A Taste of Spring for You & Your Baby

Rounding out our celebration of National Nutrition Month, we are honored to have Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator and Registered Dietician Jodi Dalyai share with us some information on taste bud development in utero. Enjoy!

With Spring approaching, we finally get to move away from the winter nutrition staples of squash, cauliflower, apples and pears, and into the bounty that grows from now through the summer. This means our pregnant mamas out there can start to taste the fresh, local goodies becoming available in March and April, like apricots, asparagus, carrots, fennel, and chives.

These nutritious fruits and veggies can even be shared with your baby while in your womb. Over the past 10 years, research has illuminated the world your unborn baby experiences in utero, including the smells and tastes they are exposed to through your amniotic fluid. Studies have connected the exposure of foods in utero, to your child's possible improved acceptance of these foods after birth. Who doesn't want their 18 month old to dig asparagus? For more information on the what the research says about this topic, check out this study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

Ready to wake up your taste buds -- an your baby's -- this spring? Get out to the farmers market, try a new recipe, and have some tasty fun!

Here is a simple, delicious one my family enjoys-

Roasted Asparagus

• 2 bunches of asparagus
• 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pot for boiling water
• Baking sheet

Put a pot of water on to boil and set the oven to 375.

Clean the asparagus and cut off the tough ends.

Once the water is boiling, toss in asparagus and let boil for 1 min to blanch.

Take asparagus from boiling water, dry, and place on baking sheet.

Drizzle with olive oil and shake breadcrumbs on top.

Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes until ends are a bit crispy.

Enjoy!

Jodi Dalyai, MS, RD, LCCE, works in health education for a major healthcare provider. Whether teaching nutrition or prepared childbirth, working with eating disorder or diabetic patients, her goal is to provide people with the tools to live healthy. Jodi consults with wellness companies working in social media and created a training film for dietetic students.

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