Article: Hand to Mouth - How to help babies start to sample solid food

When you first start introducing your baby to solid foods, it can be overwhelming to figure out what is best. I have gone through the process with our two little boys and will provide guidelines along with tips and suggestions based on firsthand experience.

Every child is different and you may need to adjust your approach from baby to baby (and remember that during the first six months, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended – with continued breastfeeding until at least the baby’s first birthday long as that’s what you and your baby want).

When a baby is about 6 months old, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing him or her to solid foods. The goal during the initial phase is to have your baby get to sample foods that are rich in nutrients and varied in textures. As your baby is ready, you can encourage her to start drinking from a cup and using baby spoons and her fingers to feed herself.

Click here for the full article via Family Times!

Article: Smoothie Moves

When your kids are poking around the kitchen, point them to the produce drawer of the fridge and the blender. With a bit of supervision, they can mix fresh fruits and vegetables into delicious smoothies. Smoothies can be nutrient rich—with a combination of fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, fiber and probiotics. But if you’re not paying attention, a smoothie can become a sugar bomb. Here are some strategies for making delicious and nutritious smoothies.

SMOOTHIE BASICS

The best part about making smoothies is that there are seemingly endless combinations of flavors and textures. While there isn’t a right or wrong combination of what to add to a smoothie, it comes down to three basic components: the liquid, the flavor, and the add-ins. As a mom, I love how smoothies are a great way to add a boost of important nutrients; I especially like to focus on adding probiotics to smoothies.

Click here for the full article from Family Times.

Article: Nutrition in No Time: Are you always on the go? These tips will help you stay on track.

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Grab tips from Molly Morgan’s article, Nutrition in No Time: Are you always on the go? These tips will help you stay on track via Family Times.

Short on time? Busy schedule? No time to cook? If you can’t figure out what to make for dinner, these tips and tricks can help you to stick to your food and nutrition goals – even with the craziest of schedules.

MAKE A PLAN

Eating healthier doesn’t happen by accident. Taking the time to have a food plan for the week for you and your family can make all the difference. Start by mapping out the week ahead and ask yourself a series of questions: What should we have for breakfast? What will we need to pack for lunches? What nights will we be at home for dinner? What nights will we have time to cook?

For the full article, click here.