Feeding the Whole Family: Whole Foods Recipes for Babies, Young Children & Their Parents

Rating:
Summary: A good addition to your whole foods cookbooks
Review: I agree with some other reviewers, that Cynthia Lair makes a good start but neglects many important whole foods such as yogurt, kefir, free-range beef, wild salmon, etc. The main dishes focus way too heavily on grains, with chicken being the only meat, and seldom, at that. There are some great recipes for adding more veggies to your diet. While the recipes aren't super easy, they're not very difficult, either. As far as the recipes being adapatable for babies, the only comments she makes are to puree some vegetables and grains during the cooking process and set them aside for baby. Most babies graduate from pureed foods in a matter of weeks and begin to prefer finger foods. Her information on why to breastfeed and avoid commercial baby foods and supplements is EXCELLENT, however.

For me, the best part of this book was the dessert section. I have an incurable sweet tooth (that I'm trying to cure). When I began eating whole foods, I cut WAY back on sweets, but I still crave a treat now and then. She gives excellent advice on how to convert your favorite dessert recipes to whole foods by substituting bananas, dates, honey, etc. for the sugar and whole-wheat flour for all-purpose flour. There are also quite a few whole-foods dessert recipes included like cake, cookies, brownies, etc.

The beginning of the book outlines good reasons for switching to whole foods. Unfortunately, she places too much trust in the "food pyramid" promoted by the USDA and encourages a low-fat diet. Many whole foods are naturally high in fat, full of vitamins, and intended to complement the whole foods that are naturally low in fat. She does write, however, that her book is only a starting point and each family needs to do their own research into the healthiest foods for their family. An excellent point.

This book is a good addition to your library of whole foods cookbooks, but please don't let it be your only one. In addition, I recommend "Whole Foods for the Whole Family," "Nourishing Traditions," and "The Maker's Diet."

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Summary: Vegetarian equals Whole Foods????????
Review: I bought this cookbook after a friend brought leftover Asian Noodle Salad (p. 104) for her lunch one day and it smelled sooooo good. Went home and made it myself that very day. My husband always told me he didn't like leafy greens, beets, most squash, etc., but he has greeted every dish I've made from this book with ENTHUSIASM!! I've been using this cookbook for over a year now, practically daily. I no longer shy away from the bulk-food section of the grocery store, I love learning how to use lots of different grains and beans in YUMMY ways, and best of all our two very young children enjoy the dishes as well. Three cheers for Cynthia Lair!! PS. I've given away many copies of this book, and buy it for every pregnant woman I know.

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Summary: A Staple Cookbook for our Family. EXCELLENT!!!
Review: I bought this cookbook after a friend brought leftover Asian Noodle Salad (p. 104) for her lunch one day and it smelled sooooo good. Went home and made it myself that very day. My husband always told me he didn't like leafy greens, beets, most squash, etc., but he has greeted every dish I've made from this book with ENTHUSIASM!! I've been using this cookbook for over a year now, practically daily. I no longer shy away from the bulk-food section of the grocery store, I love learning how to use lots of different grains and beans in YUMMY ways, and best of all our two very young children enjoy the dishes as well. Three cheers for Cynthia Lair!! PS. I've given away many copies of this book, and buy it for every pregnant woman I know.

Rating:
Summary: The best cookbook I own!
Review: I first discovered this book at my local La Leche League group library and I was so wowed! I immediately ordered this book from Amazon last year and I have used it more than any of my over 30 cookbooks combined. The book is just wonderful, full of delicious healthy recipies that the whole family will enjoy. I like that there is an index that describes some foods that you might find different and tells you where to find them although non of the ingredients are so exotic that they can't be found in a good health food store or regular grocery store. The recipies are also tailored at the end for babies and toddlers and there are lots of hints on healthy eating at the beggining. Cynthia Lair knows her stuff, and the best part is that the "Whole Family" loves the recipies which really is the best indication of a good cookbook. You will love this!

Rating:
Summary: The Whole Family Loves This Food!
Review: I took a chance buying this cookbook without knowing anything about it. The recipes are excellent! My entire family loves the meals I've made so far. I haven't come across a dud recipe yet! Healthy and Highly recommended!

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Summary: Was recommended by Veganmom and it is not Vegan
Review: I was a little disappointed to find out this book was not vegan. It was recommended by Veganmom and the fact that it was a whole foods cookbook made it seem like it was Vegan. Nonhuman animal flesh is not a whole food unless you are planning on eating the skin, hair, feathers or scales and every other part of the animal. This is not a true whole foods cookbook. I actually purchased it for my sister who is raising my nephew a vegan she seems to like it. If you do not mind the mention of dairy, eggs, and nonhuman animal flesh it's O. K. I personally would not have bought it had I know it contained recipes with nonhuman animals in them. I just wanted to warn the prospective buyer that is mislead into purchasing this book on the pretense that it is a true whole foods cookbook.

Rating:
Summary: Was recommended by Veganmom and it is not Vegan
Review: I was a little disappointed to find out this book was not vegan. It was recommended by Veganmom and the fact that it was a whole foods cookbook made it seem like it was Vegan. Nonhuman animal flesh is not a whole food unless you are planning on eating the skin, hair, feathers or scales and every other part of the animal. This is not a true whole foods cookbook. I actually purchased it for my sister who is raising my nephew a vegan she seems to like it. If you do not mind the mention of dairy, eggs, and nonhuman animal flesh it's O. K. I personally would not have bought it had I know it contained recipes with nonhuman animals in them. I just wanted to warn the prospective buyer that is mislead into purchasing this book on the pretense that it is a true whole foods cookbook.

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Cookbook
Review: I was given this book as a gift when our first child was born. As older parents, my husband and I had already established some pretty stubborn eating habits, but this book is helping us out of those bad patterns. I was skeptical at first, because many "whole food" cookbooks have a strident, humorless tone. These recipes are delicious, easy to follow, and not too time consuming, the book is informative and encouraging, and most importantly, I felt that I was getting good advice from another mom. Our 1 year old loves his veggies and fruits, and this book is helping me to feed him healthfully. Thank you, Cynthia! We love this book.

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Cookbook
Review: I was given this book as a gift when our first child was born. As older parents, my husband and I had already established some pretty stubborn eating habits, but this book is helping us out of those bad patterns. I was skeptical at first, because many "whole food" cookbooks have a strident, humorless tone. These recipes are delicious, easy to follow, and not too time consuming, the book is informative and encouraging, and most importantly, I felt that I was getting good advice from another mom. Our 1 year old loves his veggies and fruits, and this book is helping me to feed him healthfully. Thank you, Cynthia! We love this book.

Rating:
Summary: An absolute must for your vegetarian or wholefood kitchen!
Review: In the 18 months I have been using this cookbook, it has always given me excellent meals and valuable cooking tips. It is the perfect cookbook for the experienced wholefood cook or for a person, especially a parent, wanting to begin experimenting with the health-sustaining wholefood diet. The author even includes at the bottom of each recipe ways to adapt the food for a 'new eater' so parents don't have to cook separate meals for each member of the family.

Also, particularly helpful is her chapter on healthy lunches, which gives great ideas for packable wholefoods - usually a daunting task in these days of take-out/fastfood. The cooking tips throughout the book and her glossary at the back include extremely helpful and often hard to find information which helps make wholefoods less intimidating and much tastier. This cookbook and Annemarie Colbin's cookbooks (The Natural Gourmet and Book of Wholemeals) are my constant kitchen references