First Bites: A Science-Based Guide to Nutrition for Baby's First 1,000 Days

by Evelyn Rusli, Arianna Schioldager, Anthony Porto (Foreword)

Help your little one become a good, healthy eater. Until age 2, a child’s body develops at superspeed―with 60 percent of calorie intake going straight to brain development―so good nutrition is essential. Reviewed and approved by a board of pediatricians,  First Bites  connects nutrition and development with hard-hitting data, fascinating facts, and flavorful, healthy food.  Part One examines the significance of the first 1,000 days, the most important nutrition window in life. Discover which nutrients mother and baby need when and which fundamentals to keep on hand. Learn how to start solids, avoid creating a picky eater, and spot changes in your child’s digestion. Part Two offers more than 60 easy-to-follow recipes, from pregnancy dishes for expecting mamas to basic blends for infants starting solids and tantalizing finger foods for toddlers, all free of added sugars, gluten, and dairy. Strategically introducing your wee one to 100 ingredients by age 2, the recipes proceed by baby age, meal, and total time, so you can make something tasty, quick, and simple or something good that takes a little more time. From an Apricot Turmeric Bowl and Beet Chips to Quinoa Cornbread and Zucchini Fritters, these aren’t your grandma’s recipes. They’ll help you optimize quality and time while feeding your little one and find some much-needed inner  peas . 100 color photographs

Genres: Food, Parenting

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 31, 2023

Reviews

[Danielle T · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 1,000 days from the subtitle include gestation, so I guess I should've picked this up earlier whooooops (I write this as H is a 14 month old, haha). The first half is on nutrition and the science behind appropriate nutrients at various stages for development (and a reminder that fed is best, sidestepping whether you do milk or formula initially!) and the second half is recipes. This might be one of the few cookbooks I actually try to make something from instead of reading straight through. Will edit or comment on this review if I do.

[kerrigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In depth nutritional information in the first half, nothing I will ever remember and simple recipes in the second, most of which I already knew. An attractive presentation nonetheless, would love to hear a podcast from the author.

[Kelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

My baby is 13 months old, so I picked this up a bit too late. The “first 1,000 days” in this book goes from conception until their second birthday. This book felt a little mom shame-y to me.