Parenting

H: Lis Speight, host
S: Sheree Murphy, actress

H: Hello and welcome to the Parenting Show, brought to you today by Birds Eye, Eat Positive.  I’m Lis Speight.  Now then are you a busy mum struggling to juggle a hectic lifestyle?  Like me you’re probably encouraging your kids to eat a balanced diet but are you making sure that you get the five a day you need?  Well joining me today with some top tips on how to stay healthy, I’m delighted to say we have with us in the studio actress and mother of 3 Sheree Murphy, welcome along Sheree, it’s really great to see you today

S: Thank you

H: Now you’ve just had a little baby haven’t you?

S: Yes

H: You’re looking great!  So soon after the birth

S: Thank you – yes Matilda’s 9 weeks today actually,

H: Lovely and how’s it going?

S: It’s good, it’s good, it’s kind of just getting used to the baby again in the house, but it’s great, I’ve got two little helpers

H: So you’re certainly a busy mum, and –

S: Yes

H: And you’re certainly trying to get your 5 a day in, so before  we start talking to Sheree about her healthy eating plan and how she copes being such a busy mum, I’d just like to say that this is a live show, we’re interactive as well so if you’ve got any questions for Sheree all you have to do is to put your name and your question in the box that’s on the screen, press submit and it’ll come through to us here in the studio and we’ll try to get through as many as we can during the course of the show.  But before we start with your questions, there’s been a survey out that shows 81% of mums admit to snacking or eating take-aways rather than having proper meals.  Where are we going wrong Sheree?

S: Well I think you know as a mum you do, we are concerned about our children and making sure they have enough fruit and vegetables and stuff that we do neglect ourselves

H: Yes

S: But I think the key to kind of looking after ourselves is probably being a little bit more organised and making sure, you know when you’re packing your lunch for your kids in the morning, pack yourself a little snack in your bag

H: Yes

S: It can be, you know a bit of fruit or some dried fruit or something, because I know I am terrible, if I’m out for the day and I haven’t got anything in my bag that’s quite healthy I think well I’ll just go to the coffee shop, have a coffee and a nice big muffin

H: Exactly or a bar of chocolate or something –

S: Exactly

H: It sounds easy but it’s just as easy actually to take a banana isn’t it?

S: Of course it is, and it’s just about being organised

H: Yes.  Now I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but I tend to make lunch for my little girl and I chop up bits of pepper and bits of tomato and cucumber, and I give it to her and I think there we are, nice and healthy, and then I’ll go and have a ham sandwich and have none of those things and I feel guilty about it – why do we do that?

S: I don’t know, I don’t know.  I think because we are so concerned about our children, you know and I think you know as mums we need to keep our energies up, you know –

H: Certainly

S: We need to be ready and alert for our kids every day so it is important that we do eat well

H: So 5 a day then – how important is it that we’re getting our fruit and vegetables, I suppose it’s all vitamins and fibre and –

S: Yes.  Well there’s lots of – I mean it’s not just about eating 5 pieces of fruit and you know because sometimes that is a bit of a chore, you have to be in the mood for an apple

H: Yes you don’t always fancy an apple – mix it up a bit, that’s a good tip I suppose

S: Totally.  Fruit juices, you can have a fruit juice, that’s one – also I mean I’m quite good, in the evenings I do tend to make vegetables and stuff for the kids, so that’s good, and also just having stuff like dried apricots and things in your handbag, that’s another way to get –

H: They’re a good energy filler, they’re very good for you, they’ve got a lot of iron in I think

S: Definitely, definitely.  So when you think about it really it is quite easy to actually get your 5 a day

H: You’ve got 3 meals to get through, and all the snacks in between so –

S: Yes it is quite easy, there’s no excuse is there?

H: No exactly, we all still make them don’t we?

S: I know! 

H: Baked beans as well, they’re one of your 5 a day aren’t they so –

S: Yes, yes

H: And everyone eats those at some point don’t they?

S: Exactly

H: So I suppose it’s just a matter of mixing it all up

S: Exactly

H: And are your children quite good at eating fruit and vegetables?

S: No!

H: Whose are?

S: No they’re not.  I did go through a phase of actually blending up all sorts of vegetables into sauces,

H: That’s a good idea

S: And pouring it on pasta, but it got to the point where it was just ridiculous, you know I thought no they’ve got to start feeling the texture of the fruit and vegetables and stuff, so you know I just put my foot down and thought that’s it, you know no treats unless you’re eating your vegetables, and it seems to work at the moment, but no they don’t like it

H: So no treats for you unless you eat your vegetables, is that how it works? One friend of mine has a sticker chart actually for her kids

S: Oh right that’s a good idea

H: And she puts it up when they’re having 5 a day and maybe we should do that for ourselves as well?

S: I know, I know

H: Then you know when you’re having them don’t you? Maybe that’s a good tip isn’t it, do it along with your children.  Now we’ve had lots of questions coming in so let’s move on to some of those, and Maria has sent a question in, she doesn’t say where she’s from, she says “I’ve got 3 children like you and I am so exhausted.  What’s your secret, do you have lots of help?”

S: No I don’t actually, it’s usually -

H: That’s refreshing!

S: It’s me and my husband that kind of work everything out between us and my mum is quite good, she usually goes up, if I’m working she’ll go up and look after the kids for me

H: That’s lovely, so she doesn’t live near your mum?

S: No she – I live near Manchester and she lives near London so -

H: Oh crikey

S: We kind of swap over, I stay at her house and she goes and stays at my house, so I kind of usually juggle it around, but it is difficult sometimes, but I do try and take work that you know I can kind of be at home for the majority of the time and have the odd day away, which is not too bad

H: Yes

S: Because I like doing the school run and homework and stuff like that, you know

H: Yes

S: But then it’s also nice to come away and have a night away to myself

H: Yes and catch up on your sleep, with a 9 week old baby you need all the sleep you can get

S: I know, exactly it is tough, but you know,  I am exhausted but lots of make-up

H: She looks very bright-eyed to me, I don’t – were you staying in London last night?

S: Yes

H: Well that’s why, she’s had a good night’s sleep you see, that’s the secret, get away if you can every now and again.  Ok more of your questions coming in, and Sylvia said “before I had children I used to enjoy a glass of wine and a natter with my friends, but now I don’t even have time to do my make-up which really stresses me out.  What advice would you offer me?”

S:  Well I think that’s where a lot of us go wrong with our diets, because we kind of feed the kids, let them eat and then sort of think we’ll wait for our husbands to come home and eat, and you eat late and then sometimes you think do you know what, I can’t be bothered to you know chop vegetables and stuff, and that’s where this Eat Positive range from Birds Eye is brilliant

H:  Yes

S: Because you can pop it in the microwave, it’s all like steamed and you know -

H: Full of vegetables

S: Full of vegetables and full of vitamins, and you don’t feel so bad then doing that

H: No

S: Because I know what it’s like sometimes of an evening, you think the last thing I want to do is you know chop vegetables and make a big meal

H: Yes

S: I want to sit down, have a glass of wine and relax, talk to my husband and -

H: Exactly

S: And just kind of have that moment together, so that’s quite a good thing, there are options out there, and you can still be healthy

H:  Yes ok.  And I always find that eating with the children, if you can, is a good idea as well

S: Definitely

H: I try and do that

S: I’m quite lucky because my husband doesn’t work late, he’s usually home for tea time, and I think that’s the key if you are watching what – you know your weight, to eat before 6 o’clock, eat with the kids and then it’s done then

H: Yes I find that’s really useful, when you’ve given them a bath, put them to bed, that’s it, it’s your free time then isn’t it?

S: Yes

H: You don’t have to then start cooking another meal do you, but it doesn’t always work out like that does it?

S: No it doesn’t

H: But then if they can see that you’re eating the fruit and vegetables as well then -

S: Exactly, you’re sitting down together as a family, definitely

H: You’re more likely to eat more I think as well then aren’t you, a good role model for them.  Sarah G sent a question in, she said “I enjoy eating boiled veg when it’s soft but someone once told me that this takes away a lot of the nutrients, is this true?”

S: Well apparently if you do, you know if you are having fresh vegetables, as soon as you chop and put them in the water and boil them up, apparently they do lose lots of nutrients and that’s why they say frozen veg is so much better

H: Right

S: Because it’s literally picked and frozen straight away

H: Straight away

S: And it doesn’t lose all the nutrients, so you know you wouldn’t think that because it’s frozen, but apparently it’s so much better, and so much easier

H: And you’ve always got peas and sweetcorn and broccoli and what have you in your freezer then

S: Always, I mean I’m quite good at that, when I go shopping I kind of think always make sure I’ve got frozen veg and stuff, if I don’t want to start from scratch there’s that option in your freezer then

H:  Yes and maybe if you can’t bear to eat al dente fruit, al dente vegetables rather, you could always use the water that you’ve cooked them in to make soup or stock

S: Yes definitely

H: You could save that and put it into sauces and what have you, so try and use it in other areas

S: Yes definitely

H: But at least you’re getting some vegetables, better eat some than none at all I guess

S: Exactly

H: And Rosie Elvin said “on the subject of freezing, I sometimes freeze fruit, especially blackberries and then use them in a blender to make healthy milkshakes”, and she finds that that’s quite a good way of getting fruit in without too much of an effort

S: That’s brilliant, and also it’s tasty, you know.  I know sometimes making up juices and stuff is a bit time consuming, you know you haven’t got a lot of time, we usually do that of a weekend, you know when we’ve got a bit of time and the kids can pick their fruit and stuff, and I make milkshakes

H: Yes

S: So that’s a good way to get the kids to eat you know fruit but at the same time it’s great for us

H:  And of course you can get a lot of frozen fruit now can’t you, in the supermarket – mango and all sorts of -

S: Yes so much -

H: Raspberries and things

S: Yes and it’s, you know as soon as it’s defrosted it’s so ripe and lovely, so it’s perfect

H: Do you know the other thing I did, the other days because it’s been so hot was make ice lollies out of fruit juice and put fresh fruit in there

S: See, that’s a good idea

H: The kids like that don’t they?  Do your kids like lollies?

S: Yes they do, and I think that is the key, it’s just being organised and making sure you have these things in that you can do that, you know, so definitely

H: Now Kelly has said “my kids are more into fruit than veg, is it important to get a balance between the two, or can one supplement the other in order to get 5 a day?”

 S: I mean I think it’s probably -

H:  What do you think on that one?

S: Good to get a balance, you know, just even just for their taste buds and just so they know that you know there are vegetables and at some point you have to eat them, they’re good for you, but it is difficult when you’ve got children, I’ve got one that loves fruit, can’t stand vegetables, and I’ve got one that doesn’t mind eating vegetables but will not eat fruit

H: Oh dear

S: So it’s really difficult

H: Difficult at meal times as well trying to plan round that

S: Really difficult, but I do feel better that they’re getting something from say like the fruit or the vegetables if they’re not really into both, so I think it’s trying to get that balance, but I think if they’re eating one kind of vegetable or fruit I think that’s better than nothing isn’t it?

H: You’re winning half the battle aren’t you?

S: Definitely

H: You can’t be perfect, at least they’re getting something, and if you like fruit then you know you’re halfway there because some kids don’t eat it at all do they?

S: Exactly

H: Ok now let’s talk a little bit about when you were in the jungle, because you didn’t eat very much at all then did you?

S: No

H: Did you really crave fruit and vegetables because I think if I was really starved

S: Yes

H: That’s the thing, like a really juicy apple, especially when it’s hot

S: Yes it was really hot, I mean to be honest I just craved food.  I thought it would be absolutely fine because I’m always on a kind of diet, watching my weight, I’ll go in there and I’ll be fine without food

H: Oh no I wouldn’t be

S: I’ve never felt hunger like – hunger pains like it, it was hideous, really hideous, but it was a good experience.  I felt like I’d completely de-toxed my body, so I felt great when I came out, and I was half a stone lighter,

H:My – what did you really crave though when you were in there?

S: Chocolate

H:  Really, that’s funny isn’t it?

S: Stuff that’s bad for you I did, I have to say, but I would have eaten anything!

H: And you did largely!  Did you do the Bushtucker trial?

S: Yes

H: Oh yuk

S: Kangaroo testicles, the lot

H: Anything tastes good when you’re that hungry!  Now another question’s come in, Charlotte Orr says “my daughter is a little tubby” – my daughter’s a little tubby as well – “she wants to work on screen as an actress, what advice can you offer us?”

S: Well I think as an actress, or an actor, it doesn’t matter if you’re big, small, tall, short,

H: Takes all sorts

S: It takes all sorts, so I wouldn’t worry about her being a little bit tubby because she wants to be an actress, that doesn’t matter at all.  I think there’s all sorts of different drama clubs and stuff, I mean it depends how old she is you know

H:  She doesn’t say

S: But no it’s just encouraging them and letting them see the fun side of it rather than thinking oh I’m going to be a famous actress one day

H: Yes exactly

S: And that’s what my mum and dad did with me, I used to go to drama clubs and stuff like that and just enjoyed acting, and then kind of got a good education and just carried on from there and so I don’t think it did matter

H: If it turned into something fabulous as a career, great

S: Then it’s a bonus, exactly as long as she enjoys doing what she’s doing, that’s fantastic, but I wouldn’t worry about her being tubby or anything like that

H: No and as long as she’s getting enough fruit and vegetables then you should be alright

S: Yes

H: Encourage her to eat fresh fruit and veg and she might lose a few pounds, you never know, as she grows up

S: Yes

H:  Now talking about your career actually, what are you likely to be doing next? I know you’ve got motherhood big on the horizon

S: Yes

H: Have you got any other TV things coming up?

S: Well there’s lots of things, you always get offered really nice things and I kind of, I’m just really conscious of my family, I left Emmerdale because I wanted to be with my kids, but at the same time I love working, so it’s just getting that balance right, and that’s why doing stuff like this and being here with you today is great because I’m talking about stuff that’s true to my heart you know

H: And you can dip in and out a little bit

S: Definitely and I’m going home tonight to be with my kids and that’s great, so there’s lots of things in the pipeline but I would eventually love to go back to acting when they’re a little bit older

H: Lovely well we look forward to seeing you Sheree, thanks so much for coming in to see us and big hugs and love to your kids

S: Thank you

H: It’s so lovely that you’ve got 3 and looking so well.  So we hope that Sheree’s inspired you to eat healthily, and not just rely on your kids to have their 5 a day but you need your 5 a day as well, and remember that potatoes don’t count ladies, so you can’t just have 5 bags of chips, and neither does wine either apparently even though it’s got grapes in it!  If you want more tips on healthy eating including recipes you can log onto the website which is www.birdseye.co.uk.  Right well I’m going to get stuck into these grapes I think, they look really tasty, thanks for watching, see you next time.  Bye bye