Zainab Jagot Ahmed - The Flavour-led Weaning Cookbook: Easy Recipes & Meal Plans to Wean Happy, Healthy, Adventurous Eaters

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Flavour-led weaninguses baby-friendly herbs and spice as safe, healthy and natural flavour-boosters.

It will encourage your baby to love their food from their very first taste. It will show you how to bring a rainbow of colour to your babys diet, and will ensure your baby gets all the nourishment they need at every stage in their weaning journey.

Zainabs recipes and plans work in harmony with spoon-led and baby-led weaning. Her meal plans cover all the weaning stages and her recipes are simple to make.

I love my daughter Aaliyah. She ignites a creativity in me I wasnt even aware I had until after her birth. Her needs have become my needs, and her infectious happiness has become my happiness I wouldnt have it any other way! My little angel is the inspiration behind my cookbooks and she makes me a better mum, whos always keen to provide her with a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet, tasty home-cooked meals and the best start in life. This book is for you, Aaliyah.

DISCLAIMER
Note: All nutritional information is based on the UK Department of Health guidelines for healthy growth and development. The information in this book has been compiled by way of general guidance in relation to the specific subjects addressed, but is not a substitute and not to be relied on for medical, healthcare, pharmaceutical or other professional advice on specific circumstances and in specific locations. So far as the author and nutritionist are aware the information given is correct and up to date as at October 2016. Practice, laws and regulations all change, and the reader should obtain up-to-date professional advice on any such issues. The author, nutritionist and publishers disclaim, as far as the law allows, any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use, or misuse, of the information contained in this book.

My daughter is five years old now. When we started our weaning journey I read numerous weaning books, websites, blogs and forums to learn as much as I could about weaning techniques. But the recipes that went along with the expert guidance left me uninspired. The purees, first finger foods and first meals were bland and boring and, frankly, a million miles away from meals I cooked at home. It seemed strange, to me, to wean my daughter with meals that were completely unlike what I would be feeding her in the future. Surely I would have a battle on my hands when I transitioned Aaliyah over to our family meals?

I set about inventing weaning recipes that followed all of the expert guidance regarding safety and nutrition, but also incorporated lots of baby-friendly flavours. I wanted Aaliyahs first foods to be fun and delicious. I wanted her to love food, and to love a variety of flavours.

Every meal I created was followed by the taste test. I wouldnt feed Aaliyah a meal I wasnt prepared to eat myself. If it tasted good to me, considering it had no added salt or sugar in it, I offered it to her. And my method worked!

My culinary heritage revolves around Asian cuisine so this was my starting point: the flavours I knew and loved best. Many of the recipes I devised became my first book, Easy Indian SuperMeals .

I didnt feed my daughter only Indian flavours, though. I introduced her to a broad range of flavours to keep mealtimes fun. So, here, I want to show you how you can entice your baby with an array of baby-safe flavours inspired by cuisines from all over the world.

This book contains all of my research into nutritional requirements, food groups and the potential health benefits of herbs and spices. I have included over 100 new, tried-and-tested flavour-packed recipes for every stage of the weaning process that your baby will love. Use this cookbook in conjunction with the latest government guidelines on weaning, and your little one will receive a well-balanced diet and develop lots of happy little taste buds and a healthy, broad palate.

Aaliyah is an excellent eater these days. Shes always willing to try new meals, which makes my life easier when it comes to ensuring shes munching all the vitamins and minerals she needs for healthy growth. Its very satisfying to see your little one enjoy the meals you have prepared, but equally it can be frustrating when meals are rejected. Try to relax and be prepared to offer the same meal to your little one many times before the taste and flavour is accepted.