Taylor is my second son. I’ve done weaning before, but with a four year gap I was feeling a bit rusty so when I was offered the opportunity to review a book which covers all aspects of weaning and food from 6 month – 4yrs, I jumped at the chance!
To be blunt, nothing pee’s me off more than a preachy “This is how you should raise your child” book. The first line in this food bible is “The first thing to grasp as a Mother is that you know best“. I liked the author already!
More than just a recipe book the Baby & Toddler Food Bible covers much more; from fussy eating, what babies and toddlers need with regards to nutrition, info on allergies & intolerances and much more. There is even a section for Mums including what to eat after a bad night’s sleep to help you get through the day, foods for promoting sleep (so the little you may get is better quality!), ensuring you are getting enough iron and more.
Rather than a manual, this is an ideal pick up and look at guide which is practical, easy to read and parent focused. although written by a foremost expert in the field of diet & nutrition, it comes across as a source of help wrtiten by a Mum who has experienced the joys of weaning and this is reflected in the personal snippets of info such as “By 7 months, my son was happy to eat blueberries when prepared this way”.
There is additional information peppered throughout such as – did you know swede is known to cause wind in babies so better left for later in the weaning process? I didn’t… but I do now!
From very simple stage one and stage two recipes for weaning, to wholesome snacks and recipes which all the family can enjoy, this is an all round useful tool!
As well as some great weaning recipes and interesting combinations for introducing different food types, the recipe section has puddings, snacks, convenience foods etc and Kieran has enjoyed making a few of these easy recipes, pretty independently. His favourite easy meal is below!
Sausage Pasta Salad
300g Pasta Shells (Wholemeal if your children will eat them)
120g frozen peas,
100 frozen sweecorn
100 frozen french beans,
4 quorn sausages- grilled, cooled and sliced into small pieces,
2 tbsp of low fat french dressing (optional)
Chopped herbs (optional)
Cook pasta as directed, then drain and cool under running cold water in a colander. Cook peas, sweetcorn & beans, cool then chop beans into piecs. Grill the Quorn sausages and chop when cool. Mix all cooked ingredients together. Add French dressing and chopped herbs if required. Serves 4.
Great because: This colourful salad gives you a serving of vegetables for the day from the peas, sweetcorn and beans, which along with the pasta and Quorn sausage, provides a filling and slow release of energy in the afternoon ahead.
This isn’t yet another guide that you would buy, glance at and pop on the shelf, this is a user friendly, info packed, interesting and family focused publication that is not only great for your own family but would make an ideal gift.
As a Mum I give this a 5/5 rating!
For more information, to buy or download (how swish!) Amanda Ursell’s Baby & Toddler Food Bible, visit Amazon.
