Great Resource Books!

Feeding the Starving Brain, Nutrition for Learning, by Jan Katzen-Luchenta, AMI is a wonderful book offering research on the importance of nutrition on the developing brain.

This is great information that discusses the importance nutrition plays in our children.  It emphasizes making sure children get plenty of essential fatty acids, among other things.  She has a ton of great recipe ideas in here.  I have started adding olive and canola oils to many foods as a result of reading this. (It’s important to remember, to add the oil when the item is cool-as cooked oil has takes on different qualities).

One of my favorite books is Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld.  Some of the recipes we love and others, not so much.  But it has shaped how I cook for the kids.  She basically teaches you how to puree vegetables and add them to your meals, so you know that your kids are getting good stuff in their diets.

Other Great Resources

TheBig3.org is a site listing information about the essential nutrients for women.  They also have hear the impact of DHA on Infant Development.

Ask Dr. Sears is a truly wonderful resource.  You can find research on nutrition and great, kid-friendly recipes.

Good nutrition is KEY for our little ones.  It is important for their brain development as well as their behavior and over-all functioning.

Recipe Ideas

Organic Foods & Products

Check out these helpful websites!

Importance of Organic Foods

Mom's Organic House

Household chemicals - Try to eliminate chemicals from your home as much as possible.  I am still learning in this area, but these are some easy things that I’ve been able to change.

• Pest Control - We found an organic pest control person.
• Water - We added an in home water purifier.
• Cleaning products-Change cleaning products over time (Sprouts and Trader Joes have great options for these).
• Skin Products - Change skin products over time (I used Arbonne, but Sprouts and Trader Joes have great options).
• Microwave - Don’t microwave in plastic dishes. (This says you can cover food with a safe plastic, but it’s not to touch the food).
• Water Bottles - Plastic water bottles are dangerous.  Here’s an example of a stainless steel water bottles for sale on the internet.  But if you just Google it, there are lots of places that sell them.
• Safe Fish List - From this website, you can print out a pocket guide of safe fish.  I keep it in my wallet to help while I’m shopping.

Vitamins - Take vitamins!  Sprouts has a great kids section and they have vitamin experts who are very helpful if you have questions.

• Multi (there are some great ones at Sprouts and Trader Joes)
• Calcium (I found yummy gummy ones at Costco)
• EFA (Sprouts)
• Juice Plus veggie and fruit gummies-These are through a juice plus supplier. 

Agave Nectar - This stuff is awesome.  I found it at Trader Joes.  Here is some information on it.  After finding this stuff, I hardly use sugar.  I use agave in my tea and coffee and anything that I would usually sweeten with sugar.

Food Coloring and Additives in Foods - There is evidence that links food coloring and additives to childhood behavior problems.  I try hard to check labels to avoid them when possible.  If you take the time to search, there are many alternatives to your regular favorites.