Introducing your baby to real food takes time. Fortunately, there is no need to rush, In fact, going slowly gives your baby a chance to develop a taste for different types of food, and in the long run enables her to make healthier food choices.

There is an enormous selection of fresh, natural food that your little one can eat, but there are also several foods that are not good for babies. Here is a list of many of the foods that you should avoid:

Foods with sugar, salt and caffeine as a main ingredient – Avoid introduction as long as possible: As a general rule, foods containing high amount of these ingredients, usually do not contain much nutritional value and are not very healthy. Read the rest »

Kids can show Mom she’s #1 with this recipe for Love Triangles- perfect for a Mother’s Day breakfast-in-bed surprise!

Check out the May issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray, on newsstands April 15th, for this spin on a classic Monte Cristo for an easy and thoughtful Mommy’s Day munchie, or an anytime ‘wich! Read the rest »

Many believe that the gemstone garnet got its name from the pomegranate. The tiny arils of this fruit resemble the garnet’s deep-red color and shape. This recipe mixes the deep-red arils into cottage cheese creating the look of garnets buried in a blanket of snow. Try this simple dish for breakfast. The jewel and snow filling can also be spread onto graham crackers or celery sticks for a crunchy after school snack or meal time side dish. Read the rest »

This easy spin on chicken tacos from the April issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray will please kids and parents alike!

Chicken Taco Patties
Servings: 4

It’s easy to control the heat on these babies – just serve the jalapenos, taco sauce and extra onion on the side! Read the rest »

Granola can be great tasting hippie food, but buyer beware. On one side, some of the packaged brands cram a lot of unfamiliar flavors in the mix. While these ingredients are often healthy, the flavors can be tough to swallow for kids. On the flip side, the more mainstream brands cram a lot sugar and artificial ingredients into their products which put them on par with the nutritional value of a candy bar. Sticking to basic ingredients is the trick.

Simple flavors – oatmeal, pecans and cranberries baked with natural goodness. This recipe is so simple, that homemade granola may soon become a staple in your house for breakfasts and snacks! Best Granola Ever is perfect for family members 3-99 years old. Read the rest »

Make your child’s next birthday party REALLY BIG! In the March issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray, you’ll find recipes, games and even a play list to make your child’s birthday one for the record books – starting with a 7 inch JUMBO Cupcake!

On the Menu: Jumbo Cupcake, Big Broccoli, Humungo Hamburger, Macho Nachos, Mega Milkshake (see recipes below)

Game On! Play these easy party games: Read the rest »

A Clever Parents reader tipped us off to this fabulous find: Fabkins, the brainchild of two friends and moms who wanted to offer kids a fun and easy way to be a part of saving the environment.

Joyce Raffo and Paige Rodgers had a hard time finding cloth napkins that weren’t too formal or too big for their childrens’ lunchboxes, so they created super cute cloth napkins with fun embroidered designs to make lunchboxes fun and paper-free! Read the rest »