The Plant-Based Baby and Toddler: Your Complete Feeding Guide for the First 3 Years

by Alexandra Caspero MA RDN, Whitney English MS RDN

Overview

An accessible guide for vegan, vegetarian, or veg-curious parents from the dietitian duo behind online community Plant-Based Juniors®—includes a bonus chapter on feeding infants up to six months!

More of us are turning to plant-focused diets for our health and the health of the environment. But there haven't been reliable, evidence-based resources out there for a new generation of compassionate, conscientious parents—until now. The Plant-Based Baby and Toddler is your go-to resource, offering easy-to-digest nutritional facts and guidelines that aren't available elsewhere, with a special focus on the most important period of a child's life when it comes to developing good eating habits: infancy and toddlerhood.

Whitney and Alex discuss:

 • the PB3 plate: a visual guide to structuring meals that are nutritionally balanced—1/3 fruits and vegetables; 1/3 legumes, nuts and seeds; and 1/3 grains and starches—and easy to adapt for the entire family
 • how to meet needs for critical nutrients such as iron
 • a primer on both traditional purees and the baby-led weaning/feeding approach
 • strategies for dealing with challenges such as picky eaters
 • sorting fact from fiction when it comes to nondairy milks and other substitutes
 • 50+ plant-based recipes created specifically for stages from first bites to age three
As dietitians and moms, Whitney and Alex pored over nutrition journals and called on the experts to learn how to provide their babies with the best diet possible. They found that plant-based diets are associated with a reduced risk of obesity, decreased cholesterol levels, and increased fruit and vegetable intake; in short, not only are they safe for kids, they're pretty freaking awesome.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593192115
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/18/2021
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	633,064
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Alexandra Caspero, MA, RD, RYT, is a registered dietitian nutritionist with more than ten years' experience counseling on plant-based diets and sports nutrition. Her award-winning website, Delish Knowledge, makes whole-food, plant-based eating deliciously simple. She is the author of Fresh Italian Cooking for the New Generation, which features 100+ predominantly plant-based Italian recipes.

Whitney English Tabaie, MS, RDN, CPT, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and journalist who has reported in the health and wellness space for more than ten years. Her website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms, Whitney E. RD, provide readers with evidence-based, easily digestible information on popular nutrition topics and healthy original recipes.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Plant-Based Nutrition for Plant-Based Babies and Toddlers 11

1 Calories

2 Macronutrients

3 Micronutrients

4 A Word on Supplements

The PB3 Plate 45

1 The PB3 Plate

2 Meal Planning 101

3 Safe Food Storage

4 PB3 Plate Examples

5 PBJ-Approved Snack Combos

6 Frequently Asked Feeding Questions

First Sips (0-6 Months) 78

1 Feeding Baby Basics

2 Breastfeeding

3 Formula Feeding

4 Common Questions and Challenges

First Bites (6-12 Months) 103

1 Starting Solids: Baby-Led Feeding versus a Traditional Approach

2 Benefits of Baby-Led Weaning

3 Baby-Led Weaning 101

4 A Traditional Feeding Approach

5 Nutrition from 6 to 12 Months

6 Portion Sizes and Feeding Guidelines

7 Food Allergies

8 Sample Feeding Schedules

9 Common Questions and Challenges

The Independent Eater (1-3 Years) 139

1 Cow's Milk and Alternatives

2 Nutrient Considerations in the Second Year

3 Picky Eating: What's Normal, What's Not?

4 Common Questions and Challenges

5 Sample Feeding Schedules

The Plant-Based Toddler and Beyond 165

1 How to Introduce Sweets and Treats in a Healthy Way

2 Support for Your Feeding Choices

3 The Plant-Based Toddler On the Go

4 The Family Table

5 Common Questions and Challenges

6 Conclusion

Plant-Based Recipes for Infants and Toddlers 189

1 Purees and Mashes for Little Mouths

2 Baby-Led Weaning: Finger Foods for 6+ months

3 Smoothies and Breakfast: Nutritious Foods to Fuel Your Morning

4 Toddler Snacks and Lunches

5 Family Dinners

Handouts and Resources 285

1 Nutrients of Importance: RDA Quick Guide

2 Create Your Own Supplement Regimen (tear-out)

3 The PB3 Plate (tear-out)

4 PB3 Plate How-Tos and Staples

5 Average Nutrient Composition of Breast Milk

6 Common Foods for Baby-Led Weaning

7 Sample Meal Plans

8 PBJ's Favorite Feeding Products

9 PBJ's Favorite Food Products

Additional Reading 301

Acknowledgments 303

Notes 305

Index 323

Editorial Reviews

"While never too late to invite the great advantages of lifestyle as medicine into our lives, the earlier the better. In this thorough, thoughtful, careful, engaging, and altogether delightful book, Whitney and Alexandra provide everything needed to make optimal diet a birthright—to the benefit of mother, baby, and family alike. The balanced, evidence-based guidance here should be a standard of prenatal care."—David L. Katz, MD, MPH; past president, American College of Lifestyle Medicine

"Let’s face it: feeding little ones is a challenge... and confusing! I wish The Plant-Based Baby and Toddler was around when my kids were little because I had endless questions. I love that Alex and Whitney share the answers to oodles of baby and toddler feeding questions (including some I didn’t even know I had), in a warm and non-judgmental way, while offering a variety of choices for parents’ unique needs. Packed with fun recipes like Cheezy Broccoli Trees and Red Lentil Pizza Strips, along with nutritional information, FAQs, tips, and a plant-based plate visualizer, you’ll feel empowered and confident while navigating nutrition choices for your little ones. Even though my kids are now school-age, we’ve already marked a bunch of fun recipes to cook together."—Angela Liddon, New York Times bestselling author of The Oh She Glows Cookbook

"An absolutely essential read for anyone wanting to feed their little ones a plant-based diet. With a thoughtful layout from building your baby’s first plate to sample feeding schedules for toddlers, this book prepares you for the whole journey. The authors, both RDNs, equip you with trusted guidelines for how to adequately present meals to your baby and toddlers, with clever reference materials like the Nutrients of Importance quick guide. Before you go, you’re left with yummy and approachable recipes to get you started, like Pumpkin Oat Cookie Drops and Tex-Mex Millet Meatballs. I can’t wait to learn more—and dig in!"—Ali Maffucci, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Inspiralized

"Learn how to build healthy meals, ensure your little ones are getting the nutrition they need, and how to deal with picky eaters."—Julie Relevant, 17 Best Books About Kids' Nutrition and Healthy Eating

"I know when I started out with Skye that there were no books - I was absolutely blown away actually that I could not find a book on this topic. It is the only book that I have found that is good on that topic and it is amazing so if any parents are listening or potential parents are listening I genuinely think that if this is what you would like to do with your children then you need it.” - Ella Mills, founder of Deliciously Ella

"Any mothers or fathers that have young children or who are expecting, or if you know parents that are having babies, you'll want to get this book. It truly is the definitive guide-book and you can rest assured that your babies and toddlers are getting everything they need. What a gift. What a gift to give to your baby and your toddler that will last a lifetime.”—Rip Esselstyn, founder of Engine 2 and national bestselling author of The Engine 2 Diet

From the Publisher