FIRST BITES is a "cheat sheet" approach to introducing 50 superfoods into baby and toddler diets, with tips and recipes to show parents how to raise healthy eaters for life. FIRST BITES is the quick and easy reference guide that all parents can keep on hand to whip up tasty and nutritious meals for their babies and toddlers in no time. Recipes are designed to help to foster healthy eating habits and create a diet filled with 50 fresh, minimally processed superfoods that are just as delicious as they are healthy. In this book, fruit and veggies take center stage in new and exciting ways, yet parents will also learn to create healthy spins on classic kid favorites like mac and cheese, pizza, chicken fingers and cupcakes.   FIRST BITES offers all the tools parents need to turn the naturally healthy foods they have on hand into delectable breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks designed to encourage youngsters to become strong and healthy eaters for a lifetime. “White’s focus on the known 50 ­superfoods will get everyone off to a great start. Bon Appetit!” —Library Journal Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer, nutrition and fitness consultant, and mother to a 2-year old and a 4 year old. She specializes in culinary nutrition for children and adults, recipe development and sports nutrition.   Dana works closely with chefs and authors to develop creative and healthy recipes for cookbooks, magazines and menus. She is the nutrition expert for Food Network.com and founding contributor for Food Network’s Healthy Eats Blog. She has worked as nutrition consultant for Follow Productions on seasons 2 and 3 of Bobby Deen’s show Not My Mama’s Meals . She has worked as a media spokesperson for Cooking Light Magazine and has made appearances on Good Day Street Talk, Food Network.com, Access Hollywood and GMA Health . In October 2013, Dana was named to Sharecare’s list of Top 10 Social HealthMakers on Nutrition. Dana is an assistant clinical faculty member and sports dietitian at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Connecticut. She also conducts workshops and cooking demonstrations for fitness organizations and schools from preschool to college. Dana’s recipes and articles have been featured on Food Network.com, Cooking Light.com, Diet TV.com, VarsityParenting.com, Today’s Dietitian, SHAPE, SEVENTEEN, Maxim and Prevention magazine. She has created meal plans and recipes for books including Energy To Burn: The Ultimate Food and Nutrition Guide to Fuel Your Active Life (2009) ,  Tell Me What To Eat If I Am Trying To Conceive (2011), Extra Lean (2011) and Extra Lean Family (2012) by Mario Lopez. Introduction From the moment your child is born you want to give them the best of everything. Every parent wants to provide nutritious and delicious things for their little ones to eat; the tricky part is deciding which foods are best and how to prepare them in a realistic amount of time. With so much conflicting nutrition info out there, parents can (and do) drive themselves bonkers, trying to make healthy choices. By four to six months of age it is time to start introducing solids to your infant. From then on your goal should be to offer a wide variety of foods they will enjoy, while providing the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. However, many parents are often unsure of how to balance the right kinds of proteins, carbohydrates, healthy fats, and vitamins and minerals vital for proper growth and development. Plus, finding the time to prepare healthy meals can seem overwhelming, especially for new parents. Recent nutrition research has found that most children fail to meet the recommendations for important nutrients like calcium, vitamin D, protein, fiber, and iron. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, less than 50 percent of toddlers ages two to three consume the recommended daily amount of fruits and veggies. More surprising is a 2012 survey of parents that found that most had never received advice on feeding their toddlers. This lack of knowledge can have long-term effects on young growing bodies and minds. A study published in October 2013 discovered that poor nutrition during the first five years might also lead to behavioral problems. I created First Bites with health-conscious parents in mind. I hope you can use this book as a quick and easy reference guide that you can keep on hand to whip up tasty and nutritious meals in no time. Family-centric recipes featuring fifty astoundingly nutritious and delicious superfoods are designed to help foster healthy eating habits and create a diet filled with fresh, minimally processed foods that are just as delicious as they are healthy. In this book, fruit and veggies take center stage in new and exciting ways, yet you will also learn to create healthy spins on classic kid favorites like mac and cheese, pizza, chicken fingers, and cupcakes. • WHAT’S A SUPERFOOD? • “Superfood” is an abused term. Some