We don’t always talk about the “bebés” (said in a Moira Rose accent) on here, but I wanted to highlight some nourishing first food options. These can be presented in a variety of different ways. - Avocado can be offered to your baby as a slice with maybe some hemp seeds or nutritional yeast as a grip. If you are choosing the purée/mashed route, you could easily mash avocado into a purée, like guacamole. - Beans or lentils can be provided cooked as-is as long as you baby has a pincher grasp down. I do recommend pinching them to flatten them to provide more surface area for your baby to grab. Y ..read more

Now you might be thinking, “wait a second… you want my kid to play with food?” Yup! That is the goal. As silly as that may sound. Playing is how kids learn, they are tiny scientists. They are constantly exploring their environment, learning new textures, and conducting experiments. Typically science experiments may include things like: “what will the dog do if I drop my food?” well, look at it more like: “What happens if I squish this grape?” Studies have show that the more your child interacts with food, the more likely it is that they will eat it! In fact, it can take 15 to 20 exposures for ..read more

Protein-rich foods have been prioritized by parents for a very long time — and with good reason! Protein is an important part of a balanced diet. Protein is important because it is in almost every part of our body. Protein breaks down into components called amino acids, and those amino acids make up bone, muscle, skin, blood, enzymes, hormones, and so much more! Parents of picky eaters or kids who have sensory needs come ask important questions about meat and protein: “How much protein does my child need? Are they getting enough? Help! They won't eat meat!" Eating meat can be difficult for man ..read more

October is ADHD Awareness Month! Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in childhood. If your kiddo has been diagnosed with this condition, you are not alone! According to the CDC, there are about 6.1 million children in the United States diagnosed with ADHD. There is no single cause of ADHD, but it is believed that the root cause is due to poorly functioning attention and impulse control within the brain. Several factors may influence ADHD development. These include nutrient deficiencies in utero or early childhood, exposures to environmen ..read more

This is a blog post written for Renzo's Vitamins. All thoughts and opinions are my own! Are you concerned about your kiddo’s nutrition? Are you sick of the mealtime battles and the “one more bite” pleads? Do you wish mealtimes could be a bit more peaceful? If you said yes to most of these questions, chances are you most likely have a picky eater at home. And... you came to the right place! I’m Danielle, a pediatric registered dietitian and picky eater expert. I am so excited to be joining forces with Renzo’s to help more families and their picky eaters learn to love food (or.. at least try fo ..read more

Parents want to do what’s best for their children and I often hear: “what should I feed my kids?” You as a parent or caregiver are responsible for what you are feeding your kids and when food is served, but your kids are responsible for deciding if they are going to eat, and if so, how much or what on the plate they are going to eat. So – how do you do your part? What should you actually feed your kids? I am going to teach you a general plan for creating healthy meals, and I promise – it’s not as daunting as it seems. I’ll cover: - Serving Sizes - Main Components - Protein options and benefit ..read more

Studies show that kids who have earlier exposure to nutrition and cooking eat healthier. They have lower incidences of hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and obesity later in life, tend to cook more on their own as they grow older, and are more confident in the kitchen. Exposure is key for picky eaters! Allowing kids to help out in the kitchen at a young age teaches valuable skills and confidence to eventually allow them to cook on their own. It also gives valuable exposure to different colors, textures, and smells! It’s important to choose a time to let the kids practice cooking with you when ..read more