Feeding the Whole Family: Recipes for Babies, Young Children, and Their Parents [Paperback]

Cynthia Lair (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2008

For nearly 15 years, Cynthia Lair's iconic cookbook Feeding the Whole Family has been the source for parents who want to cook one healthy meal for the entire family, including babies. Feeding the Whole Family starts with the basics of creating a whole foods diet, from understanding grains and beans to determining what meats are acceptable to eat. Lair then applies these lessons to cooking for young children and babies aged six months and older. In each recipe, Lair offers special instruction on how to adapt it so that younger children can enjoy the dish while parents can eat a more complicated version. All recipes utilize easy-to-find ingredients, are simple to follow, and will be enjoyable for both child and parent. With a new foreword by Mothering magazine's editor and founder Peggy O'Mara, Feeding the Whole Family is a necessary staple for all families.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Reviews from the 2nd Edition: "I have been feeding my family out of this book for a while and everything we have tried has been a success: fast, healthful, tasty, and appealing to children. This is just about the perfect cookbook." —-Michelle Bro

About the Author

Cynthia Lair's work has appeared in national magazines including Mothering. A popular teacher of cooking classes at Sur Le Table and elsewhere, she lives in Seattle. Peggy O'Mara lives in TK.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Sasquatch Books; 3rd edition (January 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157061525X
• ISBN-13: 978-1570615252
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,250 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #45 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Natural Foods

More About the Author

Cynthia Lair s the host of the on-line cooking show Cookus Interruptus: how to cook fresh, local, seasonal whole foods despite life's interruptions. She graduated as a Certified Health and Nutrition Counselor from the Health and Nutrition Program (NYC) in 1987 and has been faculty member of Bastyr University's School of Nutrition and Exercise Science since 1994 where she also directs their new BS in Nutrition and Culinary Arts program. Cynthia was a Clinical Associate for the University of Washington's School of Nursing from 2005-2009. Her articles have been featured in Mothering Magazine, where she is a contributing editor, as well as other publications. Ms. Lair has been an invited speaker at the Vancouver Wellness Show, Aegis, Starbuck's Vivecorp Program, Asante Health Systems, La Leche League conventions, USYSA convention, and the Greenhouse Spa. She has taught whole foods cooking classes at the Puget Consumer's Coop, Sur La Table, Evergreen Hospital, Pike Place Market and many other venues. Her popular cookbook, Feeding the Whole Family and has sold over 70,000 copies. Her second book, Feeding the Young Athlete: Sports Nutrition Made Easy for Players and Parents was released in 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Feeding the Whole Family, March 10, 2008

By 

Leenie "Holistic Mom" (NH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feeding the Whole Family: Recipes for Babies, Young Children, and Their Parents (Paperback)

I have the first edition of this cookbook and it rates up there with my 5 most used cookbooks. I have bought multiple copies and given them as gifts to friends and family members. I cook primarily whole foods for my family, which in common terms means that I cook from scratch about 18-20 of our 21 weekly meals. Many of these recipes can be made quickly (30 minutes) with some planning.

The author gives wonderful advice for cooking beans, basic recipes for various grains and family favorite sauces. Most of the soup recipes are staples in our house. The introduction of 'new' and different grains...millet, quinoa, buckwheat...is a great way to add variety to your family's diet and most are quick and easy to make. Our culture eats far too much wheat and making some wheat-free meals is a welcome change in most families.

If I had just 1 box of books I could keep, this would be one of the books I would be sure made its way into the box.

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear and sensible, January 23, 2008

By 

Julie Neal (Sanibel Island, Fla.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Feeding the Whole Family: Recipes for Babies, Young Children, and Their Parents (Paperback)

I love the ideas in this cookbook, which focuses on whole foods the entire family will enjoy. It's clear and sensible, and includes a couple hundred pages of recipes.

What makes a whole food? Author Cynthia Lair writes that the best way to determine whether a food is whole or not is to ask these questions:
* Can I imagine it growing? (It's tough to imagine a field of marshmallows.)
* How many ingredients does it have? (It should have only one: apple, wild rice, salmon.)
* What's been done to the food since it was harvested? (The less, the better.)
* Is this product part of a food or the whole entity? (Only the juice? It's not whole.)
* How long has this food been known to nourish human beings? (Probably centuries.)

The recipes are helpful. Most include instructions on how to alter their dishes to make them appropriate for babies.

The chapters are:
1) Wholesome Family Eating
* What do we mean by wholesome?
* Shopping for sustenance
* Sharing a nourishing meal
* Setting the table, setting the scene
2) Including Baby
* Start with the best, the breast
* Starting solids
* Food allergies and intolerances
* Expanding the diet of the older baby
3) Raising Healthy Eaters
* Parents as role models
* Setting boundaries
* What should I give my child to drink?
* Involving your children in the kitchen
* Presenting food so it appeals to young children
* "My child won't eat vegetables"
4) Basic Grain and Bean Cookery
5) Bustling Breakfasts
6) Lively Lunch Boxes
7) Soothing Soups
8) Substantial Suppers
9) Got Color?
10) Fresh-Baked Breads and Muffins
11) Refreshing Relishes, Convenient Condiments
11) Simple Sweet Desserts
12) Daily Drinks and Brews

Lair also wrote Feeding the Young Athlete: Sports Nutrition Made Easy for Players and Parents. Other good books about eating whole foods include Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life and In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book, May 3, 2008

By 

shellebelle (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feeding the Whole Family: Recipes for Babies, Young Children, and Their Parents (Paperback)

I have had this book on my wish list for ages but couldn't justify another whole foods cookbook. I decided to try it after it was updated and after reading the authors essay on how we create picky eaters, I am glad I did. The recipes I have tried have been simple to make and taste delicious.The ingredients called for are easily found. I especially liked the lunch section as I struggle with packing my son a lunch. The book also has a nice section on nutrition that is helpful and informative for those new to whole foods cooking. I recommend this book to anyone looking for delicious meals for their families.