New Home

After a whirlwind trip to Chicago, we finally picked our next home:

We couldn't be happier with our decision, though it was a difficult one. Chicago has so many lovely homes and areas. One of our main concerns was proximity to public transportation (.5 mile walk--Steve currently walks .7). The area we chose is known for being close to the lake, having great schools, being Jewish-friendly, being very family friendly, and having a lot of unique, older homes.

The trip itself was obviously stressful (flying, getting a rental car, getting to the hotel, realizing the hotel doesn't have a pac and play....) and mommy and Dalia spent plenty of quality time together. I managed to feed her every meal in between appointments. She even got to check out a few local parks, lucky girl!

I can't say bye bye to DC just yet... we still have another couple of months, but those months are much easier knowing that we have a place to live and a place to call home.

Spinach, leek, and jicama quinoa porridge

Healthy eating habits are something you can instill in your child from an early age. As parents, we have the ability to shape our child's palate. We have the power to help them make good eating choices by offering healthy and flavorful food from an early age. We try to keep the sweet and salty items to a minimum in our house anyways, but it is especially good to go easy on them when you have an impressionable little one around (side note, not all sodium is created equal).

Have I told you all the story of Papa (grandpa) giving Dalia Lays potato chips at a mere 12 months? It didn't go over well (for me, not her, she obviously liked the chip she was able to swallow before I freaked), but I had to give a little laugh thinking about how "crazy" I must have seemed. Even so, I don't regret seeming like a crazy mommy because I think all of this food stuff is a pretty serious deal. Eventually she will probably have a lot of sweet/salty things, just not yet. And to this date, she hasn't had any meat, either.

Anyhoo-This is a video of Dalia eating a delicious, off the cuff meal created by yours truly: spinach, leek, and jicama quinoa porridge. (Check out her sweet spoon skills!)

Quinoa is a super, protein-packed grain with a nutty flavor--delicious hot or cold! You can mix anything with quinoa for a delicious side dish or entrée. Try cooking it in low sodium vegetable broth and then add some diced dried apricots, cilantro, and a yummy orange vinaigrette.

I didn't use a recipe, but I can give you a general idea of how to make this.

1. cut leeks, place leeks in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes to remove debris, remove and set aside

2. peel jicama, dice, and set aside

3. saute leeks, jicama, and spinach in some garlic-infused olive oil (fats help with baby's brain development, which is why pedis never say go easy easy on fats early on)

4. let cool and puree, set aside

Helpful Tip: We fill ice cube trays with "green veggie cubes", freeze them, and add them to everything we make. We always have some form of these on hand. For more info, Ruth Yaron's "Super Food" is a fabulous book. I blogged about it here.

5. cook quinoa in low sodium vegetable stock, fluff, and transfer to serving dish

6. mix in your puree (you can do a lighter puree if you want more texture), add as much of the green mixture as you like. Less=drier texture/More=more porridgey texture

7. add whatever salt/pepper you desire!

And it is clearly good. You saw how Dalia ate it up!

Best Baby Food Book

With so many baby-related books on the market, how can parents know when they have their hands on a winning one?

When it comes to the ever popular topic of home made baby food, the advice you get (and take) can seriously impact your baby's digestive system and can make (or break) the relationship your baby has with food for the rest of her life. As with diapers, breast feeding, and birthing, I felt like I needed some guidance to understand the complex world of solid foods. Though every baby eventually eats solid foods and it is seemingly "no-brainer", I think parents need to take a more active role in introducing healthy eating habits to their children. Understanding nutrition and embracing a healthy lifestyle better sets up our children for a successful relationship with food.

So, where can a new parent turn for great, healthy advice?

This book:

This book is, for a new parent anyway, a page-turner. At about 500 pages, it is a comprehensive, all-encompassing instructional manual on solid foods for babies through toddlers. The basic premise: don't fill your baby up with empty calories... give your baby the gift of super foods (brown rice instead of white rice, whole grains instead of refined grains, myriad of foods instead of the same ol' same ol'). Many times parents do not give their children "super foods" because they assume their children will not like them; other times, they do not even eat these foods themselves or they are not aware of "super foods". Breastfed babies already have acquired tastes for a variety of foods because they have had small amounts through mommy milk!

Don't assume your baby will not enjoy a hearty green like kale or a combination of brown rice and banana. Give it a try! You might be pleasantly surprised. For many people, having a child sheds light on lifestyle choices that may benefit from slight alteration. Aren't we always looking toward the future?

Let me state that there is nothing wrong with the occassional treat or candy-they are kids after all... but lets focus on the bulk of the diet being from super foods!

Back to the book.........

Yaron breaks the book into five main parts, each of which is packed with information. Here is a brief breakdown of what each section covers:

1) Feeding Your Super Baby: starting food; month by month lists of acceptable foods; allergies; how much to eat/drink; meal time vis a vis baby development; the super food diet:

"The Super Food Diet is an extremely healthy diet composed of only whole, natural foods. It
is based on these major components: whole grain cereals, vegetables and fruits, yogurt and
other dairy products, eggs, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Pediatricians and nutritionists agree
that a semi-vegetarian diet fulfills all of your growing baby's nutritional requirements."
(pg. 119)

2) Preparation and Storage of Super Baby Food: equiptment; hygeine; freezing and thawing; description and hints for diet components listed above, including recipes; meat introduction; home made yogurt

3) Toddler Recipes: over 350 amazing and healthy recipes drawing on "super cereal" and "super foods"; tips on yogurt, tofu, breads, pasta, crepes, agar agar, beverages, and super milks (much more!)

4) Fun Stuff: food decorating; party planning; arts and crafts

5) Reference: nutrional information on specific foods; home made baby food accessories; baby-safe cleaning products and recipes; nutrient tables with baby-size portions

Bottom line=starting good eating habits early is vital to your child's development and outlook on food and nutrition. There is a time and place for sweet treats, just remember to provide your child with a balanced, super foods diet.