Guest Author - Jennifer Wolf

I love Annabel Karmel’s cookbooks, and this one is no exception. As the title suggests, this awesome cookbook focuses on “Super Foods” that are known to promote life-long health and vitality. Karmel introduces the super foods through four color groups and encourages parents to include super foods by bringing vibrant color into their child’s diet. For example, green super foods include avocadoes, spinach, and peas. Red super foods include strawberries, tomatoes, and beans. Orange/yellow super foods include apricots, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes. And purple super foods include blueberries, grapes, and plums. Focusing on color makes it fun for the kids to try something new, and helps parents visualize their progress toward incorporating the super
foods into the family’s diet.

Education
Karmel begins the book with a solid explanation of the nutritional value of super foods. She then goes on to provide applicable information for parents about shopping for and preserving super foods. Karmel is so in tune with today’s parents, she even includes a list of “Convenience foods worth stocking.” What a great alternative to fast food on busy nights!

Distribution of Recipes
The recipes in the book are divided into six different age groups: 6 months, 7-9 months, 9-12 months, 1-2 years, 2-3 years, and 3 years plus. This arrangement encourages parents to introduce new foods appropriately, as young children’s ability to process more complex foods develops with age. In addition, because the author has included recipes for children 3 and over, this is an excellent cookbook for families who have preschool children and babies/toddlers.

Taste Testing
I’ve had the chance to test out some of the recipes on my own family, and I’m very impressed with Karmel’s easy-to-follow instructions and the variety of recipes included. So far, we’ve tried the Tuna Tortilla Roll-ups, Marinated Chicken and Vegetables on a Griddle, Chicken Fingers Marinated in Buttermilk, and the Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. Additional recipes that peak my interest include Sweet-and-Sour Turkey Balls, Carrot Soup with Yellow Split Peas, Bow-tie Pasta with Salmon and Tomatoes, and various recipes for yummy ice pops.

Unique Features
Some of the unique features of Annabel Karmel’s Super Foods for Babies and Children include meal planners for each age group, which help parents plan for a variety of meals and healthy snacks over a seven-day period. In addition, recipes are marked with a blue “F” if they freeze well and a green “V if they are suitable for a vegetarian diet.

Special Sections
Super Foods for Babies and Children also includes some special sections, including “A Good Vegetarian Diet,” two pages dedicated to “Food Allergies,” and another section of “Foods for Common Ailments” This includes what to serve your children whey they are constipated or have diarrhea. Here, Karmel also explains “secondary lactose intolerance,” which can follow diarrhea and cause symptoms to linger.

In conclusion, this is an excellent cookbook for young families! The pictures are vivid and appetizing. Annabel Karmel has written yet another supreme resource for parents.




Available at Amazon.com