health and well-being. Ideally, you should begin … Read more

Postpartum Depression (PPD) PPD affects about 10 percent of all new moms. The symptoms differ from woman to woman, and it’s normal to experience at least some of these after birth. It’s important, however, to look out for the following symptoms—be honest with yourself about how you are feeling, and talk to your doctor if … Read more

7. Meat Glue: Transglutaminase One of the more unexpected food additives is transglutaminase, a protein that has the ability to bond glutamine with compounds such as lysine, both of which are present in animal tissue. In plain English, transglutaminase is “glue” for proteins. Transglutaminase isn’t used to change the texture of foods or to modify … Read more

Bacon-Wrapped Scallops It’s cool to see bacon-wrapped scallops where the bacon just sticks to the scallop. It’s also a good example of how to work with transglutaminase. In a small bowl, mix roughly 2 parts water to 1 part transglutaminase to create a slurry. On a small plate that will fit in your fridge, lay … Read more

8. Liquid Smoke: Distilled Smoke Vapor Smoking—burning wood chips and directing either the hot or cold smoke vapors to come in contact with items such as meats—is a method for curing and preserving foods. Smoking also deposits a number of flavors onto the food that are generated as byproducts of the chemical reactions that occur … Read more

Set ground rules to ease those young fingers off the tablet. We share some tips. When you bought your five-year-old that tablet for his birthday six months ago, you never imagined he’d be glued to it. When you bought your five-year-old that tablet for his birthday six months ago, you never imagined he’d be glued … Read more

Telling your nine-year-old that she isn’t old enough to use social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook simply doesn’t work (even though the official minimum age or Facebook is 13). After all, she argues, her friends use these sites, and she would feel left out and excluded if she couldn’t take part. You don’t … Read more

The best ones boost your child’s mental, physical and social development. Age 2 What to buy Modelling clay Modelling clay – you can buy cheap multi-coloured modelling clay Your two-year-old loves exploring his surroundings and is beginning to think creatively. Modeling clays provide the perfect opportunity to merge the two – and you will probably … Read more

Age 5 What to buy role-play toy Group role-play has the further effect of encouraging him to listen to others, share and take turns. Your child now has a vocabulary of about 2,000 words, loves telling long tales, and can identify the difference between fact and fiction, says Shan Shan. This means role-play is extremely … Read more

Can you still eat or luak and rojak when you’re pregnant? Nutrition experts ladle out advice to Eveline Gan on hawker delights that are safe to consume. Say goodbye to… Kopitiam breakfast set Coffee and soft-boiled eggs are a quintessential Singaporean way to start the day. Coffee and soft-boiled eggs are a quintessential Singaporean way … Read more

Tuck into… Japanese – style teriyaki fish set Japanese – style teriyaki fish set This much-loved meal – served with either rice or noodles – consists of deep – sea fatty fish like salmon or sardines. These are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help in baby’s brain and eye development, says Jenette. Tip: … Read more

Spice up your salads with this surprisingly health plant The Latin name for watercress, Nasturtium officinale, means ‘nose twister’. The Latin name for watercress, Nasturtium officinale, means ‘nose twister’. It’s a lovely description, I think, of the aquatic plant’s peppery bite. And it’s no surprise to learn that it belongs to the mustard family. Eat … Read more

It’s time to get shipshape and “buckle your swash” in preparation for an imaginary voyage on the high seas, as the National Museum invites families to its Island Adventures! But tell them they’re going on an island adventure – and they’ll definitely get excited! Tell your children they’re going to learn about Singapore’s history this … Read more

Aim for your tot to play with others his own age at least once or twice a week, if possible. While you could do this by taking him to a playgroup, you could also organize play dates and invite other children and their parents over. Aim for your tot to play with others his own … Read more

She prefers to play alone, but we tell you why plat dates are still important to your toddler. Play is good for your toddler. Through it, he learns about the world around him, develops new skills and gets the opportunity to mix with others. However, you might wonder if there’s any point in arranging for … Read more

It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child. What no one told me was that, sometimes, the village shows up at your door – unannounced and uninvited. Having a baby, it seemed, meant that your life was no longer your own. What we did not expect was that both my … Read more

Often, mother-in-law would also enter my room as I was trying to breastfeed or nap. I lost count of the number of times I woke up in fright to see her face hovering above mine, as she peered over my body to admire her granddaughter. (Baby slept with me almost all the time as she … Read more