Fill ‘Em Up: Anecdotes Of Fantastic Food
Every parent has been faced with the challenge of finding something for their children to eat. It begins with the most basic requirement–get to them to eat something, followed by the more pressing concern–making sure children are getting the proper nourishment to be healthy and strong. Encouraging youth to make good food choices, to eat sweets and other treats in moderation, and knowing when enough is enough has to start at the beginning and follow children through their teen years.
There are many books available to help parents with the food dilemma. When asking, “What do I give them?” “How much should I feed them?” and “How do I get my child to eat the dreaded vegetables and fruit groups?” “Healthy Eating for Life for Children” by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, edited by Amy Lanou and Neal Bernard is an excellent choice. It leads parents through healthy eating habits, beginning with pregnancy, moving on to breast feeding and formulas, moving on to solid foods, transitioning to the toddler years, and continuing on for school age children, the teen years. It even sets guidelines for adulthood. Another invaluable resource is “Start Fresh: Your Child’s Jump Start to Lifelong Healthy Eating” by Tyler Florence. This book places an emphasis on beginnings, from single-ingredient purees at the youngest stages, to flavor combinations and introducing foods with texture from six to twelve months, and moving on to after the child is a year old and what to expect in the future. “Eat Smarter: The Smarter Choice for Healthier Kids” by Dale Figtree is another great guide with the author’s own Figtree program that includes weight loss tips, recipes, a meal plan for children of all ages, recipes, exercise tips, and skin care advice. There is a flood of information to help parents.