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Every parent wants to serve their toddler healthy food. But figuring out what’s healthy and what’s not can be tricky, especially when the rules feel like they are always changing! One ingredient that’s been getting a lot of press lately is a food dye called Red Dye 40, with some articles stating that it may lead to behavior problems in some toddlers. But is that really true?

How many times have you sat down to relax after your child goes to bed and realized you still had to pack their lunch? We’re here to make packing lunches for preschool or daycare a little less painful with some tips from our expert and pediatric dietitian Vanessa Thornton. She shares the easy-to-follow formula she uses when packing for her kids, as well as some healthy, no-cook options to add to your lunch rotation.

 In this Ask an Expert, we ask Vanessa Thornton, RD, CSP, a registered dietitian and Board-Certified Specialist in Pediatrics—and the instructor that leads our Nutrition classes—  what parents should (or shouldn’t!) do when their toddler won’t use utensils. Question: Help! My toddler only eats with their hands vs. using a utensil. What should I do? Vanessa’s Answer: Don’t panic! Learning to use utensils is a skill tha

By: Vanessa Thornton, Pediatric Dietician and Tinyhood Introducing Solids InstructorWhen your little one shows they are ready for starting solids, you’ll start feeding them “real food” more and more frequently until they are getting most of their nutrition from solid foods, like adults. This transition usually happens over a matter of months, sometimes longer, often leaving parents wondering how to balance breast milk or formula intake with solid foods. Here are some of the most-asked questions about milk intake and solids I get from parents, answered.  Q: Do Babies Drink Less Milk or Formula After Starting Sol

Think your little one is ready to start solids? If so, there are a few things you can do to get ready for the first feed — among those, is making sure you have the right products to make your baby’s feeding as successful as possible. So, we asked Vanessa Thornton MS, RD, a Certified Pediatric Registered Dietitian, and the expert that leads our Starting Solids class what she recommends for cups,<

Starting your baby on solids can be an exciting but overwhelming time, aside from knowing when they are ready, or what to feed them, you also have to make sure you have the right gear. From utensils to plates, bowls, and cups, there are some things to think about before buying your baby’s first set of dinnerware. So, we sat down with Vanessa Thornton, MS, RD, CSP, LDN, Regi

Whether you’re getting ready for your first feed, or are further into your solids journey, one thing is for certain: you need the right gear. From utensils to cups, plates and bowls, having the right items to support your child’s feeding journey is key. When it comes to cups, our expert, Vanessa Thornton, MS, RD, CSP, LDN, Registered Dietician & Board-Certified Speci

Whether you’re just starting out on your Baby Led Weaning journey, or looking for some new meal ideas to try, check out the list below for 21 Baby Led Weaning recipes you and your baby are sure to love. From various types of toasts to nutritious noodle dishes, these meal recipes will give you plenty of inspiration. 

If you’ve decided to start your baby on solids using Baby Led Weaning (BLW), but aren’t sure where to start, look no further. Below we’ll go through some of the basics of Baby Led weaning and the best first baby led weaning foods to start with. First, let’s quickly talk about the right time to start introducing solid foods to your baby. The official recommendation from AAP is 6 months of age. But remember, every baby is different so make sure you talk to your healthcare provider first. You never want to introduce solid food before 4 months of age, and always wait unt

Does it seem like your baby might be ready to have their first taste of solid food? Congrats! That first feed is such a fun milestone for both parent and child. Along with breaking out the camera, we asked our pediatric nutritionist, Vanessa, for a few pro tips to help get you prepared. Here are her top suggestions, five easy ways to ensure you are both set up for success and that you are helping baby establish a healthy relationship with food, right from the start. 

There’s generally one aspect to starting solids that makes a parent’s heart beat just a little faster… allergens. After all, no parent wants to feel like they are putting their child in life-threatening danger, and especially not with the food they’re putting on their plate. But introducing allergens is a crucial part of the solids process, and you can take some of the anxiety away by knowing you are introducing each allergen as safely as possible.

1. Wait, what’s going on? Maybe you’ve seen some articles with intense headlines regarding toxic baby food. In November, Congress investigated claims of high levels of heavy metals in baby foods and released a report last week. It included some scary findings about the levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead andmercury in processed baby foods sold by certain brands.  

As baby’s first Thanksgiving rolls around, you are probably excited to include your newest family member in all the holiday festivities. And what does Thanksgiving involve? Lots and lots of eating! For those families still getting the hang of solids, we asked our expert Pediatric Nutritionist to give you some tips for how to safely include your baby in the Thanksgiving feast.Before we jump into what foods to serve and some ways to serve them, let’s cover a few solid food basics. 

Fact: parents of tiny humans have zero time. Somehow, between eating, sleeping, and pooping, babies manage to consume every hour of the day. Activities that you used to take for granted like showering and having an adult conversation about something other than the baby become luxuries on par with a trip to the spa. In those crazy first months (who are we kidding, years), preparing healthy food for the grown-ups in your family can be one of the first things to fall by the wayside. You’re tired. You’re distracted. You’re focused on feeding your little one - not yourself. Pizza to the rescue. While I’m

In the first post of our Meal Planning 101 series, Why Meal Planning Will Save Your Sanity, I shared why meal planning is so beneficial (saves time and money while boosting health) and what, exactly, healthy meals and snacks look like. Today, let’s get into the “how” of planning your meals: This is the fun part: where your great intentions about eating h

As a new parent, the idea of starting your baby on solid foods can be exciting, daunting, or a little bit of both. For every cute picture on Instagram of a chubby baby with a big smile and a face full of peas, there is a new article in your feed with “updated guidelines” on when and how to introduce solids. It can seem overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be.