Nothing in the world compares to motherhood. For many of us, having a child creates the deepest, most honest, unconditional love we have ever felt. But that’s not all. Sometimes we may also feel like we are on a roller coaster of emotions; even crazy at times. The truth is, motherhood is wonderful and hard at the same time. We delight in playful games of peek-a-boo, and are proud to share cute photos with family and friends; yet we are tired from long sleepless nights and even longer days. We spend all our effort caring for someone else when our own needs are rarely met, and we are often uncertain about how we are performing as parents.
But through it all, we desire to be loving, affectionate, and attentive, hoping to give our little one the best start possible.
That’s where this book comes in. When our babies are ready to eat solids, we want to give them the best possible nutrition. Without having fed a baby before, it may seem easiest just to buy some jars of baby food at the store. It’s cooked and pureed; all you have to do is pop the lid and serve. But I’d like to show you how quick and easy it actually is to make super-healthy baby food at home. You can do it, Mama!
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I made nearly all of my son’s baby food from scratch. Not because I have endless energy or because I thought I was Supermom, but because I just fed him foods I was eating. If I had bananas at home, he had bananas. If I was making chicken and rice for dinner, that’s what he had too.
This book is written for the real mom, the busy mom. It’s written for you. The first section of Happy Tummies contains everything you need to know about starting your baby on solid foods. You’ll learn the basics, like choosing the right first food, and how to go about that first feeding, as well as in-depth strategies to properly introduce new foods and textures, store and freeze baby food, and much, much more. Plus it’s packed with up-to-date research and expert recommendations from organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
The second half of Happy Tummies takes over 40 whole-food ingredients and teaches you how to cook and prepare them for your baby’s food so you can use what you already have at home to feed your little one. My hope is that these baby food recipes inspire you to think outside the jar, giving you the skills and confidence to craft food that is both healthy and delicious.
What’s also included: nutritional information; instructions for preparing and cooking each food; recipes for the most basic purees; mix-ins to expand baby’s palate; ideas for making food more exciting and nutritious; and much more. Every ingredient also features numerous recipes for parents—because we need to eat too!
No matter where you are right now on the motherhood roller coaster—whether you are eagerly anticipating your new little one, have just strapped in and are feeling the new-mother high, or have several months under your belt—know that you have someone else (who has been there) helping you as you experience the invigorating highs, gut-wrenching lows, and confusing loop-dee-loops of parenthood. Feeding your baby wholesome food is just one more way you can help give your baby the best start possible.
Now trust yourself. Take a deep breath. And together, let’s make some happy tummies.
Karen F.