Are you interested in raising plant-based eaters? From babies and toddlers to kids of all ages, prepping plant-based meals and snacks requires a bit of planning and plotting, but the payoff is a family table brimming with fruits, veggies, beans, tofu, and other plant-based foods. Joining me on today's podcast is Alex Caspero, dietitian, mom, and co-founder of Plant-Based Juniors---better known as, PBJs. She’s sharing lots of tips and words of wisdom about the food choices that exist today. 

 

Show Highlights:

 

• Alex’s background, her website, and her life in St. Louis with her husband and toddler son
• When Alex was pregnant, she looked for a one-stop website with the information she needed about a plant-based lifestyle, but couldn’t find it
• How PBJ was created with Whitney English to help other moms who are in the same boat that Whitney and Alex were as new moms
• How to tap into the PBJ community via the website, Instagram, and YouTube
• Why the term “plant-based” is more fitting than “vegetarian” or “vegan”
• The benefits of plant-based eating include lower rates of chronic diseases and higher intake of antioxidants
• The “A plant on every plate” platform
• How Alex’s e-book, Plant-Based Juniors: First Bites, is all about introducing a baby to solid food, with high-iron and baby-led weaning appropriate recipes
• Tofu Frittata Cups--a versatile recipe that works with any vegetables; think of it as baby’s first omelet!
• Why adding a source of vitamin C to a plant-based iron source (beans, lentils, quinoa, tofu, and broccoli) will increase iron absorption by 4-6 times
• Why zinc is vital for red blood cell development and immunity, especially in infants
• Plant-based calcium sources include fortified plant-based milk, broccoli, oranges, beans, tofu, tahini, and almond butter
• Why pea milk and soy milk are top plant-based milk choices--because of their higher fat content
• Why a plant-based diet for infants and toddlers should include more fat than you might think
• Two family favorites for Alex: Tofu Marinara Sticks and Cinnamon Sweet Potato Sticks
• Why coconut oil should be used occasionally and is ideal for baking and roasting
• How plant-based eaters can get sufficient omega 3 fatty acids from nuts and seeds
• Why DHA supplementation is recommended in infancy and pregnancy; it’s plentiful in fatty fish and algae
• How baby-led weaning can reduce the likelihood of having a picky eater
• Alex’s favorite go-to family dinners: Lentil Tacos and Pasta with veggies
• Details about the e-book, First Bites: the nutrition primer to raise your infant or start solid foods in a plant-based way (20 recipes included!)
• Details about the e-book, The Predominantly Plant-Based Pregnancy Guide: the primer with everything you need to know about a plant-based pregnancy (175 pages!)
• The #1 question from parents about plant-based eating for juniors is about which milk is best

 

Giveaway: We are giving away of a copy of the awesome new e-book, Plant-Based Juniors: First Bites. Starting solids can be intimidating, so Alex and co-author, Whitney English, demystify the process. The e-book provides a primer on baby-led weaning, tackles nutrients of concern for plant-based babies including iron, calcium, and omega-3 fats, and serves up 20 colorful and nourishing baby-led weaning recipes, all designed for plant-based eaters. To enter for a chance to win (retail value: $12.99), tell me about your baby's favorite first food and/or why you've decided to go plant-based with your baby or toddler. Giveaway ends on Wednesday, September 11th at noon ET.

 

Resources and Links:

The Lentil Tacos recipe on Delish Knowledge 

https://www.delishknowledge.com/lentil-tacos/

 

Predominantly Plant-Based Pregnancy Guide

https://plantbasedjuniors.lpages.co/pregnancy-guide-full/#call-to-action 

 

Plant-Based Juniors: First Bites

https://plantbasedjuniors.com/firstbites/

 

Alex on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delishknowledge/

Whitney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneyerd/ 

PBJs on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantbasedjuniors/

www.plantbasedjuniors.com 

www.superhealthykids.com

www.parentsondemand.com