NICOLE M. AVENA, PhD, is the mother of two daughters; a research neuroscientist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City; an expert in the fields of nutrition, diet, and addiction; and the author of
What to Eat When You're Pregnant and coauthor of
Why Diets Fail. She received a PhD in neuroscience and psychology from Princeton University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in molecular biology at The Rockefeller University in New York City. Her research has been featured in
Shape, Men's Health, Glamour, Details, Women's Health, Prevention, National Geographic, Time Magazine for Kids, and many others and she regularly appears on television, including
The Dr. Oz Show, The Doctors, the Hallmark Channel, and
Good Day NY. She makes public speaking appearances throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. Dr. Avena has written extensively on topics related to food, addiction, obesity, and eating disorders, and she writes the
Food Junkie blog for
Psychology Today and also blogs for
Huffington Post.
“This smart and easy guide for new parents on how to navigate through feeding a new baby and toddler is a great resource for getting your child off to a healthy start in life.”
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-Mark Hyman, MD, director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine and #1
New York Times best-selling author of
Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? "Specific nutritional information and straightforward, fun-to-eat recipes make this a great primer for new parents."
--Library Journal “The field of nutritional science, like parenting, is filled with many who think they’re experts and give plenty of advice but often lack the credentials to do so. And when it comes to feeding your baby, the stakes are high. This is where Dr. Avena steps in: she is a true expert in the field of nutritional science with a scientist’s mind and a mother’s heart. This book is a must-read for any parent who cares about good nutrition!”
--Jennifer Ashton, MD, MA, ob-gyn, nutritionist, and chief medical correspondent for ABC News
“What a fantastic resource for new parents! If you want to give your baby the best opportunity to grow and develop, this book makes it very easy to navigate the confusing world of feeding, while giving you the confidence to know you are providing your little love with the best possible start to life.”
--Tina Muir, professional runner, mom, and founder of Running for Real
“
What to Feed your Baby and Toddler is a welcome and hype-free resource for caregivers who crave a practical guide to healthy eating. Health coaches like me recognize that establishing good eating habits from an early age helps little ones develop healthy food preferences that can last a lifetime. Dr. Avena’s book also showcases wholesome recipes that can be enjoyed by the whole family—they are as delicious as they are nutritious.
What to Feed your Baby and Toddler offers guidance backed by science and real-world experience, encouraging parents to approach the family table with confidence and joy.”
--Karen K. Nathan, certified health and wellness coach
“A well-written book with excellent information on nutritious, healthy, and delicious food for babies and toddlers.”
--Karin Knight, author of
The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet “It is never too early to start eating healthy. Dr. Avena gives the science-based advice that all new parents need on how to ensure their new baby is getting the best nutrition and developing healthy eating habits from the beginning.”
--Dr. Chris Ochner, PhD, CEO of MindFigure Consulting
“Dr. Nicole Avena is a leading expert on nutrition and neuroscience. In
What to Feed Your Baby and Toddler, she takes her expertise outside of the laboratory to help you understand what nutrients your growing baby needs for optimal neurodevelopment and how to get foods packed with these nutrients into your child's diet. The recipes included will be a hit with the whole family!”
--Dr. Alexis Conason, psychologist
“Dr. Avena has done it again with
What to Feed Your Baby and Toddler. As with her last book,
What to Eat When You’re Pregnant, this is a supremely practical guide toward developing a child’s healthy palette that will hopefully last a lifetime. Dr. Avena’s scientific background and engaging tone makes this a joy to read!”
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-Alexandra Destler, EdM, founder and executive director of SafetyNEST
“In the ever-changing landscape of trends, myths, and ideas in infant nutrition, Dr. Avena provides solid, scientifically-based information and advice to parents. This book doesn’t stop there--it moves one step further by providing simple and delicious recipes based on current knowledge of what is best, and not best, for infants and toddlers.”
--Dr. Alycia Halladay, chief science officer at the Autism Science Foundation
“Mounting evidence supports the crucial role that early nutrition plays in a baby’s growth and development. Dr. Avena’s newest book,
What to Feed Your Baby and Toddler, not only provides parents with a comprehensive guide about
which foods to feed their new baby and
why, but also features delicious and easy-to-prepare recipes that any baby or toddler is sure to love. In addition, this book dives into the importance of a healthy food environment, how to handle potentially stressful eating situations, and what to do if your child is a picky eater. This all-inclusive book should be read by any new parent who wants to optimize their baby’s health and instill good eating habits from the beginning!”
--Kristen Criscitelli, MS, RD, CDN
“Thank goodness for this book. Dr. Avena cuts through the confusion and delusion of media to present solid, groundbreaking advice about how to feed babies and toddlers in their first two years of growth. Dr. Avena is a first-class scientist in the field of harmful processed foods. Her skill at evaluating research and bridging it to practical and beneficial use is readily apparent in the structure of the advice. I would strongly recommend this book to parents.
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Joan Ifland, PhD, editor of
Processed Food Addiction: Foundations, Assessment, and Recovery “Dr. Nicole Avena has done it again! A timely and innovative book every parent must read,
What to Feed Your Baby and Toddler brings together current scientific and medical information gleaned from credible medical societies and research in combination with sensible parenting recommendations for feeding a baby/toddler today. Addressing the bottle/breast debate, over/under feeding, transitioning to solids, GMOs, feeding and behavioral disorders, and developmental milestones in babies’ lives, this book provides a vital link to how food impacts long-term health and food preference, always keeping safety in mind. Useful charts on vitamin function, where to find them naturally in foods, and baby/toddler-friendly recipes are cleverly laid out in easy-to-read charts even the most sleep deprived parent can follow.”
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Adrienne Stevens, EdD, founder/president of Performing Health
“Getting children to enjoy healthy foods can be a challenge, but Dr. Avena’s science-based strategies help parents understand
why kids need good nutrition and
how to encourage them to like healthy foods from the very start."
--Anna Chapman, MD, co-founder of Green Beetz
Praise for What to Eat When You're Pregnant: "In this smart and easy-to-follow guide, Dr. Nicole M. Avena tells moms-to-be how to give their babies a healthy start by eating foods that support baby's development and keep mom feeling nourished and satisfied." --Mark Hyman, MD, author of the #1 New York Times best-seller
The Blood Sugar Solution and director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine
