I already subscribe to Cooking Light’s magazine and love looking through all of the recipe ideas and how to make great food for my family. I don’t always have time to use them and sometimes they just get recycled, but I really enjoy them when I do take the time to create something. So, when Cooking Light contacted me and asked if I would do a review of their new Cook Book: Cooking Light First Foods, I thought, I’d love to see that.

So I recruited my little helper here and we’ve really enjoyed looking at the book together. I haven’t had time between traveling for my blog to actually cook anything and look at it with great detail but so far, she and I have been quite interested in the recipes. There is a section in it just for toddlers, it’s not just about making baby food. It starts there, with ideas on how to get children to eat and giving them a bit of everything. It also talks about grinding up lots of food. But Zoe and I are particularly interested in the toddler section. 

Cooking Light provided the following article for me to share about understanding Food Allergies. With my kids, they developed eczema with certain foods were introduced but they never had a severe reaction to food, but I know how the fear can be there.

Food allergies

Allergic reactions can occur anytime a person is introduced to something new. If the body perceives the new substance as a threat, the immune system produces antibodies to fight it off—even if the substance is completely harmless. Reactions tend to occur quickly after the food is eaten or when the person comes in contact with the food. The symptoms can range from mild to severe. It can be scary and unsettling to see your child experience a reaction. Your pediatrician or allergist is always your best resource if your child has any kind of reaction to food. Below are the recommendations on how to prevent possible food allergies.

Food allergy symptoms

• Breathing problems and throat tightening.
• Swelling of eyes, lips and/or tongue.
• Sneezing and wheezing.
• Rashes or hives.
• Persistent diarrhea or abdominal pain.
• Vomiting.

Most common foods that trigger an allergic reaction:

• Cow’s milk and dairy products
• Eggs
• Fish and shellfish
• Tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.)
• Citrus fruits and berries
• Peanuts
• Soy
• Wheat

How to avoid food allergies

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers these tips to fight off allergies:

• Wait until age 4 to 6 months to introduce solid foods.
• Introduce one new food at a time; wait four days before introducing another. During this time, watch for any signs of allergic reactions. Consult your pediatrician if a reaction occurs.
• The most common foods that trigger an allergic reaction are safe to introduce after age 4 to 6 months. However, consult your pediatrician or allergist before doing so, especially if baby has a parent or sibling with a food allergy.

The Cooking Light First Foods Cook Book includes:

Visually-engaging, with 200+ precious, helpful and guiding photos, First Foods is in an easy-to-use spiral-bound format. Straightforward illustrations simplify important matters such as food allergies and intolerances, as well as food charts for each phase of a baby’s growth.

Key elements include:

§ Baby and toddler-approved recipes for all stages, from first foods, such as Blueberry Banana Yogurt and Lentils with Sweet Potatoes, to a toddler’s meal of Cheesy Broccoli and Potatoes or Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna to snacks such as Banana Pops

§ Hardworking tips and how-to advice, including recipe prep techniques and more

§ “At Our House” tales from the front line of parenting

§ Special sections “Happy Birthday, Baby” and “Holiday Food for Everyone,” which offer recipes and tips for celebrating milestones without throwing nutrition out the window.

Thank You Cooking Light for allowing us this opportunity to review your book and enjoy it with my family.