Born to Eat ─ Whole, Healthy Foods from Baby's First Bite

You don’t have to cook another entire meal to feed your baby, nor blend everything you eat into a mush to support healthy growth in an infant. With a little patience, presence, and skill, you can transform nearly any meal into a baby-friendly food. Who knew a little planning could have the whole family eating together and better?

In the past, humans thrived without ?baby food” (which came about in the mid-nineteenth century). Think about it: the human race has made it this far largely on whole food. Only in recent decades have we begun overthinking and over-processing our foods, which has led to chronic dieting, chronic disease, disordered eating, body distrust, and epidemic confusion about the best way to feed ourselves and families. Eating is an innate skill that has been overcomplicated by marketing schemes and a dieting culture.

We, as humans, are Born to Eat, and it seems only natural for us to start at the beginning?babies are born to eat, too. When babies show signs of readiness for solid foods, they can eat what we eat and become healthy, happy eaters in the process. By honoring self-regulation (also an innate skill) and focusing on a whole food foundation, we foster healthier children and families.

Aside from the United States, almost every other country is accepting of this approach, known as baby-led weaning. With advice, instructions, and recipes from nutritionist and wellness experts Wendy Jo Peterson and Leslie Schilling, you can ensure that your infant is introduced to healthy and tasty food as early as possible.

Wendy Jo Peterson is a registered dietitian and culinary nutritionist. She is the coauthor of The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook For Dummies and Adrenal Fatigue For Dummies. As with all military spouses, she wears many hats, but her favorite is her role as mama. She splits her time between Austin, Texas; San Diego, California; and Europe.

Leslie Schilling is a nutrition and wellness expert. She is a master’s level registered dietitian, nationally recognized speaker, and nutrition therapist. She holds the highest US credential for professional sports nutrition and was the nutritionist for the 2014?2015 Memphis Grizzlies NBA team. Leslie is also the creator of Your Supper Solution, a premium online dinner menu planning service for busy families. She resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.