Daulter Anni - Organically raised : conscious cooking for babies and toddlers

This book is dedicated to my amazing family. My loving husband, Tim; my artistic and culinary adventuring son, Zo; my fairy princess daughter, Lotus Sunshine; my sweet and silly baby boy, Bodhi Ocean; and my newest little addition growing inside. You all mean the world to me. With your love and support, I have been able to realize this dream. I love you all more than all the love ever mixed into any recipe ever made!

In gratitude,
Mama Anni

This book is also dedicated to all the babies and little ones who will feed and feast on these recipes as they grow throughout their lives.

For Mackenzie, my free-spirited, beautiful daughter: You have shown me the true meaning of love. My greatest joy comes from the twinkle in your eyes! I look forward to growing with you and watching you blossom.

For RJ and Rian, the worlds two most compassionate brothers and uncles. My Dad, the most loving man I have ever known. And finally, for my dearest mother: With every crazy idea and lifestyle change, you have continuously supported and inspired me. I love you all more than words can express.

Peace and Blessings,
Shant

PART ONE
Awakening

PART TWO
Enlightenment

PART THREE
New Horizons

PART FOUR
Nirvana

Twelve years ago, when my first son, Zo, was a baby, I realized that the options for baby food were limited and their only appeal was their convenience. I was determined to make all of my sons food from scratch using ingredients from the local farmers market. The problem was, I did not know how to cook! I slowly taught myself the ins and outs of baby-food making, did research on nutrition, experimented with many successful and not-so-successful recipes, and subsequently learned a lot about the joys and challenges of cooking for babies. What I realized through it all was that as a mom, I really did want the absolute best for my baby, and I was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. I knew that other parents felt the way I did, especially in regard to nutrition and food. Thus, with the birth of my second child, Lotus, my own baby food companyBohemian Baby Fresh Organic Baby Foodwas also born. I began by writing down some of my childrens favorite recipes and feeding all the babies I knew. Bohemian Baby was created out of my desire to help busy parents feed their babies the best possible foods in the most convenient way. I wanted to make foods that were fresh, organic, and reflective of different cultural cuisines. Most important, I wanted to produce foods that tasted great! When I saw that babies were falling in love with my food, I knew I was onto something.

As my passion for food grew, so did my understanding of how important it 0is to respect and honor the art of cooking, even when the meal might consist of only a single-ingredient puree. Before I became a mother, Buddhist monks taught me that conscious cooking is the art of preparing meals with awareness and presence, which infuses the food with higher energy. This spiritual education taught me how to pour love into every recipe and bring my mind to a calm awareness when I cook so that I always remember to care for and appreciate those around me. Food can nurture more than your body; when prepared with positive intentions, it can feed the soul. Recently, Ive used the lessons and insights Ive gained from these experiences to develop even more helpful tools for parents on my Conscious Family Living Web site. Please visit me regularly to learn all kinds of natural parenting tips at www.consciousfamilyliving.com.

I have fed a lot of babies over the past few years. I am always touched by the enormous responsibility that comes with feeding a brand-new baby. A newborn has an untouched system, and I would never feed another parents baby anything I would not feed my own child. The hours spent discussing special diets, likes and dislikes, and eating frustrations with parents have allowed me to get to know dozens of babies. Many of the recipes in Organically Raised are named after the babies and toddlers who inspired them. All of the recipes in this book have been developed from the heart. I hope you and your little ones find them delectable. It is an honor to have a chance to feed your baby. Together, we can make kids healthier and happier!

In gratitude,

Anni

Youre in for a treat! Annis delicious recipes and her approach to conscious cooking will help your family celebrate many wonderful meals together. Few things in life are more important than this.

Our children are built from food. When we look in their eyes or smile at their smiles or kiss their skinned knees, those eyes, teeth, and joints were built from food. This alone should make us pause and choose to give our children the very best to eat.

Food does more than strengthen our childrens bodies it also fuels their journeys through the world. It is the energy behind each step, each hug, each discovery, and each mood. Even our consciousness, and each new insight learned, is linked to food. The connections in our brains are built from food; our memories are built from food. And when we share food with our children, we share life.

Many people are dismayed about how the typical American school-aged child eats today, and I share their concern. Most of the major childrens health problems on the increase todayincluding ADHD, allergies, asthma, diabetes, eczema, learning disabilities, obesity, and some childhood cancerscan be linked to todays diet: either too little of the great things children should be getting from food, or too much of what they shouldnt.

But food habits start much earlier. How our children eat as babies and toddlers sets the stage for the food and quantity preferences that can influence them for the rest of their lives. What a delicious opportunity!

In my book Feeding Baby Green, I help parents learn how to train their childrens palates without fuss and without battle. I give parents what they need to teach Nutritional Intelligence: the age-appropriate ability to recognize and enjoy healthy amounts of great food.

Anni takes this concept home. She gives you what you need to learnCooking Intelligence: the conscious, joyful ability to prepare healthy amounts of great food for your family. This ancient skill, passed down from generation to generation, has been all but lost in recent years.

Her recipes have evolved over time after being tested by hundreds of babies. You can trust that the food you make from this book will be both nutritionally sound and delicious. Whether youve never cooked much before or you cook every day, let Anni guide you on a delectable journey of love and creation that will nourish your child inside and out.

Alan Greene, MD, FAAP

Professor of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine;

Author, Raising Baby Green and Feeding Baby Green;

Co-creator, DrGreene.com