Viviane Farag- Baby & Toddler Nutrition Guide

I created this Instagram page to share my knowledge about the power of real food when starting solids. Little did I know that this passion project would evolve into a fulfilling career. After almost 2 years of documenting Rain’s starting solids journey, I am finally releasing my family cookbook that I’ve been working on for quite a while “Real Good, Real Food” the Family Cookbook. At the heart of this cookbook is the belief, and what I know to be true, that foods should be restoring, healing, regenerating, and promoting top-tier health—not what most foods are today, which is deteriorating health Real Good, Real Food is filled with 145+ nutrient-dense recipes for babies, toddlers, and the whole entire family. I poured my heart into creating these recipes because I believe every mom and every parent can benefit from what’s inside and learn essential cooking skills and traditional practices that can benefit your family for a lifetime. Comment “cookbook” and I’ll send you the link to this new family cookbook!

Hi beautiful people! It’s lovely to see all the new faces here on my page. I realized that I never properly introduced myself, so let’s take a moment to do that. I’m Viviane, a mom to a lively and loving toddler and a certified holistic nutrition consultant specializing in postpartum and baby nutrition. Ever since high school, I’ve been absolutely obsessed with health-and I really think that’s the correct word to use. I would drag my friends to the health store and spend hours researching and experimenting with different diets and supplements. Seriously, the health store was like my personal heaven. It always felt like a magical space to me 😀 anybody else feel like that about health stores? When I was around 16 years old, I discovered the keto diet and I was hooked. I followed it for two years STRAIGHT and experienced so many benefits with this way of eating. I had so much energy, my teenage acne cleared up, I was not craving sugar anymore and I woke up feeling refreshed every day. It was great for me and honestly made me realize that fats are not the enemy, but rather a source of nourishment and vitality. I even started writing meal plans for my friends and family… completely unqualified. 😅 Over the years, I kept exploring different foods and listened to my body to figure out what makes me feel my best. Ive even done a 8 day water fast before (just drinking water and no food) as a means of detoxing. I’ve done a ton of research and read a lot of books. The answer after years of research and experimenting…. a diet RICH in animal foods, plenty of eggs, and healthy carbs like sourdough, root veggies, and fruit is what truly fuels me. When I became pregnant, my mission was to make sure that everything I put into my body would benefit my precious baby. I wanted to give her the best possible start in life as I knew I had so much control. I was eating about 6 eggs a day during my pregnancy and that’s why she’s so clever ;) Now, I want to share my knowledge and help as many mothers as possible. It’s a beautiful thing, being able to nourish our bodies and our babies with real food. It just feels so right

🤯Most people just shun dairy completely once there’s a reaction and categorize it as an inflammatory food. 🌰🥜This is one reason why nut milks have become so popular. Nut milks are not the answer ❌ First things first: 👀⚠️If your baby is reacting to dairy products, it’s a sign of leaky gut (a condition where the lining of the gut becomes damaged, causing tiny gaps or “leaks” between the cells, allowing undigested food particles, toxins, and harmful bacteria to enter the bloodstream). 🤔 The source of conventional dairy matters. Many cows are confined, lack sunlight and grass, and live short, abusive lives. 💉 They’re fed GMOs and glyphosate-treated grains, and are often given antibiotics and synthetic growth hormones to boost milk production. 😔 Combine poor-quality dairy with leaky gut, and it’s NO WONDER symptoms are showing up. What you can do: 👉🏼Remove poor-quality dairy and replace it with high-quality, cleaner options like raw milk . But only if you do this 👇 👉🏼Repair the gut’s tight junctions that are causing the reaction (you can do this with amino acids from meat stock to support tissue repair). Do this for a minimum of 4 weeks. 👉🏼Introduce ghee first to rule out a reaction, then move on to butter, followed by kefir, cream, or yogurt (fermented for 24 hours to remove lactose and maximize probiotics). Higher-fat dairy is often better tolerated. 👉🏼If there’s a reaction, return to gut-building foods like meat stock, probiotics, animal foods and fats to support healing. 🍲💚 Why is this so powerful?
Because raw milk + 24-hour ferment = gut-healing magic! !! You won’t believe the difference. 🔎 starting solids??? 
In my Starting Solids Guide, you’ll get: 
📅 A complete food timeline (6-8, 8-10, 10-12 months, and beyond!)
🍲 Gut-healing, nutrient-dense recipes
🧠 Brain & gut-boosting meal ideas for optimal development
🧀 Step-by-step guide to introducing dairy the right way (and avoiding reactions!) 🥛 24 fermented raw dairy recipes like kefir cream, kefir, 24 h yogurt & more
👶 30+ recipes to nourish your baby from day one Comment “solids” for the link!!

🍼 🙂‍↕️I always tell mamas that replicating the nutritional properties of breast milk in a baby’s first foods is crucial. Breast milk has essential micronutrients, fats, antibodies, and beneficial bacteria that support the development of a strong immune system and a healthy gut. 🍲 As babies transition to solid foods, their digestive systems and immune responses are still maturing. 🌴 💪 Some foods help build on the protective foundation established by breast milk, promoting resilience as they grow. BUT some foods are counterproductive and hinder this process, such as: ❌ Rice cereal- Babies can’t digest grains at this early stage because they don’t yet produce the enzyme amylase to break it down. Rice cereal can lead to leaky gut and feed harmful bacteria. ❌ Pasteurized cow’s milk- irritates the gut lining and can cause inflammation. It also displaces nutrients from mama’s milk (or formula), which is unnecessary at this young age. ❌ Oatmeal- contains compounds that block mineral absorption (just like rice cereal). It’s often treated with glyphosate, a harmful pesticide that disrupts your baby’s gut health. ❌ Raw Vegetables- cook veggies to mush in meat stock😀 this breaks down tough fibers, adds minerals and specific amino acids to regenerate the gut wall, making them easier to digest and letting your baby’s digestive system do less work so they can access nutrients more easily. 💥 Meat stock + mushy veg + coconut oil/lard = a Nutritional Powerhouse for your baby’s growth! In my Starting Solids Guide, you’ll find: 1️⃣ A detailed food introduction timeline (6-8, 8-10, 10-12 months, and beyond) 2️⃣ How to prepare easy-to-digest, nutrient-dense meals using traditional foods 3️⃣ Recipes incorporating meat stock and healthy fats for optimal brain and immune development 4️⃣ Tips for introducing animal-based foods to support your baby’s nutritional needs 5️⃣ 30+ age-specific recipes to nourish your baby from day one! Comment “solids” for the link!!

🤣 Ohhh how times have changed. I’ve been there—choosing snacks that you think are healthy but don’t actually fuel the body. “Yeah, but they’re gluten-free!”
“Clara, it’s fine! get them, they have beets in it!”
“But I got them from the health store, and they’re shaped like cute little bunnies, and they’re ORGANIC!” 🐰 👋 I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t matter. They’re low in minerals, protein, and healthy fats, and they all spike blood sugar, lead to crashes, and trigger cortisol (the stress hormone) Normally, we have a steady daily cortisol rhythm that helps us have a good sleep at night, have good energy levels during the day, and feel alert in the morning.  But with a steady supply of starchy/carb rich snacks. kids are thrown into a constant metabolic rollercoaster every day, which is exhausting. Too much cortisol causes: * Mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, trouble sleeping 😖 * Tantrums, crashes when hungry, difficulty waking up 🛌 * Chronic illness, low immune function 😔 The fix? Butter and steak or other healthy fats and high-quality protein! Return those organic bunnies to whole foods and tell them to do better. Fats and protein stabilize blood sugar and balance cortisol. I promise that if you switch to this snacking protocol, you’ll see big changes in mood, behavior, and health. If your child craves a ton of sugar/carbs, their blood sugar levels are probably dysregulated. UP the healthy fats and protein. This will heal blood sugar dysregulation and help them crave real food. 🍳🥑 👩 And mama, if you’re breastfeeding, elevated cortisol in breastfeeding moms can transfer into milk. So eat your 🧈!

🫙 🍼Plastic is everywhere, and while I always recommend using glass bottles, containers, and Tupperware, sometimes it’s simply unavoidable all the time. But here’s what you can do—you can give your baby the GIFT of fermented foods! Do you offer your baby yogurt, kefir, or sauerkraut? You should! ✨ Lactobacillus acidophilus (found in yogurt) can reduce BPA levels by 82% 
✨ Kefir probiotics can combat oxidative damage from microplastics, absorbing and binding BPA to their cell walls, preventing it from entering the bloodstream, and helping to remove it completely from the body. 🙌 
✨ Lactobacillus reuteri, found in brines and fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented pickles, and even cheese, completely degrades BPA (it breaks it down in their digestive system) 🦠 Yup!! Healthy bacteria can act as your baby’s natural detoxifier, binding to, breaking down, and flushing BPA out of their system. ❓New here? I share why adding fermented foods in your baby’s diet is key to building a healthy, diverse gut microbiome that boosts immune function, aids digestion, supports nutrient absorption, and supports healthy brain function through the gut-brain connection. 💪I’m passionate about real, traditional, ancestral, and nutrient-dense foods as the foundation for raising a healthy, resilient child. 🙋‍♀️👋Follow @eat2flourish for more info and education on baby and toddler nutrition

🌾🍎 Rice cereal, oatmeal, and fruits and vegetables (or focusing solely on them) are really not the best approach when starting solids. Why? Because by around 6 months, your baby’s body needs more nutrients and calories to fuel the rapid growth of their muscles, bones, and organs. This should not be taken lightly 🧠 Your baby’s brain grows to 80% of its adult size by age 3! Proper nutrition and certain nutrients are key for brain development and affect your baby’s ability to learn, socialize and play. Yes, fats are one of them (which is why we eat a lot of butter and yes, the nutrients they absorb now will have effects In the long run 🍼 The first 1,000 days are VITAL for setting up a robust microbiome. Your baby is relying on a beneficial cohort of organisms and the development of a strong gut wall that will support your baby’s gut-brain axis and protect your baby from prevalent health conditions. Let me help you with a different approach: 🍳 Introduce only nutrient-dense foods (babies’ tummies are small, so don’t waste precious space on foods their bodies can’t fully digest or absorb nutrients from). 🚫 Avoid processed foods and refined grains (these harm good gut bacteria and cause imbalances). 🥩 Focus on easy-to-digest foods (this helps your baby’s developing digestive system thrive and allows them to truly benefit from the nutrition you provide). The path to a thriving child begins with animal-foods that have stood the test of time. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents love the simple tips in the guide that remove the guesswork from food introduction, helping babies thrive! 💥 BLACK FRIDAY SALE ALERT! 💥
In my Starting Solids Guide, youll find: 1. A detailed food introduction timeline (6-8, 8-10, 10-12 months, and beyond) 2. Tips on preparing sacred, traditional superfoods that pack a nutritional punch 3. Nutrient-dense, easy to digest recipes and purees for optimal brain, immune, and gut health 4. How to meet your baby’s growing nutritional needs with real, traditional animal foods 5. 30+ age-specific recipes (and more!) to nourish your baby from day one 🥣💚 Want the link and a special discount?
Comment “solids” !!

🥩🍖Here are some great options for healthy pre-packaged snacks that you can find in-store or online. They have clean ingredients, are guilt-free, and some are even nutrient-dense (like the meat products). If your child loves poor-quality processed foods like chips, candy, and cookies, it’s likely they always want more. 🤯 These foods are DESIGNED to be addictive (thanks to MSG, refined sugars, seed oils etc.). 😳🍬 Is this your child? 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️

👍🏼👍🏼Meet them where they’re at and swap out the processed junk for “better-for-you” options. As long as the shift moves towards healthier, whole foods, these better packaged options can serve as a bridge to real, ancestral eating. 📦 We prefer not to rely on packaged foods, even the healthier ones, too often. 🧑‍🍳 We love making good, whole foods from scratch. 🥇 🍳 But as more people become health-conscious, it’s great to see options on the market that are actually considered healthy!
 If you’re ready to cook from scratch and master your kitchen like a pro—creating traditional, real ancestral foods for your baby, child, or whole family—check out my cookbook! 📚✨
 Here’s what’s inside: 1. Tips for a better quality, more nutrient-dense diet
2.145+ recipes for babies, toddlers, and the whole family, inspired by traditional, ancestral foods 🍲
3.Every recipe contains a superfood to optimize health (like liver or bone marrow) 
4.Traditional ways to nourish your child that will resonate on a deep level 💖
5.Recipes that build optimal brain, immune and digestive health These time-tested, nutrient-dense recipes will give your child the best chance for optimal health. 
 Comment “cookbook” and I’ll send it to you! 📩

Comment “Bars” for my discount code for carnivore bars! (Grass-fed beef, tallow and redmond salt meal replacement bars—they’re awesome!!)

‼️✨ Bone broth isn’t the best choice when starting solids because your baby’s gut lining is still developing and it’s one of the first defenses they have to protect against harmful bacteria, toxins, and other gut stressors. 
Bone broth can actually be irritating to a developing gut! 🕒 The long cooking time breaks down proteins, releasing glutamic acid, which turns into glutamate—an excitotoxin. This can overstimulate nerve cells, causing brain inflammation and digestive stress. In babies, whose gut lining is still developing (a vital protective layer), this can be especially problematic. ⚡ Histamines are naturally occurring compounds that are higher in bone broth due to its long cooking time, which can overwhelm their system. 🍖 Meat stock is made by simmering meat (with or without bones) and connective tissues, for a shorter time (2-4 hours) 🔍 Meat stock is less harsh, digestively complex and easier to digest
💪 Contains higher levels of collagen, gelatin, and amino acids
🛠️ Helps repair and strengthen the gut lining
📉 It’s lower in glutamates and histamines
💚 Provides “body-ready” vitamins and minerals 🥄 Gentle, nutrient-rich foods that support gut health are so essential at this stage. 👉 Comment “meat stock” for my FREE meat stock guide! 
👉 Comment “solids” for the link to my starting solids guide that will give you: 
🍽️ A food introduction timeline (6-8 months, 8-10 months, 10-12 months, and beyond!)
🥄 Help your baby meet their nutrient needs with real, traditional ancestral foods, just like meat stock!
📚 30+ recipes for each stage, and SO much more! 🍴💚

❄️🧊Here are some traditional food staples that we like to have in our deep freezer at all times!! 🥩 🧆🍲These foods will allow you to render animal fats (lard and tallow), make nourishing stews, create meat stock, prepare nutrient-dense meat purées (for babies), and have ready-to-use meat for quick meals from the freezer! * Chicken feet for meat stock * Homemade meat stock in mason jars * Fish roe in silicone ice cube trays * T-bone or another cut of steak * Chicken wings/thighs/legs or whole chickens * Liver/heart/tongue or other organ meats * Beef suet to make tallow * Cubed pork fat to make lard * Pork/beef meaty soup bones and trotters for meat stock * Cuts like ribs, oxtail, lamb shank, or legs (whatever we can get)
 What else would you add to this list?
 The path to a healthy and thriving child begins with animal foods.
 Confused, lost, have no idea how to cook these foods? Let me help you nourish your family with real, nutrient-dense foods. 

The path to a healthy and thriving child begins with animal foods 🚨🚨Huge sale alert 🚨 🚨 My cookbook is on sale right now!! It will provide you with: 1. Tips for a higher-quality, more nutrient-dense diet 2. 145+ nutrient-dense recipes for babies, toddlers, and the whole family—rooted in traditional, real, ancestral foods 3. Every recipe contains a superfood that provides optimal nutrition for resilient health and function 4. Traditional methods to nourish your child that will resonate deeply 5. Recipes that support optimal brain, immune, and digestive function These time-tested, nutrient-dense recipes give your child the best odds for lifelong health. 🗣️📢Comment “cookbook” and I’ll send you a link! Hurry! I’m turning the sale off in 24 hours ⏱️

NUFF said! They always knew that nourishment came from the earth, not from a box.

🧠 ⚡️ Your baby’s brain reaches 80% of adult size in the first 3 years 🎣 Using sacred foods like this can improve your baby’s odds in favour of their brain development. 👋 I’ve seen it—time and time again, I started giving it to Rain when she was 7 months old and I already see what a powerful effect it’s had on her brain’s ability to function, learn, and speak. 🥘 Food is so much more powerful then we are led to believe ⛽️ The right nutrients, like DHA in fish eggs, provide FUEL for brain cells. 🏔️ Traditional cultures carried dried fish roe hundreds of miles to their mountain villages to provide their babies with this nutrient-dense food. 🗣️ This speaks volume!! To compare—fish only has 1-3 percent in phospholipid form 
I freeze fish roe in silicone trays, then thaw a cube 30 minutes before serving. Let your baby practice the pincer grasp or mix with avocado if needed. 🇺🇸 For US-based, try Vital Choice for high-quality roe. DHA:
 - Supports cognitive function, memory, and neural connections. - Promotes healthy eye development and visual acuity. - Aids in myelination for better motor skills and coordination. - Helps regulate inflammation and supports immune health. - Linked to improved focus, language, and problem-solving skills. - Contributes to mood regulation and emotional health. - Sets the foundation for future cognitive and physical development.

By feeding our babies nutrient-dense, ancestral foods, we can give them the best start to thrive and achieve optimal health. 
📖 In My Starting Solids Guide, I’ll show you: 1. A food introduction timeline (6-8, 8-10, 10-12 months, and beyond) 3. How to prepare traditional sacred, superfoods 4. Recipes & purees that are naturally nutrient-dense for optimal, brain, immune and gut function 5. How to nutrient needs for your baby’s rapidly growing brain and body with real, traditional animal foods 6. 30+ recipes for each age range and so much more! 🥣💚 ‼️ Comment “solids” and I’ll send you the link