Ruth's Blog
Ruth Yaron, Super Baby Food Author, Weighs in on the Arsenic Levels In Rice Issue
Recently, rice has been found to contain arsenic. There is plenty of information online, and you’ll find that the amount of arsenic in different types of rice varies greatly. Although doctors on TV and other sources have been telling us it’s still OK to still eat rice, why take the chance–especially with our babies! I recommend not eating any rice when there are so many other whole grains available. That goes for any foods containing rice–infant cereal, breakfast cereal, brown rice syrup, cooked rice, granola with rice, rice milk, etc.–read the ingredients list on the label.
A healthy diet is about variety. Just as babies (and adults) should eat a variety of organic fruits and veggies to help ensure we get a vast array of nutrients, we should eat a variety of organic whole grains and legumes (beans, peas, lentils). You shouldn’t feed carrots, and only carrots. to your baby for veggies and you shouldn’t feed only brown rice for whole grains.
The Super Baby Food Diet is about eating a vast array of healthy organic whole foods. Quinoa, millet, and oats are other super whole grains recommended for Super Porridge, as well as those listed in the Super Baby Book on page 222. Page 235 has a list of legumes. On page 215, see my tips for mixing several whole grains and legumes together to ensure your baby will have a variety of these foods in their high-protein Super Porridge (2 parts grains + 1 part legumes). Make Super Porridge even more healthy by sprinkling freshly-ground seeds and nuts (if your baby has no allergies) into cooked Super Porridge. (Freshly-ground immediately before feeding because once seeds and nuts are cracked open, their super healthy oils/fats start becoming rancid.) See Page 135 for a list of seeds and nuts. If you can’t find these foods in your supermarket, visit your local natural foods store. You can also find these foods online; you’ll have to pay shipping, but you might find it’s worth it when you consider your time and energy, since you don’t have to use gas and bundle up baby or get a sitter. (I always buy from www.BreadBeckers.com, a website you can trust for only the highest quality foods.) You may even want to join a food coop to buy in bulk and save $.
Parents who are concerned because they have been feeding large amounts of brown rice to their babies should talk with their pediatricians. Rice is one of the grains that is gluten-free, therefore many people might be eating it frequently. The American Academy of Pediatrics has information about arsenic at http://www.aap.org; search for “arsenic.” We should expect more information about arsenic in rice as more studies are completed.
Finger Foods For Baby and Toddler: Everything you ever wanted to know
Dr Greene.com recently asked Ruth to be a special guest perspectives blogger on their informational website. Ruth was more than happy to provide 5 terrific blog posts sharing all kinds of great, detailed information on finger foods and tips for getting started with finger foods for babies and toddlers. In case you missed it, here is a description and a link to each fantastic blog post.
Finger Foods: What They Are And Why They Are Important To Your Baby’s Diet
Getting Started With Finger Foods
Finger Food Ideas For Baby and Toddler: Fruits, Whole Grains, and Vegetables
Baby and Toddler Finger Food Ideas Galore: Proteins, Dairy, Omega 3 Healthy Fats
Baby and Toddler Finger Food Ideas Galore: Seeds and Dips
Super Baby Food is happy to be a part of the Dr. Greene team! Be sure to check out some of the other terrific information on Dr. Greene’s website.
Dr Greene Announces His “White Out” Campaign: No Junk Food For Babies
Super Baby Food loves Dr. Greene. Below is a video which announces Dr. Greene’s White-out campaign.
To learn more about The White Out Campaign, you can visit Dr. Greene’s website: DrGreene.com.
A Fan Speaks Out For Super Baby Food! Super Baby Food Says Thank You!
A Fan of Super Baby Food took the time to write a nice note expressing the reasons she loves Super Baby Food. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Thank you, Dacia, for your permission to reprint your kind words.
I just want you to know what an immense impact your book has made on my life. I’m a research nut & the book saved me a lot of time. Not only useful information, but well organized, user friendly and all-encompassing for all viewpoints or opinions. The second reason it has impacted me is the support it has given me in embarking on homemade food & fully immersed nutrition. Our society has evolved into consumers and we’ve become much too separated from our children’s nutrition. I wanted to breast feed very badly and when I decided to make my own super baby food, I discovered the uncanny parallels the two have as far as stigmas and barriers. I found support for breast feeding and now I’ve found support for super baby food & beyond. What I’ve learned will go far beyond my child’s nutrition and even past our own dinner plates.
A couple years ago, my brother had mentioned possibly making his own baby food. My silent reaction was “you can’t do that, it’s not that simple, baby food is fortified…” Then I had my son 6 months ago and made my research and decisions. I went to Borders and piled up 20 books to sift through before choosing yours since it wasn’t all pictures and glossy pages – LOTS of info and that’s it. Then I went to the family meet & greet for my son’s daycare enrollment & they stated they provide Gerber foods. I asked if I could bring my own in. They just about gasped and said, well maybe if you had a Doctor’s note… Can you believe it! I pushed and spoke to the Director and they agreed if I would label the ingredients. THEN, the following week, the teachers all huddled around me and detained me for a half an hour inquiring excitedly about home made baby food. They just couldn’t get over how wonderful it was all of a sudden. I’m glad I turned them on to it and plan on buying his two teachers copies of your book for Christmas.
I apologize for the windy feedback, but I really thought you’d enjoy the story as well. Thanks for your work and for your time!
Dacia Volz
Dunmore, PA
Can anyone provide more words of support for Dacia? Has anyone run in to the kind of reaction Dacia did at her day care regarding baby food? How did you handle it?
Super Baby Food Proudly Presents Ebooks for Your Super Baby Food Questions
Super Baby Food proudly presents three fantastic Ebooks available today on SuperBabyFood.com (and other online outlets) providing you with Super Baby Food tips on three very important topics:
Quick Start Guide to Feeding Your Super Baby
Starting solids is an important time for parents and baby. Find the answers to these and many other “starting solids” questions:
-How old should baby be to start solids?
-What exactly should I feed my baby?
-How can I keep my little guy safe when feeding?
-Is preparing my own baby food practical, inexpensive?
Traveling & Restaurants with Your Super Baby
Every parent needs a break from homebase but the thought of venturing out with a baby can be daunting! These Ebook tips can help you succeed!
-Packing your little one’s bag including a Master Pack List
-Tips for traveling around the corner and around the globe.
-Dining with your little one at a restaurant with ease!
-Smart helps to properly research your trip to insure a “family-friendly” trip
Going Green for Your Super Baby
Going Green isn’t just fashion, it’s necessary – for you, your home, and for your baby. This informative Ebook provides tips and information for every parent to “Go Green.” Here is a preview of just a few of the topics covered:
-Why Organics is the way to go.
-Buying organic food – the how, the where, and the why
-Household cleaning products that are good for the environment, too.
-Toys can be organic – here’s how.
To download your Super Baby Food Ebooks today, visit the Super Baby Food website today!
Moms Want to Know About: Tips For Second Beginner Feeder in Your Family
When you start a baby on solid food for the very time, it is not always smooth sailing. Here’s a question from a mom about starting her second baby on solid food and Ruth’s answer. Maybe YOUR feeding solid question will be answered too!
Love Super Baby Food! My first child is a terrific eater and I know it is from using your book. However baby number two is presenting a bit of a challenge. She’s 6 months and becoming really gassy after rice cereal. I don’t get it. I am still nursing and am very careful about what I ingest. We haven’t been able to really start other solids like avocado and banana because it is such a battle. Could it be the rice cereal? We were about the start the super porridge, but now I’m not so sure. Thoughts?
Ruth says:
NO BATTLES! Wait a week and then gently offer again. Try banana well mushed and liquidy-tastes like breastmilk. Ages 6 and 7 months are for LEARNING TO EAT. Not until 8 months will you baby actually need calories from solid foods to supplement breastmilk. Wait a few days, try again, and let me know how things worked out. Never force or push! 
(Rice cereal and gas – I’m not surprised. I’d be willing to bet that the cereal as first food will be changed to banana some day.) Make sure your baby is getting an iron supplement and a vitamin D supplement-ask your pediatrician.
If you have any feeding solid food questions, do not hesitate to leave a comment here. Ruth would love to hear from you and to help.
Tips For the Exclusively Breastfed Baby: Getting Ready!
Moms are talking about:
How to get the exclusively breastfed baby ready for solid foods:
Ruth Says:
Thanks for using my book. It’s great that you are breastfeeding! One thing you can do right now to make your little sweetie more accepting to new flavors is to eat a variety of flavors yourself. The flavors will be in your breastmilk, so eat foods like cabbage, broccoli, sweet potatoes, whole grains and beans, and all the super foods that are loaded with nutrition.
There are a few chapters of Super Baby Food that you should read in their entirety before you start feeding solid foods. The chapters about food safety and setting up the feeding area, as it says on page v in the front of the book. You may want to ask your pediatrician for a vitamin supplement for her – one with vitamin D and iron and perhaps zinc. These are important nutrients that your baby will start needing at around 6 months.
Enjoy!
Ruth
To read more about starting solids, try the new Super Baby Food ebook available on Super Baby Food.com.
Your Baby’s Signs of Readiness For Solid Foods, Part II
In the last blog post, we listed some signs of readiness for solid foods that you and your pediatrician will look for to determine whether your baby is ready for solid foods. Remember to discuss these signs with your pediatrician to make the determination whether you baby is ready for solid foods.
Here are more signs of readiness:
- Baby is at least four months old.
- Baby is drinking at least 32-40 ounces of formula per 24 hours and still wants more.
- Baby is breast feeding at least 8-10 times per 24 hours, empties both breasts at each feeding, and still wants more.
- The time between feedings becomes shorter and shorter over a period of several days.
- Baby can bring an object in her hand directly to her mouth.
- Baby shows interest in others eating around her.
- Baby becomes fussy in the middle of the night, whereas before she slept through with no problem.
For these and other great tips for feeding baby check out the book, Super Baby Food. For immediate information, try the Super Baby Food app, free for a limited time.
Your Baby’s Signs of Readiness For Solid Foods, Part I
In a previous blog post we talked about some reasons why starting baby food is not such a good idea. In this blog post and the next, we’ll go in the other direction and list some signs of readiness for solid foods. If you would like to introduce solid foods to your baby, discuss it with your pediatrician and do whatever you and your pediatrician agree is best for your baby.
Here are some signs of readiness of solid foods:
- Baby is at least four months old.
- Baby weighs twice as much as her birth weight
- Baby weighs at least 13-15 pounds
- Baby can sit with support, allowing her to lean forward when she wants another spoonful and backward to refuse.
- Baby has control over her head and neck muscles and can turn her head to refuse food.
- Baby has stopped exhibiting the extrusion reflex when you put a spoon in her mouth. If after several tries, food comes right back out of her mouth when you spoon feed her, she is not yet ready for solid foods.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog post for more sign of readiness for solid baby food. For more information on feeding baby consult the Super Baby Food book or the Super Baby Food App (free for a limited time)!
Which Food Should Be Baby’s First Food, Part 2
In Part 1, we reviewed some baby first foods. Here are some other great first food choices.
Mashed ripe banana is an excellent first food for baby. Bananas are nutritious and very easy for your baby to digest. Many other cultures use bananas exclusively as their first baby food. Try to buy only organically-grown bananas.
Mashed, ripe avocado is also an excellent first food for baby. Avocados are extremely nutritious and contains the fatty acids that your baby needs for brain development.
Cooked, mashed sweet potato is another favorite first food for babies who are at least 4 months old. It, too, is highly nutritious and filled with beta carotene (vitamin A).
Yogurt is a good first baby food for babies who are at least 6 months old. Whole milk yogurt, the plain variety, instead of low-fat yogurt, is recommended because your baby needs fats. Remember that yogurt, in the under 1 year old, should not be fed in place of breastmilk or formula, but may be fed as an additional first food.
For an informative video that describes baby’s first foods, check out the video starring Ruth Yaron and Cindy Crawford.
Stay tuned for more information to feed your baby right here at the Super Baby Food Blog.
