FEEDING THE FUTURE

Babies might be tiny, but when it comes to food, they definitely call the shots. Baby Knows Best by Shilarna Vaze guides new parents, especially in trusting their instincts

- AASHNA REDDY

THE world of baby food is a minefield of conflicting advice. One side swears by age-old traditions ragi porridge, sprouted grains, and homemade ghee while the other promotes modern nutrition trends like baby-led weaning and protein packed purées. Enter Chef Shilarna Vaze, whose new book Baby Knows Best bridges this divide, offering Indian parents a fresh, practical approach to feeding their babies.

Shilarna's journey began on Instagram when she was pregnant, sharing what she ate and how she introduced food to her daughter. As a chef, a mum, and someone deeply invested in nutrition, she found herself drawn to both traditional baby foods and the latest in holistic nutrition. But she noticed a gap most baby food books were Western, focusing on butternut squash purées and freezer-friendly meals, which were at odds with Indian wisdom of soaking, sprouting, and fermenting. Her book brings the best of both worlds together, combining ancestral knowledge with practical, modern solutions.