How you feed your baby today creates a vast impact on your child’s health in his adolescence to adulthood. Hence, it is important that as soon as babyhood, you feed your baby with the nutrients he needs for his growth and development. Aside from your baby’s doctor, books can also be an effective guide to do this.
With that said, what are the best baby food books for a healthier and happier baby? Some books you can rely on for your baby’s food health are The Forest Feast for Kids by Erin Gleeson, Weelicious by Catherine McCord, Real Baby Food by Jenna Helwig, Smoothie-Licious by Jenna Helwig, Dinner a Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach, and a lot more.
Although there is a lot of baby food books everywhere, each also contains unique and helpful ways on how to give your baby a balanced diet. In order to provide you with this information, read the summary below and where these books can be found.
Why Is It Important for Babies to Consume a Balanced Diet?
Giving your baby a balanced diet ensures that your child is receiving the right amount of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are essential for his growth and development. Henceforth, below is the list of the following needed nutrients for your baby and its corresponding purpose:
- Vitamin A: gives your baby a healthy skin, hair, and eyes. The most common source of this vitamin are carrots, potato, spinach, squash, and other vegetable juice.
- Vitamin C: allows your baby to be protected against infectious diseases. The most common source of this vitamin are oranges, broccoli, peaches, strawberries, sweet potatoes, cabbages, and other fruits.
- Vitamin D: helps your baby to support and strengthen the immune system. The most common source of this vitamin are eggs, cheese, milk, cereals, yogurt, and tuna.
- Calcium: is essential in helping your baby in his normal growth as well as strengthening his bones and teeth. The most common source of calcium are milk, cheese, soy, tofu, sweet potato, and beans.
- Omega-3 DHA: is vital in allowing your baby to develop his brain functioning. The most common source of Omega-3 DHA are fishes, tuna, other seafood, and other plant-based Omega-based. Moreover, Omega-3 DHA supplements are also recommended for your baby’s need.
- Iron: helps your baby for the normal development of his cognitive abilities. The most common source of iron are green leafy vegetables, breast milk, egg, fish, oatmeal and cereals.
What Are The Age-by-age Guide to Feeding Your Baby?
Not all food can be eaten by your baby despite its vitamin contents especially that the digestive tract of your baby is still developing. In this case, we have provided you an age-by-age guide of feeding your baby:
- Birth to four (4) months. Breast milk or formula milk is the only appropriate food for your baby in this stage. However, doctors recommend that you allow your baby to only consume breast milk first until his six (6) months. These means give your baby a chance first to receive the nutrients he needs. After that, formula milk can now be added as a supplementary.
- Four to six (4-6) months. Your baby should still be continuing his breast milk or formula milk. However, you can now slowly introduce him to solid food. You can begin with pureed vegetables like squash and sweet potatoes or pureed fruits like peaches, apples, and bananas. Try feeding him solid food gradually. Start with one (1) spoon pureed, for example, mixed with two to three (2-3) spoons of milk.
- Six to eight (6-8) months. In this stage, you can now try feeding your baby with pureed or strained vegetables like carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes; and then pureed or strained fruits like banana, pears, apples, avocado, and peaches. You can also try pureed chicken, meat, pork, or tofu.
- Eight to ten (8-10) months. You can also try feeding cheese to your baby. Introducing them with mashed vegetables and fruits can also be applicable in this stage. Finger foods like cereals, well-cooked potatoes, and pieces of scrambled eggs can also do.
- Ten to twelve (10-12) months. Since your baby has more teeth than before, you can now give him fruits and vegetables that are mashed or cut into cubes. Combo food like macaroni and cheese or casseroles can also do. Finger foods like cereals, well-cooked potatoes, and pieces of scrambled eggs also work best for your baby.
List of 19 Best Baby Food Books
Preparing food for your baby requires a lot of patience and creativity. It should be delicious and nutritious at the same time. Hence, to guide you in your daily preparation of food for your babies, we have provided you 19 best baby food books:
The Forest Feast for Kids by Erin Gleeson
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Erin Gleeson, a popular blogger in the United States, wrote his first book entitled, “The Forest Feast” where he uses fresh ingredients to provide babies and young ones a healthy everyday meal. Mostly, the recipe includes a vegetarian meal collection illustrated in colorful graphics. The good thing about this book is that it also contains basic cooking and measurement terminologies that are very easy to understand.
The common dishes that you can see in the book are smoothies like watermelon, potato green salads, deserts like fried banana splits, and quesadillas and pesto pepper pizza. You can also see party decoration ideas inside the book that can be very helpful in case you decide to throw a party for your baby. The best part of the book is that it does not only contain baby meals but also for young children. This means that the book is still helpful even your baby grows bigger.
Weelicious by Catherine McCord
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Catherine McCord, a mom of three (3), has written two (2) books to inspire parents around the world on serving and cooking healthy food for your babies and young ones. The two (2) books she wrote are: the “Weelicious: One Family. One Meal.” and “Weelicious Lunches: Think Outside the Lunchbox“.
The first book Weelicious: One Family. One Meal. is written to inspire families, especially mothers, in providing healthy and easy meals for your babies. All one hundred forty (140) meals include the personal experience of Catherine with fact-based evidence. The second book Weelicious Lunches: Think Outside the Lunchbox, on the other hand, are daily lunches of her kids that were compiled to inspire other mothers as well.
Generally, the most advisable is her first book especially if you have a baby at home. This book will help you with your baby’s meals from infant to preschool.
Real Baby Food by Jenna Helwig
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Jenna Helwig advocates healthy food for babies. It started with a small interest until it grows into her obsession. Jenna influences all parents to cook good food for their babies. Aside from it is fresh, it is also certain that it is unprocessed. You choose the ingredients to use and maintain the proper balance of nutrients.
The Real Baby Food book emphasizes meal and snack plans that are great for your baby in his first years up to his age where he can already eat solid food. Jenna also included in the book the following tips on how to identify your baby’s food allergies, and the ways of cooking food in bulk.
Basically, everything from single-ingredient purees to a more sophisticated blend all for your infant until he reaches toddlerhood. Also packed with useful tips and nutritional benefits.
Smoothie-Licious by Jenna Helwig
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Smoothie-Licious book is another piece written by Jenna Helwig. Unlike her previous books, this one focuses more on creating daily smoothies for your toddler. There is a total of seventy-five (75) smoothies in the book. Although most of them are for babies, there are also some that can be consumed by adults.
Aside from being healthy, the smoothies come in bright colors and playful names that make it more attracted to your baby and toddler. Some of which are Peanut Berry Blast and Mexican Frozen Hot Chocolates. Everything contains the right amount of nutrients needed by your baby – minerals, vitamins, and some gluten-free content. You will definitely have a balance for everything as every recipe is accompanied by nutritional information.
Not only that, these smoothies can turn into popsicles, shakes, and slushes that will be loved by your babies even if they are picky eaters.
Dinner: A Love Story by Jenny Rosenstrach
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Jenny Rosenstrach, the author of Dinner: A Love Story, created said book to serve as a memoir for all families enjoying meals together. This book revolves around family meals starting from the dating stage, marrying stage, and having kids stage.
This book became one of the tops as it also specifies recipes that you will be needing once you reach the having kids stage. All of which are enjoyable, healthy, and very simple meals you can do at home. At the same time, it features meals that you can do both on ordinary days and special occasions.
So, if you have a friend that has a baby that will be arriving soon, giving Dinner: A Love Story book will be a perfect gift. Not only it focuses on the baby but also on the family dynamics itself.
Better Baby Food by Daina Kalnins and Joanne Saab
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Daina KaInins and Joanne Saab are both registered dietician and experts in pediatric research and nutrition. With their desire to provide babies with proper nutrition especially, they have provided a book that will guide every mother with the babies’ meals.
The book covers meal guide from your baby’s birth up until they reach their twenty-four (24) months. It even contains up-to-date information that incorporates the current trend about the baby’s proper health and nutrition.
From the current two hundred (200) recipes, fifty (50) more was added to give you a total of two hundred fifty (250) meals guide with every meal separated depending on your baby’s age. At the same time, each contains nutritional information, recommendations, and guidelines on how you can properly cook it. Lastly, this book was designed with additional topics such as allergies, food safety, digestive problems, teething and tooth care, vegetarian diets, obesity, and a lot more.
Bébé Gourmet by Jenny Carenco
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Jenny Carenco wrote a French-inspired baby food recipes to help you raise a healthy and an adventurous little one. In this book, Jenny wrote at around one hundred (100) recipes that can guide your baby’s meals from his fourth month up to the twelfth month. The reason why this started from the fourth month is that this month has already been considered to feed your baby solid food.
From carrot purée to beef bourguignon, all these recipes are crafted in order to give your baby a variety of sophisticated flavors. However, despite its sophistication, the book also presented all recipes in an easier way as it contains basic step by step terminologies. Generally, the experimentation that was done by Jenny in this book is helpful in introducing new tastes and flair of food without compromising your baby’s health.
Around the World in 80 Purees by Leena Saini
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This book by Leena Saini will never give your baby a boring puree. This is because the Around the World in 80 Purees features one hundred (100) purees of the different countries around the world. Some of these are the Mango Puree from India, Rosewater Vanilla from the Middle East, Pastina with Parmesan & Nutmeg from Italy, and lastly, the Pumpkin Millet Porridge from Russia.
All contain ingredients that are baby-friendly and nutritious enough for your baby. Aside from that it is easy-to-make and can be done even if you are just at home. Some express their likeness on the English peas and mint puree and Italian pastina with Parmesan and nutmeg. Hence, if you are planning this book, you might want to try these recipes either. Indeed, buying this book will give your baby a global cuisine experience.
French Kids Eat Everything by Karen LeBillion
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This book was originally published to counter the growing obesity rate in parts of the world. Through this, Karen writes a different meal plan for the babies to provide them with a balanced diet as well as proper maintenance of their weight. From then on, Karen continued to advocate happily and neatly eating for babies.
Having this kind of guide in feeding your baby is also beneficial. In any means, you will also do the process that the French kids have gone through to give your baby the best nutrition he needs.
Hence, the book generally talks about the French system of feeding their babies knowing France as one of the countries that are significantly low in obesity rate for babies. If you want to know how the French people and the government do this, this book can be the answer for you.
Growing Up Gourmet by Jennifer Carlson
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Jennifer Carlson built her business Baby Gourmet which is a top-selling organic baby food brands in North America. In this book, Jennifer will show you how these nutritious and delicious products are made. She makes sure that these are full of texture and taste that will be loved by your baby. At the same time, she incorporated all the nutritional needs of your baby in each meal.
Moreover, Jennifer does not only focus on teaching us how to create a meal with her products, but also the tips in facing the challenges that we have as mothers. In the book, she deals on everything you need to know about feeding your baby, when to give him solid food, getting the right nutrients on each stage, dealing with picky habits, and a lot more. As a plus, she also included tips on cooking for a family of five (5) and more.
Parents Need to Eat, Too by Debbie Koenig
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Debbie Koenig, in her book “Parents Need To Eat, Too“, addresses the dilemma of parents in giving out all the demands from their babies. The said dilemma was solved through the different recipes made by Debbie that are surely nutritious, delicious, and so EASY to prepare.
The book also contains different recipe categories like recipes to eat with one hand, meals for a slow cooker, recipes to support breastfeeding, and other categories that will help you to prepare while your baby is napping.
Aside from that, Debbie also created recipes with the same ingredients you used for your meal that can now be served to your baby! All the one hundred (100) recipes and above are tested and approved by parents around the world. Indeed, everything will still keep you stay healthy and active despite the numerous sleepless nights with your baby. Hence, if you struggle the same with your baby, this is the perfect gift for yourself and all the moms and dads out there.
Organic Superfoods Cookbook for Baby and Toddler by Shazi Visram & Cricket Azima
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This cookbook, by Shazi Visram and Cricket Azima, is helpful to parents in giving the babies nutrient-rich superfood. All seventy (70) easy-to-prepare recipes include nutritional content and benefits for your baby from his fourth month up until his third year. At the same time, all recipes are noted as approved and tested given that the Happy Family Organics are still one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States.
For the meal recipes for your baby (4-12 months), all recipes from single to multi-ingredient purees are indicated in the book. It includes the best-selling mango and pear recipes to other recipes with chia and quinoa. Everything is definitely pleasing for your baby’s taste buds.
For the meal recipes for your toddler (1-3 years), all the meals in the recipe book indeed leveled up! Meals now include avocado and chicken whole wheat pizza, baked salmon and peas, all kinds of smoothies, muffins, sandwiches, and a lot more.
The Baby and Toddler Cookbook by Karen Ansel
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The Baby and Toddler Cookbook by Karen Ansel is packed with ninety (90) easy-to-prepare meals made with nutritious ingredients. Every recipe can be consumed by your baby from ages six (6) months to three (3) years. The goal of Karen in writing the book is to give your baby a balanced diet despite the rising trend of processed food. This goal not only gives your baby a healthy and nutritious body but also to teach your baby good eating habits.
The book consists of an organized meal plan based on your baby’s age. It features the tips and ways on how to feed your baby starting from the solid ones up to the most sophisticated and creative recipes. Indeed, it will never be a boring meal for your baby as each consists of plenty of snacks, meals, and desserts ideas.
Super Simple by Tieghan Gerard
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Tieghan Gerard, a celebrity chef, dedicated his years of knowledge in the professional kitchen to provide families with healthy meals for their kids. This new cookbook entitled, “Super Simple” features easy-made nutritious, unprocessed, and delicious food for your baby. All 125 recipes started with simple vegetable purees to multi-ingredient meals that will be loved by your one-year-old baby.
Apart from that, all recipes are made with fresh and organic ingredients that the whole family can also enjoy – nothing fake and processed. As Tieghan believes that every child and member of the family deserves a nutritious food for a healthy and happy tummy. This little package of recipes is indeed made with love from a dad and a professional chef.
Little Foodie: Baby Food Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste by Michelle Olivier and Sara Peternell
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The playful cookbook by Michelle and Sara Winner of Red Tricycle’s 2015 Best Cookbook for Babies Award. In the said book, they help parents prepare an adventure for the new baby in the house. They all cover the tips on how to choose the best food to buy, how to prepare each recipe, how to store them, and lastly, how to give them to your little one. All culinary adventures will be loved by your baby.
The adventure does not stop there, Michelle and Sara introduce in the book the international flavors through different herbs and spices. If you are one of the parents who want to cultivate adventurous yet healthy palates in their babies, this book is definitely worth the price. It has over one hundred (100) recipes all organized by your baby’s age – from solid purees to the most sophisticated one.
The best part is that it contains helpful frequently asked questions by parents regarding infants and toddlers’ nutrition and eating habits. Michelle and Sara indeed give the concise answers for these! No doubt they were awarded.
Cooking for Baby by Lisa Barnes
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The Cooking for Baby book by Lisa Barnes introduces eighty (80) recipes that will help you in feeding your baby and toddler despite the busy schedule. All are illustrated with colorful, creative, and unique graphics. Not only your baby will love it but also you as a parent! Aside from that, it also contains easy-read recipes and terminologies.
The cookbook contains meal plans from your baby’s sixth month up to his eighteenth month. The meal plan started with super smooth purees, cereal grains down to the chunkier foods and gradually transitioning to toddler-friendly finger foods. All of which are home-made using wholesome ingredients as well. Indeed, Lisa has been successful in her goal of providing each family with a healthy and happy body for the baby from infanthood to toddlerhood.
The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook by America’s Test Kitchen
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The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook, an award-winning book, provides a hundred recipes that you can prepare for seconds. One of these is the featured smoothie that you can whip for only seconds. Other recipes are also great not only for your baby and toddler but also for you and other members of the family.
The chapters of the book include: “I’m Ready” for your baby in his four to six (4-6) months, “This Is Yummy” for your baby in his seven to nine (7-9) months, “More Please” for your baby in his ten to twelve (10-12) months, and “Family Favorites” for all ages that everyone can enjoy.
What makes it award winning is the content that you cannot see from all the other cookbooks. Liza created a list of tips for your baby’s feeding as well as emergency first aids. Some of these are the essential information for no-cook purees, food allergies, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), nutrition, food to avoid depending on your baby’s age, and other emergency cooking care.
Le Petit Appetit by Lisa Barnes
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Lisa Barnes, a mother and professional cook of organic meals, is the author of Le Petit Appetit. The book was mainly written to allow your baby to be free from taking in commercially processed and alternate these with organic and healthy food instead.
The book contains one hundred fifty (150) plus recipes for your baby from ages four (4) months to four (4) years. The good thing about the book is that all recipes are divided based on your baby’s age and stage. Basically, Lisa makes food choices a lot easier for you.
Further, all recipes are easy-to-cook and tested by mothers as each contains nutritional information. Further, Lisa provided time-saving techniques and instruction that will provide your babies with proper and healthy eating habits.
Top 100 Baby Purees by Annabel Karmel
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The Top 100 Baby Purees by Annabel Karmel ensures that your baby will be consuming the right amount of nutrients that he needs. At the same time, she also makes sure that the ingredients that you will be using are healthy, top-quality, and fresh ingredients. All these include fresh fruit and vegetables, innovative meat and fish, chicken purees and a lot more.
At the same time, the book also includes essential information about your baby’s weaning, food allergies, storing, freezing and heating your food, and tricks on how to innovate simple ingredients into a very nutritious one. As this collection ensures that your baby’s meal are full with texture and taste, it is certain that he will enjoy everything about Annabel’s recipe.
In conclusion, this book will generally help you in making big decisions when it comes to feeding your little new eater.