Review: Healthy Food for Healthy Kids: An A-Z of Nutritional Know-How for the Well-Fed Family by Bridget Swinney

As the mother of a toddler, I sometimes have trouble coming up with new and fun foods that my son will eat. . . and that are healthy. This book has given me all-new recipes as well as tricks for getting kids to eat more vegetables!

The book starts out with "The Parents' Ten Commandments of Healthy Eating," which I found to be entertaining, refreshing and oh-so-true with commandments like "Thou shalt not force or bribe thy child to eat," which the author then explains. Bridget Swinney has included great information like getting your child to help with meals (showing a chart with ages and suggested jobs, p.9), she talks extensively about nutrition and great foods to include in your diet, as well as tooth-friendly foods (and MUCH more). The book contains a wealth of information and tips on a multitude of topics pertinent to the nutrition and health of infants and toddlers (including childhood obesity, heart health, dental health, etc), as well as sample menus and over 100 recipes. One of my favorite breakfast suggestions was a healthy Bread Pudding with peaches!

Content: The book contains two main sections, which encompass a total of 21 chapters. (Part 1: The Whys and How-Tos of Healthy Eating) : The Parents' Ten Commandments of Healthy Eating, Eating Habits and Good Health, Establishing Healthy Habits, Just the Facts, Food Allergies and Intolerances, Vegetarian Eating, Dental Health, Food Safety. (Part 2: Feeding Your Child) : Breastfeeding and Bottlefeeding, Feeding Your Baby, Feeding Your Toddler and Preschooler, Feeding Your School-Age Child, Complete Menus for All Occasions, Vegetables, Fruits, Grains, Dairy, Protein, Fun Snacks for Home and School, Eating Out, Convenience Foods.

The book also contains an Introduction, References, Recommended Resources, Index and Recipe Index.

Format: The book is very user-friendly, with small indexes in the front of chapters that contain recipes. The recipes also contain nutritional information, and Bridget Swinney does a good job of explaining nutritional labels.

Readability: An easy-to-read, and easy-to-use book. It includes both a book index, and a recipe index.

Overall: I loved the fact that this book covers so many different areas pertaining to nutrition and health, not just foods and recipes. As a parent, I am glad I understand a little more about the why's and how's of nutrition and my toddler's eating habits/needs. This is a great resource.


Healthy Food For Healthy Kids: An A-Z of Nutritional Know-How for the Well-Fed Family
by Bridget Swinney
Pages: 380
Meadowbrook; 1 edition (September 1, 1999) ~ 380 pages
Non-Fiction / Parenting / Nutrition

Edition Reviewed: Paperback - many thanks to the publisher for sending me a copy to review!

About Healthy Food For Healthy Kids: (From Amazon)

How to get your kids to eat right and enjoy it!

Hear is a guide preparing healthy meals your kids will love to eat. It tells you how to teach your children healthy eating habits and shares hints and recipes for happy mealtimes.

This practical book, written by a mom who is also a registered dietitian, offers advice on:

Breastfeeding when going back to work;
Shopping smart and setting up a healthy, kid-friendly kitchen;
Developing healthy eating habits now that can prevent heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis later;
Managing food safety, food allergies, and vegetarian eating;
Dealing with food jags and food battles;
Sneaking veggies into your kids' meals in a way they'll love.
It also provides over 100 kid-tested recipes that include complete nutrition analyses.

About the Author: Bridget Swinney (From Amazon)

Bridget Swinney has a master of science degree in nutrition and is a registered dietitian. She has appeared on “The Today Show,” the TV Food Network, and “Fox on Family.” She is the author of Eating Expectantly and Healthy Food for Healthy Kids, has written for American Baby Magazine, and serves as an expert advisor on iParenting.com and babycenter.com. She lives in Texas, with her husband and two children.

*Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate. If you happen to make any purchases on Amazon by clicking through a link from Wendi's Book Corner, I will receive a very small percentage of the sale, which will then go toward my wish listed books. :)