Feeding Your Child For Lifelong Health: Birth Through Age Six

Amazon.com
This book tastes great and it's good for you, too. Feeding Your Child for Lifelong Health: Birth Through Age Six is based on the principle of "metabolic programming," the scientifically rooted idea that foods eaten in early childhood directly affect the function of individual cells that control strength, intelligence, the immune system, and other vital functions. Think of it as a convoluted molecular take on the old maxim "You are what you eat." Genetics and other external factors also play a role, of course, but those factors are beyond our control. What goes on the dinner table, however, is not. The point of this book is to help parents teach their kids to like healthful foods, thus getting them into a lifelong habit of eating well and staying healthy.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

How the new science of "metabolic programming" can help you:

Maximize your baby's IQ and development

Prevent allergies and obesity

Prevent or cure picky eating

Teach your child to enjoy healthy foods

Protect against family health problems

AND make mealtimes a pleasure for you and your child!


In this groundbreaking book, two leading pediatric nutritionists—and experienced parents!—introduce exciting new research into "metabolic programming" and make it accessible and practical for every busy parent. They explain:

How the foods you choose can optimize your baby's future development, IQ bone strength, and immunity

The eight key nutrients to focus on

Scientifically based "smart strategies" for working with your child's inborn instincts to build healthy eating habits

Food solutions for common problems—including colic, constipation, poor sleep, and hyperactivity

How to prevent or deal with food allergies or obesity

Easy ways to adapt family meals for kids—with menus and portion sizes for every stage from birth through age six, plus essential tips for food safety

What's more, you can teach your child to enjoy these healthy foods and banish food battles and picky eating forever.

FROM THE CRITICS

Christine Gorman - TIME Online

Feeding Your Child for Lifelong Health should be required reading for anyone with children under age six....[it] has the smartest take I've ever seen on the importance of variety in healthy eating.

Christine Gorman - Time

Considering all the pseudoscientific mumbojumbo that passes for nutritionaladvice these days, I can't help being enthusiastic when a really good guidebased on solid research shows up in bookstores. And when the subject ofthat book is young children's nutritional needs--which are very differentfrom those of adults--you can bet I'm going to recommend it to every parentI know. I'm talking about Feeding Your Child for Lifelong Health (Bantam;$15.95) by Susan Roberts, a nutrition researcher at Tufts University inBoston, and Dr. Melvin Heyman, a pediatric gastroenterologist at theUniversity of California in San Francisco. Their book, which is availablestarting this week, should be required reading for anyone with childrenunder age six.

Even the most diligent parents are likely to learn something about feedingtheir kids. Paradoxically, as the authors explain, many families followingthe latest nutritionalguidelines may actually be putting their children's health at risk. Why?Because the reduced-fat, high-fiber diets that make sense for most adultsdon't have enough of thevitamins, minerals and other nutrients essential for growing bodies. "Withthe current emphasis on eating less red meat and fewer eggs, it's virtuallyimpossible for kids to eat abalanced diet," Roberts says. The two biggest gaps are iron and zinc. Kidsalso aren't getting the calcium they need, in part because they're drinkingmore soda and juice and lessmilk than kids did 20 years ago.

It's best to get these and other nutrients from food. But they're soimportant for proper development--even a short bout of mild anemia, forexample, can have permanenteffects on young brains--that Roberts and Heyman recommend dailysupplements (though not megavitamins) for kids at least up to age three.And no, they didn't take money from the vitamin companies to make thatrecommendation.

You're still going to find the emphasis on fruits and vegetables thatyou'll get in any good book on nutrition. But there's plenty of practicaladvice on how to make sure thatyour kids actually eat their peas rather than just shoving them aside. Onetip: you may have to serve two-year-olds a new food frequently--as often as15 times over severalmonths. As Roberts and Heyman explain, there's an evolutionary reason fortoddlers to be picky eaters: it cut down a tiny hunter-gatherer's chancesof food poisoning.Most important, don't trigger their natural rebelliousstreak by letting on that you think the food is good for them.

Feeding Your Child also has the smartest take I've ever seen on theimportance of variety in healthy eating. Government guidelines stress theconsumption of many different foods.But they never warn that this can work against you. Studies show that if aplate contains two types of cookies, for instance, you'll eat more than ifonly one kind is available.The same is true for vegetables. Roberts and Heyman advise parents that ifthey must keep cookies in the house, they should stick to one brand andsave the variety for healthierfoods. As with anything having to do with children, it takes a littleplanning and a lot of patience to make sure they eat right. But the resultsare worth it.

Publishers Weekly

Tufts nutrition professor Roberts and pediatrician Heyman offer their approach to childhood nutrition in a practical, easy-to-use guide suited for any parent with children under six years old. Pointing to the importance of "metabolic programming" (food's effect on intelligence, personality, immunity, strength, etc.), the authors argue that how a child eats is as important as what a child eats in preventing obesity, allergies and childhood cancers. Focusing on eight key nutrients (fat, fiber, calories, iron, calcium, zinc, folate, antioxidants) for optimal health, the authors offer a variety of age-specific sample menus and caloric requirements, height and weight charts, healthful recipes and answers to frequently asked nutrition questions. Roberts and Heyman dispel misconceptions (that supplements are unnecessary for young children and the possible false link between sugar and hyperactivity) and suggest what foods are to be avoided and why. Through the use of their age-appropriate, low-key behavioral techniques--which emphasize the importance of good parent role-modeling, on-demand feeding, the potential need to introduce unpopular foods repeatedly and the ability to use a child's natural eating instincts--the authors make pleasurable and healthy mealtimes for the family attainable. (Aug.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

A clear, up-to-date, practical guide to nutritional needs and issues from birth to age six; this is refreshingly free of hackneyed medical advice and conventional wisdom. Roberts brings to bear the fields of nutrition and psychiatry (which he teaches at Tufts); Heyman is a pediatric gastroenterologist. It's well worth the effort to start children off on the right nutritional foot, they say, according to the theory of "metabolic programming," i.e., "foods eaten in childhood can have lasting effects on the way your child's body grows and functions." Roberts and Heyman interweave their explanations of nutrient requirements for physical growth with what we know about the psychological and evolutionary basis of why children eat the way they do—thus providing a framework for creating realistic solutions when eating problems arise. The authors organize their material by age and development level, and then look at food solutions to common problems (how and when to increase the variety of foods, how to balance the nutritional needs of a family with parents in their 30s who have a 10-year-old, a 6-year-old, and a 2-month-old). A wealth of up-to-date information, coupled with innovative solutions to common problems.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

As a lifelong proponent of healthy living, I know that the earlier you start, the better off you are. In this solidly researched new book, the authors present an effective scientific program that puts kids on the right health track from day one. -- ( Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., author of The Aerobics Program for Total Well-Being)  — Kenneth H. Cooper

Heart disease begins in childhood--and so does a healthy way of eating. Feeding Your Child for Lifelong Health shows why it's never too early--or too late--to discover the power and joy of healthy nutrition. This book may save your child's life.-- ( Dean Ornish, M.D., author of Love & Survival and Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease ) — Dean Ornish

Drs. Roberts and Heyman meld the best of contemporary nutritional science with a wealth of practical experience. This book is for every new parent. -- ( Walter Willett, M.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health ) — Walter Willett

A very intelligent approach to the feeding of young children. -- ( T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., author of Touchpoints ) — T Berry Brazelton

Well-researched and thoroughly practical...Roberts and Heyman have a reassuring and sensible answer for every imaginable question. I wish their book had been available when my children were young. -- ( Marion Nestle, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, New York University ) — Marion Nestle

Excellent! The advice on how to encourage eating a variety of foods...is extremely positive. The age-specific recommendations, sample menus and recipes are a strong feature of the book. -- ( Connie M. Weaver, Ph.D., President, American Society of Nutritional Sciences ) — Connie M. Weaver

Timely and authoritative, this book delivers a highly innovative and easy-to-follow food guide for children's lifelong health.-- ( George L. Blackburn, M.D., Ph.D., Past President, American Society of Clinical Nutrition ) — George L. Blackburn

This remarkable book should be read by any parent interested in the latest guidance that nutrition science can provide. -- ( Rudolph L. Leibel, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons ) — Rudolph L. Leibel

Engaging and highly impressive...an absolutely first-rate piece of work. The sections on how to deal with toddlers' eating idiosyncrasies are delightful as well as informative. -- ( Peter J. Jones, Ph.D., Professor and Director, School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University ) — Peter J. Jones

A wealth of up-to-date information for parents. Even health professionals who want a quick reference on pediatric nutrition would find it a welcome addition to their library! -- ( Ann M. Coulston, M.S., R.D., Past President, The American Dietetic Association ) — Ann M. Coulston

I have not seen another publication anywhere in the world that addresses this field in such a way. This book is truly brilliant...meticulously anchored in the science of nutrition, infant and young child behavior and development, and completely up-to-date. It is also full of warm, humanely written practical applications and guidance...An excellent guide for pregnant mothers, parents, health workers, nutritionists, nurses, physicians, and pediatricians. -- ( Graeme A. Clugston, M.B., Ph.D., Director, Nutrition for Health and Development, World Health Organization ) — Graeme A. Clugston

At last a book that not only tells parents what their children need to eat but provides a realistic and reassuring approach to how to feed them. This is a book every parent will want to have on their bedside--or kitchen--table. -- ( Annie Pleschette Murphy, Editor-at-Large, Parents magazine ) — Annie P. Murphy

This book deserves to be read by every pregnant woman across America. It is a relief to find such evenhanded treatment of many controversial issues that trouble new parents and the practical, clearheaded guidance for every stage between birth and six years. -- ( Barbara J. Moore, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Shape Up America! ) — Barbara J. Moore

A 'how-to' with the science to back it up, this comprehensive, innovative book is a godsend to those who want children to be healthy and appropriately nourished, through each developmental stage. -- ( M. Edward Keenan, M.D., Past President, American Academy of Pediatrics ) — M. Edward Keenan

Feeding Your Child for Lifelong Health provides up-to-the-minute, scientifically sound, and easy-to-read answers to the ever-growing galaxy of nutrition questions facing the parents of young children. Don't leave the maternity ward without it.-- ( Bonnie Liebman, M.S., Director of Nutrition, Center for Science in the Public Interest ) — Bonnie Liebman