Joshy knows he’s eating corn, do you?

Michael Pollan came up with the very same conclusion in his book, Omnivore’s Dilemma, without utilizing carbon testing. His journey began with the question, “What am I eating?” Turns out it doesn’t matter what we’re eating, it all begins with industrialized corn. He says unless you’re eating free-range pastured animals, you’re eating corn.

So what’s the problem? It seems when animals eat what they were designed to eat, the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 (which is an anti-inflammatory) and other essential fatty acids have a proper balance. Grass-feed beef has a two-to-one ratio of omega-6 to -3, compared to more than 10-to-one in corn-fed beef.

Pollen says, “If units of omega-3s and beta-carotene and vitamin E are what an egg shopper is rally after, then $2.10 (now it’s $2.50 or $3) a dozen eggs from pastured chickens actually represent a much better deal than the 79 cents a dozen industrial eggs at the supermarket.”

The bottom line is: You can get more nutrition from meat and dairy which has been raised on pasture. Since, vitamins are expensive, it makes sense to purchase products from pastured animals when you can. This makes even more sense, if you have a picky eater, who may consume limited amounts of food. (And yes, picky eaters can learn to love veggies, CLICK HERE.)
For more information about Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater, CLICK HERE. 

Then you’ll need brain food. Brain food is REAL food. Good nutrition is critical at all stages of your child’s life. And just as in today’s Yummy News Report, the effects will last a lifetime. Brains need carbohydrates for energy, and proteins, and healthy fats to build connective pathways between the brain cells. Vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients help create the neurotransmitters, which relay signals between the brain cells.

Your baby’s brain grows its fastest from about the 10th to 18th week of pregnancy. Then again just before birth and it continues it’s dramatic growth for the first two years of life. Children, who do not get adequate nutrition in their first few years of life are more likely to lower IQs, and slower language and motor development, which leads to poorer school performance.

Preschool nutrition impacts the rest of your child’s life. If you’re pregnant eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants in these foods will protect your baby’s brains from tissue damage. Get your folic acid which is important for a healthy baby by eating plenty of leafy greens and whole grain foods. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding up to two years of age. Mother’s milk is the perfect food for a baby’s developing brain.

When you start feeding your baby solids, usually around six months of age, include whole foods and iron rich foods such as finely minced meats. Your child should eat a variety of foods including whole grains, veggies and fruits, meat and dairy. Give kids a healthy snack between meals, not processed treats. This will insure that your child is receiving continuous nutrients required for growth and development.

For your child to have a healthy brain, eat real, unprocessed foods as much as possible. Eat a rainbow of food. Blueberries, red cherries, yellow peppers, dark leafy greens, purple eggplant, red tomatoes, orange carrots and pumpkins. Each color of food contributes nutrients necessary for good brain health.

Your child’s brain needs fat!

One of the worst recommendations for children’s health for them to eat a low-fat diet. Fat makes up over 60 percent of your child’s developing brain. Although your children need the right kinds of fat. Omega-3 oils are vital for a healthy brain. Toddlers need approximately 35 percent of their daily calories from good fats. That’s omega-3 and -6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) found in unrefined oils (freshly pressed oil which is protected from light, oxygen, and heat) such as extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and flax seed oil, it’s also found in avocados and nuts. Unrefined oils provide omega-3 and -6 EFAs needed for cell growth and integrity.

Ben knows fish is high in omega 3. ›

For a healthy brain, eat healthy fats from a variety of sources like fish, walnuts, flax, avocado, and coconut and olive oil. To ensure your baby has the best start, avoid drinking alcohol in any amount while your pregnant. As always, avoid processed foods, which make it harder for your child’s brain to grow properly.

You’ll want to avoid:

• Processed foods with artificial sweeteners or coloring, luncheon meats containing nitrates, and MSG: Monosodium Glutamate an excitotoxin killing brains cells.

• Sugar, which is added to most processed foods, including salad dressings, ketchup, yogurt, and the worst offender soda pop.

• Altered fats and partially-hydrogenated oils are found in most fast foods, fried foods, and packaged chips, crackers, and bakery items.

There’s more. Listen to the Podcast, CLICK HERE.

You have a fat head!

You do, you know. Fat makes up over 60 percent of your brain, so you have a fat head.

Despite what you may have heard, fat is good. Every body needs fat; although we need the right kinds of fat. In fact, Omega-3 oils are vital for good health.

Toddlers need approximately 35 percent of their daily calories from good fats. That’s Omega-3 and -6 Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) found in unrefined oils (freshly pressed oil which is protected from light, oxygen, and heat) such as extra virgin olive oil and flax seed oil, as well as avocados and nuts. Unrefined oils provide Omega-3 and -6 EFAs needed for cell growth and integrity.

You’ll find extra virgin olive oil recommended in the kid-friendly recipes in my book, Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater. It’s best to use low to medium heat when using olive oil, as high heat will destroy some of its nutrients. Italians not only cook with olive oil, but they drizzle it on top of soups, sprinkle it on top of meats, and dip bread in it, as well as the traditional oil and vinegar salad dressing.

Extra virgin olive oil is good for your heart! It has a high content of anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory substances. Olive oil has been found to promote strong bones and helps to prevent cancers. It’s also good for your brain as it improves brain maturation and function and has been found to help prevent Alzheimer’s and other aging diseases.

When olive oil is labeled as “extra virgin” it indicates the oil is from the first pressing and has the most beneficial nutrients in it. “Extra virgin” olive oil means it’s unrefined and it’s made from ripe olives immediately after harvest. This preserves the olives’ omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, as well as vitamins A, D, E, and K and polyphenols, which are antioxidants.

Contrary to popular opinion, extra virgin coconut oil has been proven to be a healthful saturated fat. Coconut oil is easily digested and is quickly absorbed for energy. It has antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties which boost immunity. Coconut oil is perfect for use in cooking and baking, without becoming toxic at higher temperatures, as liquid oils do.

Butter is another good fat. It contains lecithin, vitamins A, E, D, K, omega -6 and -3 essential fatty acids. In addition, butter has antifungal properties.

F or information on the Baby Bites book, Click Here.