Customer Reviews

Better Baby Food: Your Essential Guide to Nutrition, Feeding and Cooking for All Babies and Toddlers

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

As a Registered Nurse and mother of two small healthy children, I was surprised by the endorsement of this book by Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. The dependence on added salt and sugar and highly salted processed food to enhance the flavour of an infants food is not only unnecessary, it is undesirable. A recipe for an orange smoothie shake has a full tablespoon of white sugar in each serving for a child between 12 and 18 months. The introduction of salt and sugar early in a child's life promotes a dependence on them. In a time where one of the major threats to health is an increase in obesity and related illnesses we would be better served to prepare our children primarily fresh food, low in added fat, salt and sugar.

I took this book out from the library, hoping for a few good ideas for what to feed my baby. I couldn't believe the amount of sugar recommended in everything from applesauce (every other baby cookbook I've seen uses only apples, sometimes with a little cinnamon) to sweet potatoes (add maple syrup!?) and squash. I'm trying to avoid sugar, white flour and milk products with my daughter and could hardly find a recipe that did not contain these ingredients.
I find it appalling and frustrating that those in health professions have such little sense for what constitutes good nutrition. I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering what I've been fed in hospitals in the past.

I was fascinated by this highly-rated book written by registered dieticians with the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. What I discovered upon reading the book is why the children are so sick. While I was expecting recipes for healthy foods to get my daughter off to a good start, I found instead saturated fat and sugar-laden meals. A recipe for baked beans, recommended for 12 to 18-month-olds, calls for molasses, brown sugar and eight strips of bacon! Better that you should take your child to a fast-food restaurant.

If you are really interested in raising a healthy child, try "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron. Not only are the recipes full of nutrition, but the book also includes tips for making child-friendly cleaning products and other projects.

I am extremely disappointed with this book. I agree with the previous reviewers who noted that the recipes are not healthy at all. They are full of white flour, sugar, butter, oil, etc. I also noticed a lot of the recipes for 12-18 month old babies include garlic and onions. What baby likes garlic and onions? I also have the Super Baby Food book and highly recommend it for TRULY healthy recipes for your baby.

I ordered this book 32 days ago and still have not received it. I will not be ordering any more books from Amazon or Book Squared. Ridiculas service.

What I love so much about this book is that it introduces so many foods in many different ways. I served one of the spinach recipes with leftover Swiss Chalet chicken and fries but all my two year old wanted was more spinach. And yes there was cheese (some people read "fat") in the recipe which I see people commenting about but think of all the vitamins and minerals she was getting from it? Any cookbook that can get a two year old to happily eat spinach, pad thai and stew is excellent in my opinion. I'm all for eating a wide variety of all types of foods (even including SOME fat and sugar) and avoiding processed packaged food as much as possible. That is exactly what this books gives you the tools to do.

This is an excellent book for easy starter meals for baby's just getting their teeth and toddlers. The recipes are quick to make and simple and most contain ingrediants already found in your kitchen. They provide a nice variation in a child's diet and some adults may enjoy the recipes as well.

When I was raising babies I was completely unprepared for what to feed them, how much to feed them, and when to introduce new healthy foods. A few years ago I purchased this book when searching for a baby gift for a friend. Now I buy both the Better Baby Food and Better Food for Kids for all my friends and relatives having babies. Everyone loves this gift!! I even purchased a copy for myself and still find the recipes great for teenagers and just the presentation makes the recipes look so simple. I also like checking the nutritional value and feel better knowing what goes into each recipe. These books are incredible and I will continue to purchase them.

I have numerous nutrition books, and this one is okay. I find it helpful for finding the average portions for my toddler. Also, it had tips that otherwise, I would have had to go to my doctor or dietian to ask.

I stumbeled upon this book just when my son (who is 1)had just started to refuse to be spoon fed by myself, husband or my son himself! I was starting to worry that he was not getting the proper nutrition that he required. This cookbook helped! The into was particulary helpful, with the sample menu's and how to start feeding your child "adult" food. I refer to these menu's all the time and they reassure me that I am doing a good job on offering my child nutrition.

As for earlier reviews that the cookbook is filled with sugar and fat filled recipes, well yes there are some that I would not feed my child, but you can also alter these recipes to your preference. However, the majority of these recipes are an excellent way to start your child off healthy.