Start Fresh: Your Child's Jump Start to Lifelong Healthy Eating: A Cookbook

by Tyler Florence

Chef Tyler Florence believes that everybody deserves to eat delicious, flavorful food prepared with care and the freshest ingredients —and that goes for babies, too. In Start Fresh, he takes the expertise he has used to create his own line of organic baby food and presents quick, user-friendly recipes for 60 purees packed with simple, easy-to-digest fruits, vegetables, and grains straight from the earth—nothing fake or processed allowed.A practical, charming little package from a caring dad and exceptional chef that thousands have come to trust , this book will give parents the tools they need to prepare nutritious food their babies will love to eat—for a truly fresh and healthy start.

Genres: Cookbooks, Parenting, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 7, 2011

About the author

Tyler Florence is an American chef and television host of several Food Network shows.
He graduated from the College of Culinary Arts at the Charleston, South Carolina, campus of Johnson & Wales University in 1991. He was later given an honorary doctorate from the university for his culinary success. He is the owner and executive chef of Wayfare Tavern in San Francisco.

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything I make from this book has been delicious! My 1 year old has been much more into the food than my 3 year old, but that also makes sense with Tyler Florence's point that introducing the flavors of good healthy food early on combats our culture's message that children will only eat pizza, fries, hot dogs, mac n cheese, and chicken nuggets.

I liked this "healthy eating for kids" cookbook so much better than Jessica Seinfeld's Deceptively Delicious. The recipes are simpler, they feature healthy fruits and veggies in recognizable forms, and they are meant for the whole family. Seinfeld, on the other hand, had complicated recipes with maybe a 1/2 cup of veggies spread across 4 servings and tried to bend the family's menu to cater to picky kids. Kids can certainly be picky, but I liked Florence's approach and family focus much more.

[Marianna Monaco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific simple recipes for purees and roasted foods - flavorful and interesting for adults

[Mandy Boman · Rating 5 out of 5]

These recipes are simple, easy, and so delicious. I have had this book for a little over a year now as I have cooked for my little one, and I have no regrets about buying it. The recipes are divided by stages - first foods (single ingredient purees), combos, food with texture, family meals. Almost everything I have made for my daughter (and my husband!) has been a hit. Here are some of our favorites:

Green bean, potato and kale puree (for the baby, but I even think it's yummy)
Spinach and roasted pears with parm (ditto)
Summer squash, yukon gold potatoes, and parmesan puree (I separated some out for a side dish, too - heavenly)
Roasted salmon with green pea risotto
Sweet potato and blueberry pancakes (made these at a family reunion and everyone raved, asked for the recipe)
Split pea soup with bacon and sweet potatoes

The recipes are unfussy and (with good, fresh ingredients) allow the flavors of the fruits and vegetables to shine. This book actually inspired me to try some of my own combinations. I highly recommend this as a family, not just baby, cookbook.

[Anjali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift when I was pregnant with my first child, and I'm still using it now, over 3 years later with my second child. The recipes are excellent and easy to follow. My now-almost-4-year-old son is a fantastic eater, who willingly eats fruits and vegetables (with ice cream dessert to follow, let's be real). I'm hoping my second one follows in his footsteps. Both of them LOVE the potato/kale/green bean puree :). Either way, I think this book helped me get them on course to healthy habits.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 4 out of 5]

the puree dished this book are good enough for adults

baby food that people can eat as well
if the child can't finish it

or for sauces for adult meals

I'm sure that even Alaskan Malamutes would agree that there is nothing in this book that seems like a jar of gerber/heinz chicken broth dog sick souffle within!

[Dayami Padron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book!

Best cooking book for baby I have found so far for those who really want to offer their little ones a gourmet experience. All recipes can also be used for regular adult meals which makes it a plus! Highly recommend!!!

[Shannon Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really introduced me to how to cook for my baby when he started solids. I love his advice to give them real food so their palate appreciates flavor! As a result, I now have a 5 year old who will eat anything.

[Kristin Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this guy's concept of cooking healthy, delicious and nutrient-rich foods from the start for your child. His book is organized into baby's ages; 0-3 months, 3-6, etc. As they progress through the months, the recipes become increasingly easy to share with the entire family instead of it just being baby food. Some of them could easily be made for a group of adults without anyone being able to identify it as being from a baby cookbook. We haven't made everything yet, but the ones we have made have been delicious! There are also recipes for healthy desserts, and making your own almond milk. Recipes are also easy to follow, and come with lots of photos. I'd recommend this book to anyone with a baby.

[Cecely · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recipes in this book are awesome..and not just for kids ;) We have started adding some of these recipes to our dinners (sans mashed up for mommy and daddy). Of course, for the nursing mother, eating some of these mashed/blended is a quick way to get some calories and nutrients for those hectic days when time to sit down and eat is hard to come by.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love everything about this cookbook - the recipes themselves (especially their versatility for everyone at the table), the photographs, the overall style. So often I go through cookbooks and really only want to make a handful of the recipes, but with this book I can't wait to make each one. My only wish is that it had 500 recipes.

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so useful. Yes, most of the early recipes are just steam/puree or roast/puree. But over time, the puree combos and the simple recipes have been really, really useful. I know *nothing* about babies' nutritional needs, so this has helped a lot.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great recipes, and information. But as with any cook book chefs always seem to put a gourmet spin on everything. Unless you typically make gourmet meals you will be doing a lot of shopping for 'baby' food. But when I want to try something adventurous I look forward to trying his recipes.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the recipes in this book! They inspired me to cook for my baby, despite the fact that she is my fourth child! It made it less intimidating to cook my own baby food and gave me great ideas for my two preschoolers and my kindergartener.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is worth reading for the "Roasted Golden Beets with Quinoa and Feta" alone, which my fifteen-month-old loves (even with kale instead of spinach). Also, the banana french toast sandwiches are simply and yummy and I never would have thought of them myself. Thanks, public library!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've only tried 2 recipes so far, but the coconut chicken recipe alone is worth the book - so simple and so delicious. I can actually make a quick dinner with these recipes, even while entertaining the baby!

[S. Garland · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I like the most about this book as compared to others is that it gives me a little more confidence in starting to supplement/add single purees into the mix in the 4-6 age group. Also, the post 12 month foods look delicious (even to me)!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, baby recipes are usually "(1) cook, (2) puree, (3) serve." True. But I like that this cookbook includes recipes for the WHOLE family (when the time comes). Yay for family dinners!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these recipes seemed a little complicated. I could see myself growing frustrated and giving up on some of them. There are some more simple ones as well. Worth a second look.

[Lucy Bilik · Rating 4 out of 5]

good baby cooking book. Gives some unique and easy recepies for picky eaters.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Recipes for Children and Adults( with a little switch-a-rou). Would definitely recommend it!

[Amy Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the library but I might just have to pick this up for my collection.

[Indira · Rating 2 out of 5]

recipes aren't that simple to prepare, requires lots of use of food processor, etc. and, not a whole lot of vegetarian options

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the idea of making baby food that I would eat, and this collection has a lot of recipes that look delicious. Worth adding to your library for more interesting options for baby.

[Ladybird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth buying.

[Juliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!!! a go to for my new addition to the table!!!