The Baby Steps Dietitian

Being a Food Allergy Mom Is…

By Diana K. Rice May 16, 2019

It’s Food Allergy Awareness Week. I know, I know. Another awareness week. What are you supposed to be donating to now, you might ask. But now that I’ve spent a year as an active member of the food allergy community myself, I can guarantee you that families with food allergies…

Self-Care Soup (White Bean and Veggie)

Dairy-Free Lunch Postpartum Health Recipes Self-Care

By Diana K. Rice May 02, 2019

I cooked all the time pre-children. Every weekend, I’d make a batch of soup and divide it into individual servings for lunches I could take to work. And almost every night, I’d make a home-cooked meal to enjoy with my husband. But now? Ha. Ha ha ha. Do not get…

My Child’s Food Allergy Feels Like the World’s Biggest Mom Fail

Food Allergies Self-Care

By Diana K. Rice Mar 05, 2019

I used to be chipper about introducing allergens. “It’s important to introduce the top allergens early and often!” I would tell my clients. “Early introduction is our best defense against the development of food allergies.” I’m a pediatric dietitian and I teach classes on starting solids. I had used the…

Chocolate Sunflower Spread (Nut-Free Nutella)

Cooking with Kids Dessert Food Allergies Snack

By Diana K. Rice Feb 05, 2019

Happy World Nutella Day, friends! As a dietitian, I’m a big believer that all foods fit and that definitely includes a spoonful of Nutella straight from the jar…ahem, I mean on whole grain toast…from time to time. Except when your child is allergic to hazelnuts, that is. I felt a…

Cranberry Apple Pepita Muffins

Breakfast Food Allergies Recipes Snack

By Diana K. Rice Dec 19, 2018

Here’s the thing about holiday cooking. There’s so much focus on the dishes for the main event, it’s really easy to forget that you have a house full of people who also need to eat other times of the day. Sure, cereal for breakfast makes things easier. But what I…

Eco-Friendly Teal Pumpkin Project Treats

Food Allergies General

By Diana K. Rice Oct 15, 2018

The experience of Halloween for food-allergic children has really transformed over the past couple of years. Since The Teal Pumpkin Project officially launched in 2014, food-allergic kids can safely trick-or-treat for non-food items at thousands of homes all over the country. To participate, simply stock up on some non-food treats…

Homemade Sunflower Seed Butter

Cooking with Kids Food Allergies Recipes

By Diana K. Rice Sep 21, 2018

Like most little kids, my toddler loves peanut butter. In fact, she often eats a peanut butter sandwich for breakfast! But because her sister now has allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, that peanut butter had to go. Even though my toddler isn’t allergic herself, I’m uncomfortable with having any…

Sunflower Seed Basil Pesto

Food Allergies Recipes

By Diana K. Rice Sep 10, 2018

My daughter’s newly diagnosed peanut and tree nut allergies have brought some big changes to my kitchen. For one, I’ve purged every bag of nuts, every jar of nut butter and every bag of nut meal. No more walnuts in my Rainy Day Chocolate Chip Cookies and no more almond…

How I Became an Allergy Mom

Food Allergies Starting Solids Toddler Feeding

By Diana K. Rice Aug 31, 2018

My 13-month-old daughter was recently diagnosed with peanut and tree nut allergies. Here’s our story. One of the first things friends and family ask when I mention Baby L’s recently diagnosed allergies is how we found out. My head is still reeling from all this, but I’ll do my best…

Making Time for Kids in the Kitchen

Cooking with Kids Dairy-Free Recipes Toddler Feeding

By Diana K. Rice Aug 20, 2018

I am all about taking shortcuts in the kitchen. Give me pre-chopped vegetables, one-pot meals and simple side dishes, please. I used to love puttering about and exploring new recipes, but now that I’m a parent, I just don’t have time. One of my favorite easy and healthy meals is…

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Postpartum Health

Breast and Bottle Feeding

Starting Solids

Toddler Feeding

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