Happy Monday! Before getting into my book review of The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet, I wanted to share my weekly meal plan.
I’m trying a couple of new recipes this week included a veggie-filled pasta sauce from Jamie Oliver and a tasty-looking chicken recipe from All Recipes. I’ve never been good at pan-frying so this should be interesting.
To me, summer meals are all about ease and pre-prepping so when you get home you can make everything really fast. We’ve been enjoying the longer days and like to swim in the late afternoons.
For more meal plans, see Org Junkie.
What’s Cooking This Week
Monday: Chicken Fajitas with all the toppings.
Tuesday: Spaghetti and meatballs with homemade sauce, salad, and bread
Wednesday: Kids’ Choice
Thursday: Chicken Marsala with brown rice and zucchini, salad and fruit
Friday: Salmon cakes with baked potato fries and fruit (a new family favorite)
The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet
I often get sent products and books to review. I like to review products that I think my readers will find helpful. While I know some of you are out of the baby and young toddler stage — many of you are in it or planning to be in it again (and again and again).
When I decided to make baby food for Big A, I was disappointed that there were no up-to-date books on introducing solids. Actually, this is one of the reasons I started the blog — to keep parents up-to-date on the latest and greatest research regarding childhood nutrition issues.
The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet is written by a nurse and dietitian. It is well organized, easy to follow and chock full of nutritious recipes for kids 2 and under. Of course, these recipes can still be used for older kids such as Strawberry -Banana Tofu Smoothie, Banana Buttermilk Pancakes, and Awesome Avocado and Egg Sandwich.
While a majority of the book is filled with recipes, the authors also help clarify key issues like whether or not to buy organic and how to prevent cavities and choking. They also provide a checklist of everything needed to make baby food — and they really keep it simple which I like. I don’t think any new parent has hours to make food!
The book also includes a feeding chart on when to introduce different foods. It still recommends waiting to introduce allergenic foods but I think the literature is starting to go the other way –– encouraging parents to introduce such foods earlier. We still need more research and no doubt this is a confusing area. I encourage parents with a family history of food allergies to choose a pediatrician who specializes in this area.
This is a great book for any parent looking to get started making baby food. I still recommend parents get a resource on how to feed, such as Fearless Feeding, which recipe-based books don’t address. We all know around 2 kids become pickier and feeding more challenging and it is vital to be prepared for this lengthy stage of development.
This Giveaway is Closed
I have an extra copy of the book waiting to be sent to one of you. And for those of you out of this stage, this book makes the perfect baby shower gift. To enter here’s what you have to do:
1) Mandatory entry: Leave a comment telling us why you would like to win this book.
2) For another entry, tweet this post or share this post on Facebook. Leave another comment.
3) For a third entry, sign up for Raise Healthy Eaters’ email updates or RSS Feed. If you already subscribe, tell at least one friend about Raise Healthy Eaters. Leave another comment saying what you did.
4) To increase your chances further, like Raise Healthy Eaters on Facebook. If you are already a fan, like The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet. Leave another comment saying what you did.
The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be announced on the Raise Healthy Eaters’ Facebook page. The giveaway will ends in one week — Monday, July 18th at midnight.
Good luck!
Would love to try new recipes with baby #2!
I would love this book. I need more ideas for my 8 month old.
Our baby is just starting solids and we are making her food. Would LOVE a book with good recipes!!
Just about to embark on the baby food adventure with #3 who is 5 mos old. Was a working mom with the first two and didn’t think I had time to incorporate homemade. Now, I’m a stay-at-home and can’t wait to try it out. This book would be perfect. Thanks
Shared on Facebook!
I’d love to make some new things for my baby.
I’m an email subscriber
I like you on FB
I already am a fan of your page on facebook but I went over and liked the book page! More entries to win! 🙂
Like you, I had a tough time finding info with my first. My second will be old enough for solids in the early fall so I am keen to check out this book.
I am also an email subsciber!
Sounds like a great cookbook ! I have a 6 month old who has just started solids and we have made applesauce, pureed prunes, avocados and bananas. Would love to have some new recipes to try as Alyson explores her taste buds.
I’ve shared your link on FB and tweeted the meal plan and offer!!
Signed up for you email updates!
I like Raise Healthy Eaters on Facebook and The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet.
I would love to win this book because I’m hoping to have another little one on the way very soon!! : )
I am an e-mail subscriber and forwarded my last e-mail to a friend!
I also just “liked” you on facebook!
Well, I made baby food for the first two and now with the 3rd, it would be good to get some new ideas and inspiration.
I have a 5 month old who is just about ready to start solids. I would love some ideas on how to start this journey with him!
My Husband, baby and I are living in Poland for 1 more month (been here for 3 so far) and I’m finding it very difficult to find baby food that is organic. I have been trying to make my own baby food but it’s pretty unimaginative and I feel like she isn’t being exposed to much variety. She is turning 9 months old on the 13th and I’m still breast feeding. I would really find this book helpful! Once we are back in the US, we will have a few months at home before we are off to the next EU country for work so I would really use this book tremendously! Thank you 🙂
I would absolutely LOVE to win this book! I am 7 months pregnant with my first baby and have always planned to make my own baby food – I will be a full-time working mom and could use all the help I can get! (Baby Anika would appreciate yummy tasting food, too!)
I “liked” The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet on facebook
I also shared your post on my facebook wall!
I would absolutely love to read this book and be inspired to try new things. I also have a blog that tries to help moms raise healthy kids. My blog is in Portuguese and there is too little accessible information about kids’ nutrition in my native language. Since I am fluent in English, I have been trying to make this kind of information accessible to those who aren’t as lucky as I am. Your description made it sound like an incredible cookbook! I really would like a copy.
I already subscribe your RSS Feed and I have sent this post to my good friend Carolina.
Shared it on twitter, where I am known as “Dicas_da_Mel”.
Just “liked” you on fb! Yuppy!
I made food for my first, and am making food for my second. Would love to have another resource when number 3 comes along, as well as new information to share with friends and family.
I’m making that spaghetti sauce RIGHT NOW for our meal tomorrow. I have been wanting to make it forever. Bought my stick blender this morning!
I would love to have this book. My little one is 16 months old and I struggle sometimes to come up with new and fun ways to get him nutritious foods. I’m hoping this book would help and also for future babies if I am so blessed.
Thanks for the chance
I don’t do Facebook or any of that but I did tell a dear friend about your site today.
i’d love to win because i’m all about healthy eating- 5 yrs ago i changed to a healthy eating/exercise program and so this book would be great to help me give my little guy healthy food too!
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I have a 7-month-old who is just starting to branch out in more solid foods and would love to try out some new recipes!
Shared it on facebook!
I “liked” you and the book on facebook, too.
My youngest daughter will be six months old in about a week, so we will be starting solids soon. I would love to be able to make some of the recipes in this book for her.
baby #2 is on the way, and i’m hoping to do a better job feeding him than i did the first time around. no more jars!
I would love this book! I am due in September!
I would love this book- I will be starting solids with my daughter in a few months.
I already subscribe via email- but I told my friend about your website! 🙂
I liked Raise Healthy Eaters on facebook too!
I would love to win this book because I too had a hard time finding great recipes when I was making food for my baby when she started solids. She just turned 2, and I know some of these recipes will still be useful for her and for when I have another child. My sister is also pregnant so she and I can share the book. Thanks!
Introducing foods is such an important base for raising a healthy eater for a lifetime!
I would love to win this for my sister!
I am having a baby some time in the next couple of weeks and I would love to prepare for him coming with this book.
Love this book…and would love to add it to my library. And I think sweet baby boy would love the recipes too!
I also ‘like’ Raise Healthy Eaters on Facebook!
Have bubba number 3. Am so excited about when they start discovering food, would love some up to date info.
Having twins I wont them to be able to eat as healthy as mommy and daddy do. Hopefully with this book it will help if we were to win it
I would love to win this book so I can read it and learn from it as a grandma, and then give it to my daughter who is raising a darling 2 year old boy and will be giving birth to a baby girl this month. She has her hands very full and I’m sure she’d like to learn some new tricks! Thanks!
I shared your post on Facebook!
I LIKED The Best Baby Food On the Planet
I shared your blog with a friend – with a 3 yr old, 1 yr old twins, and one (only one! yes!) on the way.
This would be amazing, the book sounds like it’s right up my alley! I’m currently pregnant with baby #3 -my first boy!!! I have a 3 yr old and a 2 yr old and we are all about eating healthy and organic and teaching others to do the same!
Thanks for the contest!
My sister in law is having her first baby and I’d love to win this book for her. She and my brother are planning to make their baby food. 🙂
I would like to win becaause I made some of my ownbaby food for my son I would like to make more for my second.
I would LOVE to have this book…i just gave birth to a gorgeous little boy (12 days ago!) and i know he’ll be super grateful for some yummy food in a few months!
it would be helpful having a “plan” as i’ll be making food for him while trying to keep up with my 3 other boys!!!! 🙂
I “like” you on facebook…
i also shared the link… 🙂
I have a 3 month old little girl and this stage is just weeks away for me! We made all if my son’s baby food and he is an incredible water as a result. Can’t wait to try some new things out with my kiddos. Sure hope I win!
My Daughter would be so excited to own this…baby girl 3 months old and a toddler!
I liked The Best Baby Food On the Planet
I liked Raise Healthy Eaters on facebook too!
After more then 5 years I am having another baby. Never thought it would happen but so overjoyed. I have forgotten so much especially about starting solids. I made so many mistakes with my older boys (making seperate meals, etc.) that I feel like I have a chance at doing it right with boy #3. I would love this book.
I will Like Raise Healthy Eaters on Facebook. Thank you.
I am starting to explore the world of home made baby food with my 6 month old. I desperately need something to give me ideas and recipes as we explore this whole eating thing!
I signed up for the Raise Healthy Eaters email updates!
I liked raise healthy eaters on facebook!