(Naturopath) Lucinda Miller - I cant believe its baby food : why cook twice? easy, healthy recipes for babies and toddlers that the whole family can enjoy

Feeding your baby or toddler is one of the messiest and most time-consuming parts of parenthood. But it can also be a hugely fun and rewarding experience. Its a chance to introduce your child to so many exciting smells, colours, flavours and textures from our wonderful planet, and to spark a lasting love of healthy food, with all the physical and mental health benefits that this provides.

My clinical work is dedicated to helping children develop into the best versions of themselves, and nutrition is at the heart of this. There are few better feelings as a parent than watching your child tucking into food that is good for them; and one of the best things you can do as your baby comes through the weaning stage is to arm yourself with a repertoire of easy, nutritious recipes which you know they will enjoy. But eating is a very social activity. Babies and young children develop their relationship with food from you. So, it is also important to sit down and eat with them as much as you can.

This is why I have written I Cant Believe its Baby Food!My aim is to help parents make both cooking and mealtimes as enjoyable and stress-free as possible. Its all about sharing food that the whole family will love, with your baby in a highchair pulled up to the table. Apart from the first few weeks of weaning, there really is no need to cook twice. Indeed, its much better that you dont! Your baby will benefit both nutritionally and developmentally from eating with you; and, if you are not stuck in the kitchen all day preparing endless different meals, youll be happier and less frazzled, too.

People are often surprised when I say that babies and toddlers can eat pretty much anything that older children and adults eat its as if our food were different in some way, filled with ingredients and flavours that could be off-putting for a baby, or perhaps even bad for them.

Of course, you need to use some caution and judgement. There are certain foods that should not be given to a baby before they turn one; and you need to introduce new foods and flavours gradually. But as a general rule, once your baby is through the early weaning stage (around 6 months), offering them an unsalted, softened version of your healthy meal will do them nothing but good.

All my recipes are based on the most up-to-date weaning guidelines and early years nutrition research, and have a focus on feeding your little ones immune system, brain development and gut microbiome, which are now known to be three critical foundations for their future health, happiness and development.

Every bite is supercharged with flavour and nourishment. I have added a healthy twist to many traditional nursery foods and included flavours from all around the world. My mission is to create a generation of little foodies, who embrace a diverse range of food types, tastes and cuisines. And, who knows? You might discover some new food favourites yourself in the process! All the recipes can be adapted to suit the taste buds of older children and adults and be integrated into family meals and snacks its just as important for parents to feed themselves food that is healthy as it is for their children, and they should not put themselves at the bottom of the pile.

Having specialised in clinical child nutrition for over 20 years, I have seen first-hand which aspects of childrens eating parents tend to find most challenging; so I have started this recipe book with a section covering the facts, to explain the things you should be doing and the science behind them. I have tried to answer the questions that are most commonly asked by parents in clinic and increasingly on social media. This includes guidelines on optimal nourishment for babies with food restrictions, such as dairy, egg or nut allergies. And, as with my previous cookbook for older children, The Good Stuff, I include clever allergen swaps, so you can adapt any recipe to suit your childs specific dietary needs. I am also increasingly asked to provide nutrition advice for vegetarian and vegan families, or for those simply wanting to cut back on consuming animal products. So, I have included a section on this, which gives you the tools and know-how to ensure your baby does not miss out on any key nutrients.