When I was a new mom, I was always worried that I wasn’t feeding my children enough nutritious food. Even though our mom was a nurse, and guided us well, I couldn’t get over that nagging feeling that I was always leaving something out. I tried my best to feed them a daily rainbow of food, but since my own palette was fairly limited at that time, it was a struggle most days.
My children are school-aged now, but that doesn’t mean that we still don’t struggle with food in our home, which is why I was interested in reading an advanced copy of FIRST BITES: Superfoods for Babies and Toddlers by Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC. This February release includes more than 75 quick and easy recipes, 50 foods for raising healthy eaters, nutrition tips for growing bodies, and meal planning for busy parents.
One of the reasons that I think this book is such a useful food resource for parents is because White is also a mother to a 2-year old and 4-year old. She understands that parents can struggle with making sure that nutritious meals get on the table each night and her book walks you through simple steps on how to make this happen. I love that she acknowledges that her children aren’t perfect eaters either and that raising healthy and happy eaters takes a lot of trial and error.
Although this book is geared at Babies and Toddlers, I found it to be incredibly useful for my own family. I really liked her family favorite recipe ideas on how to incorporate different fruits and vegetables into familiar mealtime options. I also love that she is honest about certain foods – like my arch nemesis – BEETS. White describes them as “earthy” whereas I describe them as “dirty feet”. She also says that they are an acquired taste and are best introduced early on. Apparently, I need to try her Roasted Beets recipe to fully appreciate their natural sweetness that comes out when roasted. (Trying beets – again – is one of my food goals for 2015.)
Overall, FIRST BITES is a pretty solid food resource to have in your home. White’s recipes are incredibly easy to make and her informative lists will help guide you through stocking a more nutritious pantry in your home. We’re also happy to host this Giveaway where one (1) lucky reader will win their very own copy of FIRST BITES: Superfoods for Babies and Toddlers.
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Happy eating,
Denine & Daniele
Sounds like a great book!
Always looking for new and different ways to feed my daughter!
right now she loves bananas, but trying to get her to eat meat!