I am beyond thrilled that tomorrow afternoon I’ll be speaking with Annabel Karmel, the best-selling author of seventeen books on baby and children’s food and nutrition! In addition to being excited, I’m also quite nervous and starstruck. After all, her books have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. I absolutely relied on the book Top 100 Baby Purees when I made Toddler Boy’s baby food and recommended it to anyone who would listen.
Annabel Karmel recently added three new books to her collection.
First Meals & More: Your Questions Answered is packed with expert advice and tips to help guide parents through every aspect of feeding their baby and toddler, form birth to age three.
In her third family cookbook, Cook It Together, Annabel focuses on 10 top ingredients that kids love and presents them in a whole new way. 
From juicy red apples to bright green broccoli trees, I Can Eat a Rainbow is a sumptuous, tabbed board book that shows preschoolers a beautiful rainbow of wonderful, healthy and delicious fruits and vegetables.
Here’s where you come in… what questions would YOU like answered? We’ll discuss every topic from from weaning a breastfeeding baby to picky toddlers to healthy eating as a family. Please leave a comment with a question you’d like me to ask Annabel when I speak with her tomorrow.
Win! I’m giving away ALL THREE of Annabel Karmel’s new books after the interview. Want some extra entries into that giveaway? (Of course you do!) Leave a question!
Hana
July 2, 2009Ok here is one we are struggling with.
How do you teach an overzealous 14 mos old to bite and chew her food and not swallow everything whole. I'm afraid to let her feed herself b/c she ALWAYS chokes b/c she crams in everything on her plate. I have to use the finger sweep to remove food at every meal. It scares me.
Hilary
July 2, 2009I have several questions for her.
While things have gotten a little easier, ore daughter was diagnosed with allergies to avacodo, dairy (the protein, not lactose), berries, eggs, and peanuts when she was 9 months old. That made feeding challanging, especially on the run. So my first question (for those who might be dealing with similar issues) is:
What are some foods (snacks, lunches…) that you would recomend taking with to the park, play dates, outings… Preferably things that don't require refrigeration. As well as meeting nutritional needs.
Now that our daughter is three we are down to peanuts (avoiding all nuts, as well as things processed in factories that process any nuts), and avacodo.
Q#2
When dealing with a child with sevre allergies what would you suggest to keep them from becoming too picky and afraid of trying new foods, even though there definatly needs to reservation for her.
Q#3
How would you recomend having parents include their children in the process of food preperation? At what age is it appropriate for them to start participating in the kitchen? With what things?
Q#4
What training and background do you have in nutrition and food preperation?
Q#5
What drives you to write these books and keep up your website?
Q#6
If you could share one piece of advice with us today what would it be?
Q#7
Have you considered writing a book on feeding the allergic child?
Thanks for offering this, I would LOVE to win this!
James, Andrea, and Clara Smith
July 2, 2009I'm with the first commenter. I really want to know those things–not just what the doctors say, but really what the newest and maybe most naturally minded evidence suggests. What foods do I start with? What will be easiest for her to digest after mother's milk?
The Shopping Mama
July 2, 2009Thanks for all the questions… Keep 'em coming!
mommytoo
July 3, 2009what are your thoughts about "junk" food at different ages? including things with sugar, processed foods, and things like french fries… do you favor the "everything in moderation" idea, or are you stick to whole foods, organic foods, etc, all the time?
Tara @ Feels like home
July 3, 2009I am totally jealous! I love Annabel Karmel! I have several of her books, and I can't wait to get my hands on Cook It Together.
I do have some questions for her.
First, the AAP has decided that it may not be necessary to withhold foods like nuts and eggs in order to prevent allergies. What does Annabel think about that?
Second, I was going to ask a question about healthy snacks for toddlers, but I see that it's already been asked.
Third, I'd like to know if Annabel has any suggestions for getting a toddler who's used to snacking a lot (at day care) to sit down and eat good food. My daughter would much prefer goldfish and teddy bear crackers to "real food," even for snacks. I'm not sure how to break that habit.
Thanks!
Kristen
July 3, 2009My 11-month old has recently discovered gravity and just about everything winds up on the floor. He's extremely picky as it is. He's never really liked being spoonfed and now he won't feed himself because he'd rather throw it and hear a plop!
What are your suggestions to getting some food in his belly rather than on the floor? Is this a phase that will soon pass? Help!
Kristen
July 3, 2009Another question: my 11-month old son had mild to moderate reflux as a young infant. He was breastfed exclusively for 6 months but due to the reflux, we had smaller, more frequent feedings (every 1.5 – 2 hours). We are still breastfeeding but have introduced many solid foods into his diet. I am finding that he can't really handle any more than 3 or 4 oz. of food at a sitting but he wants to breastfeed sometimes immediately after eating solids. We are breastfeeding about every 3 hours now.
Is there anything I can do to break this habit (we are going to start the weaning process in the next few months) or are we forever stuck in this pattern?
Sarah @ Mom Balance
July 3, 2009My kids eat so well through the baby stage, and then when they want to eat finger foods (and refuse being fed) it's so much harder to feed them healthy foods. I'd love some recommendations for healthy finger foods for toddlers.