Brenda Bradshaw - The Babys Table: Revised and Updated: A Cookbook

Introduction

If youre like many new parents, you may find the prospect of making your own baby food a daunting one. Youre no Naked Chef; babys keeping you busy (and tired)and besides, how would you know that what youre feeding your infant is safe and supplies the nutrients needed for healthy development?

Its easier than you think. And The Babys Table, filled with important nutritional information and cooking tips and more than 150 simple and tasty recipes, can show you how. There are helpful hints on dealing with behavioral issues such as feeding problems, and strategies for making healthy eating a pleasurable experiencefor you as well as for your baby.

More and more parents today are seeing the advantages of preparing homemade baby food. Its nutritional, economical and takes far less time than you think. All you need is a steamer basket, a blender or food processor, a small double boiler, ice cube trays and a freezer. In an afternoonduring one of babys naptimesyou can whip up and freeze an entire months supply of meals rich in essential nutrients.

Your babys nutrition is of critical importance for physical and intellectual growth and development and has lasting implications for his or her future. Using the tips, recipes and meal plans provided in The Babys Table, you can create your own baby-pleasing fare that offers nutritional advantages not found in commercial brands. Homemade baby food cuts down on unwanted additives and offers your baby a wider variety of textures and flavors than commercial baby food could hope to replicate. The savings are substantial; your own baby food can be prepared at a fraction of the cost of store-bought. In the long term, offering home-prepared baby food can also help you shape your babys food choices for a healthy childhood, and beyond.

All recipes in The Babys Table have been reviewed by a physician and tested by parentsand more importantly, babies! Information is based on the latest medical and nutritional research and complies with the current Canadian guidelines for infant feeding. Be aware that the contents of this book are not intended as medical advice: the suggestions apply only to healthy, full-term infants, and parents should consult with their doctor before undertaking any change in their infants diet.

The chapters in The Babys Table are conveniently named for the age group to which the recipes apply: Newborn to Six Months; From Six to Nine Months; From Nine to Twelve Months; and Toddlers. There are also four helpful Appendices: Canadas Food Guide, Resources, Growth Charts, and References. For the purposes of this cookbook, age definitions are as follows: newborn, up to one month; infant, from birth to 12 months; toddler, from 1 to 3 years; and child, 3 years and older.

The fact that youre reading this book shows youre ready to take the plunge. Congratulationsyou have made a commitment to a healthy future for your baby. Read on, have fun, be creativeand, since youre sure to be taste-testing these recipes yourself, bon apptit!

Newborn to
Six Months

For the first 6 months your baby will be fed only breast milk or breast milk substitute. The first 6 months is a time of peak growth and bonding, when your baby will double or triple his birth weight, will learn to smile and laugh and will rely on you entirely for healthy nutrition. It has been proven that breast milk is the optimum nutrition for young babies. It is not always possible to breastfeed, however. Regardless of whether it is breast or bottle, a loving and caring approach to feeding will ensure your baby thrives.

According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, the Dietitians of Canada, Health Canada and the American Academy of Pediatrics, breastfeeding is the optimum method of feeding for all infants with very few exceptions. Research continues to prove the vast benefits of breastfeeding for your baby:

• Reduced rates of infection: Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the rates of respiratory, ear, gastrointestinal, urinary tract and other infections in both infancy and childhood by at least 30 to 50 percent. Antibodies and other proteins from the mother prevent infection and strengthen the immune system.

• Possible prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): In addition to placing an infant on his or her back for sleep, recent studies show a reduced risk of SIDS among breastfed infants.

• Enhanced cognitive development: Breastfeeding has been shown to improve childhood intelligence quotient (IQ), standardized tests of reading, mathematics and scholastic ability. These improvements are thought in part to be due to the specific fatty acids found only in breast milk.

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