Super Baby Food
by Ruth Yaron
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Book Reviews of Super Baby Food
Book Review: review from a doctor-mom
Summary: 4 Stars
i have never written a book review before, but after spending the past several months with this book i have some strong opinions about it. for the record, i personally am a vegetarian but i do not have strong feelings about my child eating meat as he grows older. ultimately, i feel like this will be his decision, however, as an infant and toddler i do not believe that animal protein will add much more than cholesterol to his diet. as a vegetarian, the key to a healthy diet is protein from multiple complimentary sources including soy, dairy, legumes, etc so that "essential" amino acids and fatty acids (those not made by the human body.) this author purports just this: a diet made up of a healthy variety of building blocks minus preservatives, colorings, pesticides. so, in general, i really liked the book because it does provide very useful tips for the novice on how to buy, prepare, and store baby food. she really does make it surmountable-- even actually seem easy. and, most of all, it is adaptable to different households.but, i would like to edit this book b/c i found it to be extremely disorganized and difficult to find specific information when in a hurry to prepare meals or introduce new foods. there is also a bit of inconsistency b/n chapters about when to introduce foods (i.e. dairy at one year, but milk yogurt is acceptable at 8 mos??)
also, i agree with previous writers that peanut protein should not be introduced before the age of 2 to avoid allergy-- 10 mos seems ridiculous. ultimately, it is very important to have your pediatrician review your basic plan for food introduction to make sure everything is ok and consistent with current recommendations by the american academy of pediatrics. but, in general, i found that our pediatrician was a-ok with the basic plan (except the peanuts!)
Book Review: Great book for people who want all the details
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is excellent, but it's a little eccentric. I think the food charts (which foods to start when) and the general nutrition info (never really had to think about it before, but now that you're planning meals for someone else, it becomes very important) make the book worthwhile for anyone. One of the complaints from others here is that it is long-winded. It is a bit, but mostly it's slightly repetitive because she has a few points that are core to her, and also she is cross-referencing. It is easy to read, actually, but it is more like a story than a fact sheet. I think in this day and age, most people are looking for bullet points and pictures. I appreciated the details. I found myself going back and forth, jumping among chapters and pages, sometimes re-reading sections, so I liked the cross-referencing; meanwhile, some sections I never read. That's okay. It becomes quite obvious which are directly relevant, and which are less so, and one always has to read (anything) with a critical eye, as it applies to you. She spends a few chapters on how to make your own baby food; frankly, we didn't make our own baby food until recently when he could start eating food that was somewhat "normal". But those chapters were still useful because you learn a lot about handling food and spoilage and maximizing nutrition without sacrificing taste -- things that are important even later.
The thing that impressed me about the book is that, in my reading of it, she is someone who really has a gift for noticing all the details about how to feed her baby -- what works and why, how to save some time and money without compromising quality (actually improving it), how to integrate feeding into life and your baby's development, etc. We had great results by following her advice.
Book Review: Super Baby Food - Useful Tool!
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading a couple of reviews of this book, I decided to write my own (a first) because there are a few inaccuracies in some of the reviewers' problems with this book. This particular book was recommended to me from my pediatrician after the birth of my first child. As a new mom, I was clueless as to what and when to feed my baby. This book was one of my most useful tools to reference throughout my daughter's first year. I actually highlighted important facts and tips, which also helped me to ask the right questions during my chid's well-checks. The following were most helpful:
1. Easy to follow "Schedule of Food" during baby's first year
2. Simple month by month chapters on what baby could eat
3. Safety warnings and food allergies - Note: One reviewer wrote about peanuts, and introducing too quickly; however this book specifically states: "Be sure to get your physician's ok before introducing..." And, another reviewer spoke about the carrots, this book taught me NOT to make my own carrots under, "WARNING...In some parts of the country, these crops contain nitrates, and may cause a type of anemia..."
4. Loved all the easy to follow recipes
Yes, this book is a bit long, but also is chalked full of useful information. One deal killer might be the author's aversion to meat. If you're looking for ways to feed your baby a nice pureed beef meal, this book is probably not for you.
I've bought several copies of Super Baby Food to give as baby shower gifts to close friends and relatives. With this book, you don't have to go out and spend $100+ on a food puree system. This is pretty much all you need...with a blender and some ice-cube trays (BPA free, of course). I would highly recommend this book to anyone!
Book Review: Waste of time and money
Summary: 1 Stars
I so much regret buying this book. I was hoping to find diverse, healthy recipes to cook for my daughter when she started solids and we realized the jar food tasted horrible. I may repeat other reviewers but this book just so annoyed me, I had to put a warning out.
1) Worst Feature - completely disorganized and confusing, you have to keep going back and forth through chapters.
2) A lot of unnecessary stuff - she could have used 5 times less words, really. She gives countless tips on unrelated subjects and also gives instructions such as prepare the utensils you will be using. Really?
Who has time to waste when they not only have a kid, but try to cook fresh food for him/her?
3) There are no real recipes for small babies, but rather they are all for toddlers. Now, that in a book named "Super BABY foods". On the other hand, it has recipes for food in different shapes and colors to entertain your kids - well, who has time for that and weren't we supposed to tech them to eat good food, regardless of the taste & looks(as she herself boasts). For really great baby recipes I use "Top 100 Baby Purees" by A. Karmel
4) She is preaching all the time and is so full of herself, a self-proclaimed authority on any matter related to raising children. Parents don't need one more "authority" telling them what they absolutely must do in order not to ruin their kids' lives.
5) She goes to extremes such as meat is dangerous, only use organic/cage free, etc. While I do not eat meat I wanted to introduce some healthy meats to my daughter. Nowhere is it indicated that this is a vegetarian book.
I could go on and on, but I think that sums it up well. I would really advise friends to avoid this book.
Book Review: Good for a reference, but use your own instincts...
Summary: 3 Stars
I purchased this book on recommendation of my sister-in-laws who have all used it. I work full-time out of the home, continue to pump and nurse my baby, and desire to feed him as nutriciously and healthy as possible.
First off, the book is a jumbled mess. This woman appears to have no editor, and poor self-editing techniques. She includes so much information in such a poor format that it literally took me a month of reading and a stack of posty-notes before I had organized it the way I found it to be the most user-friendly. Upon the advice of several other women, I tabbed the areas I would need, and forgot about the rest.
The advice on when to start the certain foods, how to pick and cook them, and the section on super porridge are all I really use. I have "Baby Wised" my baby, and therefore do not agree that a child needs to be nursing 6 times a day, eating three full means, and eating snacks at 9 months old! That is ridiculous, and my son would never eat that much! He is at a healthy, chubby weight, and only nurses three times a day, two of which are combined with a food serving.
The point is, the book is good, but it isn't the Bible. Take the advice you need, and leave the rest (such as serving Peanut Butter before 1 year old!). My son hates jarred food, but I do try to serve it to him at least once a week for the occasional emergency that may arrise (i.e. flying out of town for a family death and didn't have the time or means to carry 4 days worth of frozen food with me).
Added bonus: While I'm purchasing and cooking fresh veggies for baby to eat, I've started to make more for hubby and I to eat! We've both become more healthy because we are feeding are baby homemade foods! :)