The publisher reached out to me at the end of 2014. She asked for a book review on First Bites Superfoods for Babies and Toddlers written by Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC. I couldn’t wait to read it since my son did Baby-Led Weaning but I really didn’t know what to expect since I don’t have babies anymore. However since the title of the book said and Toddlers, I figured why not give it a shot I’m always looking for ways to to get my kids to eat better.
The author takes the guesswork and stress out of preparing substantive and delicious family meals, including healthy spins on classic kid favorites like mac and cheese, pizza, chicken fingers and even cupcakes. It’s a user-friendly guidebook that’s designed to help busy parents introduce their little ones to the right foods from the very beginning for proper growth and development. The book includes:
- A user-friendly index of 50 superfoods along with a description of their nutrient content and health benefits.
- Tips for simple grocery shopping and meal planning.
- 75 nutritious recipes plus meal plans designed to help parents diversify their child’s diet and properly transition them from one age-appropriate food to the next.
Overall review:
Honestly I loved this book. I wish I read it back when my son was just starting to eat food because their is a lot of info on that stage. When I’m thinking of buying a book there are certain things that I’d love answered right off the bat. So that is what I’m going to do for you today to see if this is a book that would be beneficial for you.
How long was it and was it an easy read?
Lets face it, we are busy Momma’s, I have all I can do to flip through a magazine here and there. It’s 180 pages from front to back however it’s shaped like a guide so it’s smaller. It was so easy to flip through and read the parts that pertained to me and I was able to go back and forth between recipes and chapters.
Was it helpful and if so why?
The section that truly got my attention was Chapter 2 The Superfood Index and Must-Have Kitchen Tools. I know I have many many kitchen tools because I am a foodie, however this could be a good section for someone that may need hints on what tools to by. The part of the chapter that got me hooked was the valuable information about Superfoods. The author explains that Superfoods are 50 foods she thinks contain the nutrients that growing bodies need, and explains how to provide them in the most colorful and tastiest ways. They don’t have to be expensive, they can all be found at a local farmers market or local grocery store.
The best part about this section is that she goes on to list these superfoods and some creative uses, age-appropriate guidelines, and recipes where they are featured. In the recipe section of the book she has all superfoods identified in bold.
What did I learn?
I learned exactly why these 50 foods can be considered a Superfood. I also learned exactly what foods have vitamins that me or my family may need more of. Dana lists everything nutrition related to each and every one of the superfoods. For example, Pasta is one of them. I thought pasta was bad for you however it’s enriched with nutrients including B vitamins and iron. My kids eat pasta at least 5 times a week but now I feel better knowing that this Carbohydrate-rich food is actually excellent fuel for active little ones! Oh and of course I gained quite a few recipes to try with the kids too! Stay tuned I’m list a few below!
What was my favorite part of the book?
My favorite part of the book was underneath each superfood she listed a great way to enjoy that particular food, I mean ways I wouldn’t have ever thought of and then she also lists a few recipes that have that particular food in it. For example, dip a grape in yogurt and freeze them on parchment paper. Brilliant!! My son ate these for weeks when he suffered from Hand Food Mouth a few months ago and I’m sure we will be making them again when cuts his 2 year old molars. Another example I loved was Dana suggested shredding carrots or any other kinds of veggie and sneaking them into a pancake batter. Of course this didn’t work for me and both kids wouldn’t eat them but, I am not giving up! Another great one was Edamame. I love Edamame beans. Yes of course one of the recipes I tried was her Edamame Hummus but you can blend them plain and spread on sandwiches, I spread it on pita bread for a snack one day.
Would I recommend this book to a friend?
Yes I absolutely would recommend this book to anyone who has an infant. Read up now. I also suggest you read my series about our experience with Baby-Led Weaning. If I had this book along with the Baby-Led Weaning books I would have had some great knowledge and even more recipe ides!
Baby-Led Weaning I
Baby-Led Weaning II
Baby-Led Weaning III
Before I end this with some great new recipes for you to try with your kids I’d like to list the questions that the author was so kind enough to answer for anyone that wanted to do a book review. I think it’ll be helpful information for you.
1. How do you define a “Superfood”?
“Superfood” is really an abused term. Some less reliable sources on nutrition lead people to believe that any food dubbed “super” is magical and one bite will cure anything. My definition is much different. For a food to reach super status, it must be delicious, beautiful, unprocessed, and busting with nutrients. Bananas and brown rice are obvious super choices, but exposing tiny palates to more unique foods like quinoa and bison also offers a plethora of good nutrition plus some exciting flavors and textures to explore. My list of fifty foods represents a well-rounded group that is affordable, easy to find, and filled with nutrients that growing bodies need. Incorporating these whole foods into meals and snacks will help promote growth, energy, strength and brain power.
2. You are a mother of two. As a registered dietician with an advanced degree in nutrition, what are some family rules in terms of nutrition and meal time that you enforce?
My overall goal is to keep mealtime fun, an experience that everyone looks forward to. My girls are 3 and 5 years old so they love to assert their independence everywhere, including the kitchen. I encourage them to continue to enjoy the foods they love but also challenge them to try new things. We eat as a family as often as possible and the kids always help with some aspect of the meal prep, whether it’s sprinkling cheese or setting the table.
3. What are the top 5 nutrients parents should ensure their children eat during the first three years?
A wide variety of nutrients are vital for growth and development. Five to focus on would be calcium, vitamin D, iron, omega-3 fats, and probiotics. These are especially important since many kids do not get enough of them. They promote healthy skin, bones and muscles, energy production, and proper digestion.
4. So many foods marketed to growing kids are highly processed and full of artificial colors and sweeteners or sugar. What are some tips for parents of picky eaters in terms of natural sweeteners and healthy but palatable snacks?
The occasional packaged snack does find its way into my kitchen or the girls’ lunchboxes but I also make homemade versions of these goodies so I can control the quality of the ingredients. I use mostly natural sweeteners like honey, maple syrup, agave and fresh fruit in recipes like Strawberry-Kiwi Fruit Leather (p. 86), Perfect Applesauce (p.59), Roasted Banana’s with Cinnamon (p.63), Fruit Burst Ice Pops (p.85) and Nut-Free Granola (p.111) I also like to make savory snacks like Kale Chips (p.80) and Real Microwavable Popcorn-they are real easy and the kids absolutely love them.
Now I MUST share with you the few things I did make.
Peachy Parfaits (p.95) I used strawberries because it’s what I had.
1 cup of low-fat vanilla pudding
1 large ripe peach, peeled, pitted and finely chopped
1/2 cup of crushed vanilla wafers
Whipped cream for topping
I made these while my kids were napping one day and stuck the in the fridge until they woke. They LOVED it, I held off on the whipped cream and believe it or not once they got down to the crushed wafters they were full and didn’t even finish it!
Place the crushed wafers in a small parfait glasses or bowls, layer pudding, followed by the peaches. I also have a great parfait using granola and yogurt! Yummy!
Whole Grain Pita Chips with Edamame Hummus
Yields: 24 chips and 1 3/4 cups of dip
3 (6 in whole wheat pitas)
4 tbsp. olive oil, divided
3/4 tsp. of salt
1/8 tsp. of black pepper
2 cups of shelled frozen edamame, thawed
2 tbsp of whipped cream cheese (I used the new greek yogurt cream cheese)
1 tbsp of honey
Juice and zest of one lemon
I loved this! The kids not so much but I had some of the homemade pita chips, I then used it on plain pita bread as snack and also on top of a salad!
Preheat oven to 350F. Using a pizza cutter cut each pita into 8 triangles. Place 1 tbsp of olive oil in a small bowl, season with 1/4 tsp of salt and pepper to taste. Place pita wedges on a large sheet pan and brush with seasoned oil. Bake for 5-7 minutes (for some reason I had to double this time) Just keep an eye one them. While chips are baking make the dip. Place edamame, remaining oil, cream cheese, honey, lemon juice and zest, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp of pepper in the food processor and run until smooth and creamy. Serve dip with chips on the side.
