The Baby and Toddler Cookbook: Fresh, Homemade Foods for a Healthy Start [Hardcover]

Karen Ansel (Author), Charity Ferreira (Author)

Book Description

Release date: June 7, 2011

Packed with 90 easy-to-prepare recipes made with wholesome ingredients, The Baby & Toddler Cookbook offers a fresh and nutritious approach to feeding children from 6 months to 3 years.

Making fresh, homemade meals for your baby and toddler is one of the best ways to give him a healthy, happy start in life. And while every parent can appreciate the convenience of already-prepared foods, balancing them with wholesome meals you have prepared yourself not only provides better nutrition, but also teaches your baby good eating habits. Packed with over 90 recipes and loads of nutritional information, The Baby & Toddler Cookbook makes cooking healthy meals easy, even for busy parents. By setting aside only a few hours a week, you can make and store an array of nutritious foods to keep baby happy and fed. All along the way, this book will give you helpful hints, guidance, and plenty of recipes to ease your path to nutrition. Each chapter begins with detailed information about the child's nutritional needs and how to address the needs at mealtime. Organized by age, the recipes follow, showing how to introduce different, appropriate foods at every development stage, from 6 months to 3 years. Each of baby’s stages is covered, from starting solid foods and introducing new ingredients and textures, to easing into toddlerhood with plenty of ideas for fun meals, snacks, and desserts. This book also includes tips for making foods ahead, using the freezer to maximum advantage, and making food fun for your toddler.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karen Ansel, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and freelance writer specializing in health, wellness, food, and nutrition. Her work has been published in national women’s heath magazines such as Family Circle, Woman’s Day, Cooking Light, Fitness, Prevention, Shape, Weight Watchers, Natural Health and Marie Claire. Karen is the New York City media representative for the New York State Dietetic Association and a contributing editor for Woman’s Day magazine. She received her B.A. from Duke University and her Master’s in clinical nutrition from New York University. Karen lives in Long Island, New York, with her husband and two children.

Charity Ferreira is a food writer, recipe developer, and former pastry chef whose work has appeard in Gourmet, Cooking Light, Sunset, and Bon Appetit, as well as the food section of the Los Angeles Times. A graduate of the California Culinary Academy, she turned her lifelong interest in food and nutrition to baby and toddler cuisine when her son and twin nieces were born. She is the author or co-author of five cookbooks including Williams-Sonoma Essentials of Mediterranean. She and her family live in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Thayer Allyson Gowdy is a San Francisco–based photographer who has been featured in numerous magazines, including Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, InStyle Home, and Parents, and in such books as Healthy Baby and Pattern Prints.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Weldon Owen (June 7, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740899806
• ISBN-13: 978-1740899802
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #78 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Special Diet

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 72 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Cookbook for Little Ones June 11, 2011

By Lil'Dude

Format:Hardcover

I love this cookbook! The stages are easy to to follow and the recipes are delicious!! The pictures are beautiful and really inspire you to try the recipes. I have used this cookbook since my little one started eating solids and he now is eating everything. The toddler section is particularly helpful for me as I try to expand lunches and dinners beyond your typical peanut butter and jelly fare. Our favorites are the homemade cheesy noodles with broccoli and the veggie quesadilla with spinach and mushrooms. The food is so good, I make lunch/dinner for the whole family. And most of the recipes use 1 pot/pan for everything and are super quick and easy which is a must for a busy mom!

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Book, Easy recipes August 19, 2011

By Dzintra87

Format:Hardcover

This book is not only beautiful but the recipes are simple and easy to use. The book has the perfect blend of information about preparing, storing, and serving baby food along with yummy looking recipes to please baby's palate. It really bothers me when people review baby food cookbooks and say it's too "simple" or too "obvious." First of all, part of the point of these baby food recipe books are to show you how 'simple' and easy it is to make your own baby food. Baby food purees are exactly what they sound like. Steamed fruits or vegetables that are blended into a puree to make it easy for baby to eat. You are not supposed to overwhelm your baby with multiple flavor combinations in one meal and it is always recommended that you start out simple with one pureed fruit or vegetable at a time. Once baby has gotten used to basic flavors he/she can then begin exploring new flavor combinations and more complex recipes which this book also includes after baby has reached about 8-9 months of age. I would recommend this book to other moms as a good jumping off point for homemade quality baby food.

33 of 39 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good ideas for people who dont know how to cook March 27, 2012

By cpjoseph

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this book as the first time I cooked in my life is when my daughter was 6 months old. I have prepared all her baby food when she was little, so when she transitioned to stage 2/3 food, I wanted to do the same. This book gave me ideas about how to combine vegetables andfruits with oats, quinoa, spices, etc. I have the Top 100 Baby purees book, but did not like it too much because it uses citrics and allergic ingredients to younger babies. This book uses theingredientes I want to use. IN addition, I can use it until the baby is 18 months old.