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Notes from the Nutritionist
Greetings!
 Thanksgiving is among my favorite holidays. It's not about the food as much as it's about the reasons we celebrate. It's a time for counting our blessings and for reflecting on the simple things that give our lives meaning. For the little ones, this time of year is about excitement. Finding that perfect pumpkin; squealing with delight on a hayride, anticipating the first snowfall and gobbling up homemade goodies. If your baby has begun solid food, Thanksgiving is the perfect time to introduce seasonal fruits and vegetables such as squash, apples and pumpkins. In this issue of Gourmet Baby, I've given holiday recipes a baby- and toddler-friendly spin. Establishing a healthy foundation from the start will make holiday mealtime something Baby always looks forward to and embraces with an open mind and eager palate.
Delicious wishes,
Tina
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Recipe File: Fresh Pumpkin Purée
 It's pumpkin season! If you'd prefer to make fresh pumpkin puree instead of buying it in a can, here's how: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Take a small pie pumpkin, also called a "sugar pumpkin," cut it in half and remove the seeds. Pour 1/4 cup of water into a greased baking pan and lay the pumpkin cut side down in the pan. Bake the pumpkin for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the pumpkin is very soft. Remove from oven, turn pumpkin cut side up and let it cool. Scoop meat into a fine-mesh sieve and set over a bowl overnight at room temperature. Pumpkin puree will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for three days.
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Baby's First Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is filled with quintessential American foods - sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing and, of course, turkey! These foods are also perfect for the little one in your life.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable meal, I've made a few adjustments to popular Thanksgiving side dishes which are most likely on your holiday menu. Pick a few of your tot's favorites, then get cookin'! Keep in mind, babies enjoy leftovers, too! Feel free to batch cook and freeze these nutritious dishes. Sweet Potatoes: Lightly grease the skin of the sweet potato with butter before baking (it will peel easily when it's cooled). Do not wrap in aluminum foil to bake because it will steam and lose its sweet flavor. Once cooked, cool, peel and chop into bite sized pieces. To purée: Place in the blender with ½ cup of water, breast milk or formula and puree until completely smooth. Green Beans: Wash and trim beans and cut them into thin strips. Bring water to a boil and add the beans. Cook five minutes. Drain and toss with 1 teaspoon of unsalted butter. To purée: Place the beans, half a cup of water and 1 teaspoon of unsalted butter in the blender.
Turkey: Dice cooked turkey into bite-sized pieces and serve. To purée: Combine turkey with 2 tablespoons of breast milk or formula in a blender.
Pumpkin: You are welcome to prepare the pumpkin on your own, but using canned pumpkin is equally healthy. Just be sure to grab pure, 100% pumpkin instead of pumpkin pie filling. Mash pumpkin and serve. Feel free to combine with bananas, pears, apples or peaches!
Apples: Fuji, Gala and Golden Delicious apples are all good choices for purees. Wash, peel, quarter and core the apple and cut into small pieces. Add water to a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the apple pieces, cover and reduce heat. Simmer 10 minutes or until apple is soft. Allow mixture to cool and then whirl the apple and water in a blender 1 to 2 minutes. Add additional water if necessary. ©2011 Tina Ruggiero, M.S., R.D. | The Gourmet Nutritionist |
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Tips for Feeding Baby:
How Do I Know When Baby is Full?
 A question I am often asked while on tour with my best-selling cookbook, The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet, is "How do I know when my baby has eaten enough?"
Recent research shows that infants are born with an instinct, referred to as their appestat, which sends a "stop eating" signal to the part of the brain that controls appetite. Trusting this inborn sense about how much food will satisfy baby's appetite lays the foundation for good eating habits for the rest of their life.
To gauge your baby's appestat, pay close attention to when they signal they are full.
Here are clues to look for:
Newborn:
* Spits out nipple or falls asleep
Six to twelve months:
* Turns head away to regulate pace or end feeding
* Refuses to open mouth
* Spits out food
* Stores food in mouth
* Pushes dish, cup, or bottle away
One to two years:
* Shakes head no
* Puts hand over mouth
* Pushes away the hand that offers food
* Uses simple words like "No," "Don't," or "Away"
* Pushes away or throws plate, cup, or spoon
Two to three years:
* Combines words, "All done" or "Get down"
* Pushes away plate
* Tries to remove bib
Infants and toddlers who are allowed to follow their hunger and satiety cues, eating only as much as their bodies need for good health, will develop habits of moderation that should last a lifetime.
Letting a child judge how much food they want to eat can be one of the most difficult things for a parent to do. Many parents tend to give infants and toddlers larger portions than necessary-and then expect them to finish all the food on their plates. Always start with small portions-then let your little one show you in their own way if they want more.
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HAVE YOU HEARD?
The Best Homemade Baby Food on The Planet has gone global! In early 2012, the book will be translated into French, Portuguese, Hungarian and Polish! |
HAVE YOU READ?
The Best Homemade Baby Food on The Planet has some positive press! 
Celebrity mommies and daddies are going ga-ga over The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet. Quotes the magazine, "The book is life-changing. It ensures health and wellness for your child forever." Read more... |
ORDER
The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet! 
This incredible collection of quick and easy recipes includes countless meals for infants and toddlers that can be made in 10 minutes or less! It also features essential nutrition and health information for your little one. Buy The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planetand get your baby on the path to wholesome, healthy eating!
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Tina on TV
Tina is the nutrition correspondent for NBC's syndicated TV show Daytime. Nearly 80 million people tune in to hear what she has to say. Her simple tips, recipes
and ideas will inspire you
on a path to good health.
Watch her now!
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FAST FACTS
Feeding Baby Protein If your baby has reached his ninth month, beef, poultry and ham can each be introduced; all are perfect proteins for the holiday season! Keep in mind, meat has a very different taste and texture than what your baby has been eating, so it's normal if your child is slow to adopt meat. Begin with one-tablespoon servings. If your baby accepts this serving size, increase the portion according to his appetite. If baby rejects it, he just may be unsure of how to eat it. Be patient! Try serving the protein again in a day or so. Good things come to those who wait. |
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