“Super Nutrition for Babies”: Book Giveaway & Meet the Authors
June 12, 2012 in Book Review, Contest, Debunking Myths, Giveaway, Interview
Now I realize I have been MIA for a few weeks, but that’s because life outside of my blog has been taking up too much time. I seriously miss blogging though, and since I know you’ve missed my posts (hah, I hope?), I am coming back with a bang: I want to introduce my loyal and new My Life in a Pyramid readers to an opportunity for two of you to win a copy of the awesome new ‘real food’ book, Super Nutrition for Babies: The Right Way to Feed Your Baby for Optimal Health. Though I have no babies of my own yet, I know that if (when?) the day comes to bring a new little human into the world, I would want to be as prepared as possible in knowing how to optimally feed him or her in order to evade a lot of the allergies, digestive issues, metabolic problems and other lifestyle-related chronic illnesses that are plaguing our young ones in this age.
If you start reading the ingredients on some of the baby food products out there — even the “organic” and “all-natural” ones — you’ll be shocked. Soy, an industrial food that is high in both estrogen and nutrient-blocking phytic-acid, and to top it all off, that is often genetically modified (unless certified organic), is found in a lot of baby foods and formula mixes. Even certified organic baby foods have been found to be contaminated with various toxins, the latest example being the arsenic-tainted brown rice syrup in organic baby formula. Leaving the toxins issue aside, conventional wisdom over the past few decades has dictated that human babies be given grains as their first foods. Really? Grown humans can barely digest grains. All grains — even ‘whole grains’ that are minimally processed (not the case for all store-bought baby food) — do not have even a small fraction of the bio-available nutrients found liberally in organic vegetables, grass-fed meats, raw dairy and fresh fruits.
Which would you choose for your developing baby?
It makes zero sense to me that a baby’s first food consist mainly of a grain-based diet, which is devoid of the nutrients necessary for a child’s brain development and physical growth! So, if you’re not going to give your baby cereal, Gerber’s mushy (nasty!) preserved vegetables and sugar-loaded fruit purees, or soy formula every morning, what are you going to feed your precious infant?
I have awesome news for you: a natural real foods diet for babies is possible. No, it won’t break the bank, and it won’t require several hours a day to prepare. It’s super intuitive and simple once you actually warm up to it and learn how to adapt it to your child’s palate and your lifestyle. It’s all outlined very neatly in the new book Super Nutrition for Babies by certified nutritional consultant Kelly Genzlinger and board-certified pediatrician Katherine Erlich. Order your copy of Super Nutrition for Babies on Amazon, or, for a chance to win a copy, simply enter through the Rafflecopter at the end of this post. I’m giving away two copies of Super Nutrition for Babies to two lucky readers of My Life in a Pyramid!
To give you an idea of what to expect, I linked an interview with the authors of Super Nutrition for Babies below, and included two questions that I asked the authors personally. What they share is sure to pique your interest! Now I don’t have to think twice when looking for a unique (and helpful) baby shower gift – Super Nutrition for Babies will likely become a modern staple for parents, grandparents, and caregivers who care about children’s health and nutrition.
Here’s an interview with the authors of Super Nutrition for Babies, featured on GNOWFGLINS. In addition to the interview, I asked two specific questions that have been on my mind. The authors graciously answered them below:
What are the most common misconceptions about ‘healthy first foods’ for babies?
A little sugar is ok. This is false. Sugar is akin to a drug, is an endocrine and immune disruptor — even in small amounts — and lends to the obesity epidemic we have in children. Much more information regarding sugars can be found in the book.
Pasteurized dairy is good for you. Dairy is a wholesome food type, but not after it has been highly processed and industrialized, as is pasteurized and homogenized milk. Raw dairy is the milk/cheese/yogurt/kefir that nourishes amazingly well.
Babies need grains in order to be healthy. Grains are actually a poor source of nutrition due to their anti-nutrients and because they ultimately break down into sugar in the body. At the right time, and with the right preparation, grains and foods made from grains can be healthily incorporated into the diet.
Babies need to avoid the sun. Babies need vitamin D and the sun is the best way to get it. While burns do increase cancer risk, vitamin D is protective against all cancers. A tan achieved by exposure to progressively increasing doses of sun acts as a natural sunscreen by increasing melanin in the skin (melanin blocks cancer-causing UV rays.)
What are the top three tips you have for busy working parents who still want to feed their babies optimally?
1. Make homemade broth, which takes a little preparation time but the actual cooking time can be done in the slow cooker while parents are at work. Use this broth to cook veggies, meats, and grains which will make the food more digestible and more nutritious.
2. Purchase the highest quality (pastured and/or organic) animal products that are the least processed (milk, butter, eggs, beef, chicken, pork).
3. On weekends, prep and make food for the week, freezing food in small serving sizes that can be defrosted quickly and easily.
Our subscribers might want to know more about the authors of this interesting and important book; please tell us about yourselves.
I am Kelly Genzlinger, a certified nutritional consultant and mother of three elementary-school aged children. For many years, my children battled health issues that were significantly affecting their quality of life. When I looked to modern medicine to “cure” them, we were sadly disappointed. As someone with an analytical mind who was desperate to help my children, I went to work studying holistic nutrition, biochemical pathways, the endocrine system, anthropology, traditional foods, digestion, and how nutrients are used by the body. With this knowledge, I helped restore my children to ideal health. I wanted to share this life-changing information with other parents. Ultimately, I achieved three professional certifications in holistic health and nutrition. Super Nutrition for Babies is a culmination of all my research, professional, and personal experience – a decade in the making. In addition to this book, I have also written Sugar … Stop the Addiction, have appeared on local cable television shows, been a featured speaker at wellness events, developed and taught classes, and have worked in several complementary medicine centers – all in an effort to help others understand the healing and preventive powers of natural eating.
My name is Katherine Erlich. I am the mother of two and a board certified pediatrician. For 11 years, I was a regular doctor, working in a big practice, seeing lots of kids each day. I loved my job, but so many days I would see kids for whom I couldn’t help with the conventional medicine that I had learned in school. This was really frustrating and heart breaking – to want to help more but to not know how. It wasn’t until my son started having medical issues for which I couldn’t “fix” that I really pushed myself to learn more and finally leave my big office and start my own holistic practice. With my new knowledge of nutrition and supplements, I saw some quite amazing improvements. Kids stopped catching so many colds, stopped being angry or depressed; their skin improved, and their behavior calmed down. What a pleasure! To see the impact that nutrition can have is really quite powerful. Wouldn’t it be ideal to support children from the very beginning so that they don’t have to go down the road of chronic illness? This is really what I hope Super Nutrition for Babies will be – a way for parents to gain the knowledge and the power to give their children the best gift ever - the chance to be the best they can be.
What is the absolute worst thing to feed a young child?
Shari,
That’s an impossible question to answer but I understand what you are getting at. With a world so full of toxic foods, you want to at least remove the worst thing. The real problem is really the combination of all the bad stuff. Sugar, soy, GMO, trans fat are amongst the worst universal offenders. But depending on the person, processed dairy and wheat could rank even higher for some. The more good (we call them Super Power) foods, the less the bad stuff can hurt you.
The cover of your book shows purées. Is it not better to wait until your infant is able to eat more solid food than starting earlier with purées?
what did i do wrong it says o entrees
i did all but the twitter y day
Hi Amy, did you click “Do it” on each of the steps and then click “Enter” on each one? Please try again and let me know if it’s not working!
I just posted this question in the “Ask Authors Questions” section of the contest, so I apologize if this is a duplicate. Are there any essential pieces of kitchen equipment that you recommend for preparing baby food at home? I already have a basic blender, knives, cutting boards, etc., but was wondering if other items are needed? I’m pregnant and my birthday is in a couple of weeks, so I would love to add your recommendations to my wish list
Heba,
Glad to see your post pop up in my in-box!! And great to here you’re well.
This is a really great giveaway! And it looks like you’ll be equipped with some great information when you decide to bring a little one into the world.
I really love books like this! Easy, straight forward answers to some really confusing questions. Becoming a parent is crazy overwhelming, especially with all the information (and misinformation) out there.
I was lucky, in that I was already studying nutrition and holistic healing when we decided to start our family (due to my Crohn’s diagnosis), so I had a heads up on some of the issues, but there is always something new to learn!
One thing I did do for both my children was make every single bit of their baby food. And…we saved A LOT of money. I remember on Sundays I would make big batches of steamed fruits and vegetables. I know this isn’t for everyone, but I just couldn’t bring myself to purchasing packaged food (especially when it was so easy to make).
My brother is expecting his first child in September and I know this book would be great for them. So even if I don’t win, I am going to purchase one.
Thanks for this great opportunity. I’ll share FB!
Hugs,
–Amber
Thanks so much for your kind note, Amber!
As much as I feel like I’ve learned about health and nutrition, I actually feel like I don’t know much at all about taking care of a baby and how to optimally feed him/her! So I am very glad Kathy and Kelly wrote this book — makes me feel more equipped for when the day comes to have kids of my own. Anyway, good on you for making your own baby food; it is extremely important. I believe most food for adults should be homemade as much as possible. Not only does it save a ton of money over time, but it’s also much safer. For a baby, it’s even more important to know exactly what’s going into his/her little growing body!
Congrats to your brother btw! It’s so nice of you to be on the lookout for him
Hopefully he and his wife find the info in the book useful!
Thanks for sharing on FB too!
Best,
Heba
Quick Note: Sorry, must have not set up the Rafflecopter correctly. The “Ask the Authors” section was not meant to have a space to ask the question through the Rafflecopter, but rather, through the comments section here under the blog post. The authors are only able to see the questions when posted in the comments section (only I have access to the information collected by the Rafflecopter in order to moderate the giveaway). Anyway, I fixed it now.
Here are the questions submitted so far through the Rafflecopter in case the authors get a chance to answer them!
Amber H: Do you cover vaccinations in your book?
Trudy H: What do you think about saturated fats? I’ve been reading information recently that says they are not ‘bad’ and are actually essential for good nutrition, brain development etc.
Stephanie B: This is not immediately related to baby health – but more maternal (and therefore developing baby) health. My sister in-law was told to avoid raw dairy during her pregnancy, due to some type of bacteria that can be transfered through the placenta. However, everything I have read about and experienced with raw milk is that it’s health-giving and restoring. What’s your take on this doctor’s advice?
Amy J: What is the latest you would introduce solids?
Thanks for the questions so far, ladies! If you haven’t already, make sure you ask a question for a chance to win one of the books. (If you don’t ask a question, you won’t be entered into the giveaway!) Many thanks
Please see below for answers to Amber and Trudy’s questions.
Katherine Erlich, M.D. recently posted…The Real Cause of Heart Disease
Our biggest challenge now is not making the changes in our own home – it’s how to handle all the other places our children are fed besides at home. Can you PLEASE write a book for the grandparents that explains why the ‘food’ is SO different now that what they fed us – and why it is so vitally important to get back to what their grandparents fed their parents?
Lacey @ KV Organics recently posted…Glitch Hunt
Lacey,
I hear you!!! Grandparents are such a challenge. You can’t find a better person to love your child but that parent-child conflict remains a source of conflict. I think your idea is really great – such a book would be a terrific resource! However, I do believe that if you could get your parents and/or in-laws to read our book, they would better understand the basis for our recommendations. And, since we are recommending going back to old school feeding, our book may remind them that they (and/or their parents) were likely fed quite differently than they fed you, thus bringing a whole other dimension to that parent-child conflict! Good luck!
Katherine Erlich, M.D. recently posted…The Real Cause of Heart Disease
Where do you both practice? I live in Fredericksburg, and I’m studying to become a certified nutritional consultant! I’d love to find a doctor to “intern” with as I continue my studies, with my ultimate goal of being a naturopath!
[...] also just saw this interview on the book “Super Nutrition for Babies” and it sounds really cool. I dig on a lot of [...]
What a great post! I don’t have kids yet, but when the time comes I definitely want to be as prepared as I can.
Faith recently posted…Sweet Spiced Pumpkin Seeds
I clicked enter on the 1st one thinking I can leave my question here! My question is ; when do you start feeding @4 months or 6months and what do you start with homemade baby food or real table food?
Thanks for the giveaway Heba! It’s a great one
We discuss this in depth in the book. We recommend waiting until 6 months for most babies. Breast fed babies can go a bit longer before adding solids, but due to the need for additional iron between 6 and 9 months, we recommend not waiting too much after 6 or 7 months old due to the effects of iron deficiency on the brain. Thanks for asking. – Katherine Erlich
Katherine Erlich, M.D. recently posted…The Real Cause of Heart Disease
Amber – we only briefly discuss the negative effect of vaccines on those who are nutrient deficient – specifically the risk of vaccination for babies and children who are vitamin A deficient. This is a much bigger issue and since it was not specifically related to nutrition, we chose not to take it on.
Trudy – All fats are not created equal. Man-made trans fats are very unhealthy fats, while certain natural saturated fats, like animal fats from healthy, pasture raised animals, as well as coconut and palm oil provide great nutrients and health benefits. We discuss this in depth in our book.
Thank you both for asking. Katherine Erlich
Katherine Erlich, M.D. recently posted…The Real Cause of Heart Disease
I’m not a Mom, but hope to be one day.
Two questions:
1. Do you cover fruit in your book? I’ve had a parent ask me if they should limit how much fruit their child eats, and I wasn’t sure what to say. I told them I wasn’t sure, but that I didn’t think so as long as they try to combine it with a protein or good fat source.
2. I’ve wondered how the recommendations for adoptive parents would differ? Those who were not able to breastfeed, and may have no idea what conditions the child is inheriting.
Thanks so much for this book!!!
[...] roll … Randa and Stephanie B. – Congratulations to both of you! Take a look at the Rafflecopter at the end of the original post to confirm [...]
I don’t know if it is too late to ask a question (I know it is for the giveaway, but I already have the book!), but here goes.
It seems my son (10 months) is allergic to coconut. Both times he’s eaten a meal with significant coconut he’s gotten red splotches all over his face. He’ll have an allergy panel at one year, but until then we’re holding off.
Do you have any suggestions for substitutions for coconut flour? I just made a batch of sweet potato crackers and some veggie patties and he loves them, but I don’t want to give them to him now.
I’d love to make him various take-along snacks and thought I had some options, but now I don’t know what to make.
Thanks!
Sky