What are the basic principles of early childhood nutrition?
« Common sense first of all, trying to respect, as far as possible, the times and inclinations of the child. No to improvisations and experiments, but let yourself be guided by accredited sources. Growing and feeding a child is a natural act, but it remains essential to follow the guidelines that science provides".
What ingredients are never missing in your kitchen?
«In general, spices and herbs . Then fruit – agreeing with my grandmother who said that, without fruit, the house seems sadder and more empty – legumes of all kinds and vegetables . Of course, respecting the seasons. Now, for example, there is no lack of Tropea spring onions, fresh beans and peas, beets, strawberries, medlars... All things that my daughter loves too».
Is it better to experiment or stick to simple menus that are easy for children to accept? 
«The diet is beautiful because it is varied. For me it is important to let my daughter discover many new flavors and foods , rich in different nutrients (even those foods that are normally considered unsuitable for children). But I'm talking about an advanced stage of weaning: at the beginning, as paediatricians recommend, it's good to gradually introduce new foods to check if they create allergies ».
How important is play in the kitchen to bring little ones closer to the discovery of food, well-being and taste at the table?
Do you have any strategies to share with readers? «The game is a tool of knowledge. With play, children are more inclined to eat everything because they know what's on their plate. As far as possible, I recommend cooking in the presence of children and, as they grow up, involving them in the preparations. It will also be an excellent educational and emotional gym for them: they will learn numbers, words, actions and they will feel more responsible when you tell them to knead the ingredients of their pizza. Sara is now my helper, her curiosity is always alive, and she wants to get her hands dirty and taste everything. To get children involved, for example, one can place the shopping together, gradually repeating the name of each thing, or use the food in learning games: in teaching the various colours, we can associate them with foods and then explain that beetroot and the orange carrot we will use to prepare a delicious porridge that we will all eat together. And this is precisely my 'rule': eat all together, if possible, and never leave the child alone at the table. Also, try to have all the same or similar things on your plate to entice him: "Look, even mum and dad eat what you eat". If the parents are serene at the table, the children will be too».
Your cuisine is mostly vegan, even in the case of children. Can you tell us how it works and how deficiencies can be avoided, especially in such a delicate phase of development?
«It works as for any type of feeding for children: never improvise but start from the indications of a good pediatrician you trust. Then, remember that a certain amount of nutrients must be guaranteed, as for an omnivorous diet. Only the foods that contain them change: the proteins will be in the legumes , which once weaning has started will have to be present both at lunch and dinner, the fats in the oil and in the oilseeds, such as almonds and sesame. A food that I immediately added to baby food, and which I still use, is tahini , the sesame cream: it is surprising to know that 100 grams contain three times the iron content present in 100 grams of beef, and even three times the amount of calcium in 100 milliliters of milk. With the right knowledge and awareness, the vegan diet goes well from birth, without resulting in deficiencies and indeed bringing many benefits. This is not my opinion, but the result of scientific studies and WHO indications. The only necessary integration is vitamin B12 (in drops), which is not present in foods of plant origin in a way that can be assimilated by our body. First of all, however, once you have decided not to let your children eat certain foods, it is essential to ask your trusted pediatrician for directions ».
Discover the recipes on Alessia's blog--> Law in the kitchen - We are what we eat
Taken from the magazine Nascere Mamma | by Sara Lanfranchini | Photo Alessia Aloe
