Good for You: A Clever Solution for Feeding Your Children

You know that Americans don’t eat well. You know that childhood obesity and diabetes are national problems. You know that healthy eating doesn’t mean bland, boring food. You know that you want your child to be healthy and fit. But do you know what the best foods are for mental development for an 18 month old? Do you know where to keep up to date with the latest dietary research? If you answered ‘yes’ to the first four questions and ‘no’ to the last two, you’re not alone. Fortunately, though, you are not out of luck thanks to Christina Schmidt.

Christina, who has a Masters in Nutrition, had been fascinated for years with how nutrients in foods naturally protect bodies from attacks of infection and disease and in what form these nutrients are best absorbed. As she entered into her graduate work to focus on how to best help people to arm themselves nutritionally against sicknesses such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, and diabetes, she felt strongly that these diseases were in part linked to a lifelong diet of poor nutrition.

“It was clear to me as I continued my studies,” says Christina, “that not only was the time between pre-pregnancy and a child’s first 3 years crucial to development, but also that the modern Western diet was undermining a healthy future for our children. I wanted to make an impact on these developmental years on a broad level, and I knew based on my sister’s and friends’ confusion regarding healthy foods for their babies, that they did not have access to this vital information.”

Her solution to this problem is the Baby Bistro Box and the Toddler Bistro Box. Each box is a self-contained nutritional plan that offers the how, what, and when to feed children all organized in short, digestible bites on 4×6 cards. The cards are organized like a restaurant “bistro style” menu by baby’s age and stage. Parents can refer to whatever section is relative to their needs.

Clever Parents caught up with Christina to find out the most common nutritional fears that parents have about their babies, the best ‘brain foods’ and great on-the-go healthy snack picks for toddlers.

Clever Parents: What are the most common fears that parents have about their babies and toddlers with regards to nutrition?
BBB: When to start feeding; feeding them the wrong things and thus “ruining” their babies; whether they are getting enough of the right nutrients; how to feed an underweight baby and how to prevent overweight problems.

Clever Parents: What are the best ‘brain foods’ for babies?
BBB: Anything with DHA. This is an omega 3 fatty acid vital to brain and retinal development. It is mostly found in cold water fish with lesser amounts in poultry and fortified eggs. I suggest all pregnant and breastfeeding moms take a supplement and also give their babies a supplement if they are not eating much fish. The best fish sources are wild salmon (fresh or canned), herring, trout, and halibut. We want to avoid fish with high mercury levels such as shark, tuna (canned, light skipjack tuna is OK 1-2 times a month), tilefish, king mackerel and swordfish. Grains such as oatmeal, rice, millet, quinoa, and amaranth are great complex carbohydrates and also important for proper brain and neural functioning.

Clever Parents: What are the top 10 foods that you recommend parents feed their children
regularly?
BBB: The answer to this question can vary according to dietary preferences and allergies however in general I suggest the following: Sweet potato; spinach; wild salmon; broccoli; cantaloupe or mango; milk/yogurt or calcium and vitamin D fortified dairy alternative; red bell peppers; blueberries (if over one year old); eggs; oatmeal or multigrain cereals.

Clever Parents: What food should parents avoid feeding their children?
BBB: Basically any food where the top 3 ingredients are sugar, salt and saturated fat and the rest of the ingredients look like a foreign language. French fries, candy, soda, juice, donuts, pastries and fried meats are among the top no no’s. There are also foods to avoid in the first year to protect babies from the immergence of food allergies.

Clever Parents: What’s your favorite on-the-go healthy snack pick for a toddler?
BBB: It is hard to just say one, I like to offer choices, and toddlers like to have options as well. Among my favorites are string cheese; carrot sticks; red bell pepper strips; plain cheerios; frozen peas; 1 or 2 whole grain fig “Newtons;” and cantaloupe chunks.

Want to buy the Baby Bistro Box or Toddler Bistro Box? Buy them here.

About the Baby Bistro Brands Family

“Baby Bistro Brands reflects the wisdom and education of four generations of my family.”

Christina – M.S., Nutrition Educator

Gretchen – B.A., teacher, sister and mother

Peter – Professional photographer, advisor, brother

Susan – B.A., teacher, mother and grandmother

Lois – B.A., teacher, grandmother and great-grandmother, whose baby spoon inspired our logo

Visit Baby Bistro Brands at www.babybistrobrands.com

Have a question for Christina? Send it to bbb@cleverparents.com