Let every child’s first grain be a whole grain.
They won’t mind, they’ll thank us for it.
— Alan Greene, MD

As one of the many joys I’ve had being a new mom has been the opportunity to make my son’s baby food, I was delighted to receive many requests to post some of the baby food recipes that I’ve made for my baby. It’s never too early (or late) to begin eating delicious foods prepared with love and made with the very best (preferably organic) ingredients available and affordable to you. As a child’s most crucial years for nutritional and dietary development are from birth to age four, it’s critical to help give children a jump-start to lifelong healthy eating habits.

There are so many packaged and fast foods readily available that are vying for our children’s attention. When they are ready for solids—preferably after six months of age—is a perfect time to introduce them to the wonderful flavors, colors and textures of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This helps establish an early love and appreciation of delightful and nourishing foods that will serve them well, and position them nicely for a lifetime of health and wellness.

I will create a section on this site called Petit Appetit and will soon post baby food recipes. Although my son has already past the stage of eating only purées, I will include recipes for purées as well as foods fit for toddlers that I currently make now. If you have little ones, you too can quickly and easily make fresh and wholesome meals—eliminating or minimizing the need to feed your baby from a jar. In the Petit Appétit section, under the cuisine category, I will share healthy alternatives to buying commercially processed, preservative-filled baby foods to help you create delicious culinary experiences for your little ones.

Some recipes are from baby food cookbooks, others are foods I’ve made for my family and adapted them to meet the needs of my little one. Feel free to experiment with them and make them your own. I find it so rewarding to make my little one’s food and watch him enjoy, discover and experience new flavors and textures. It’s also nice to know the whole foods he eats will do his little body good. From smooth purées, to bite-size portions that are perfect for a first fork or spoon, to meals the whole family can enjoy, I’ll post a variety of recipes that help to begin a lifetime of positive eating habits for every petit appetit!

Stay tuned, more to come! Until then,

Bon Appétit!
Martine