#420: Starting Solids: What Should Baby's First Food Really Be? with Kate Pope

If you've ever wondered whether there's a better way to start solids than the 100 foods before one approach, this episode is going to change the way you think about feeding your baby. Dr. Elana and GAPS certified practitioner, Kate Pope, break down why meat stock is baby's most powerful first food. In this episode, Dr. Elana sits down with Kate Pope, founder of Wild Nutritionist and a certified GAPS practitioner, to walk moms through the GAPS approach to starting solids. You will learn why meat stock is not the same thing as bone broth, what conditions GAPS first foods can help support (including eczema, colic, constipation, food sensitivities, and picky eating), and how to start this approach even if it feels intimidating. Kate also shares how the gut microbiome shapes the foods your child will crave for years, why picky eating is often a gut problem rather than a willpower problem, and how to make healing foods practical for a busy mom life. Topics Covered In This Episode: What is meat stock and how is it different from bone broth How meat stock supports breastfeeding and postpartum recovery What is the GAPS nutritional protocol and who created it Conditions the GAPS approach can help: eczema, colic, food sensitivities How to incorporate healing foods for the whole family How to introduce fermented foods safely What to do when baby refuses meat stock Practical tips for moms just getting started Show Notes: Learn more about Kate Pope & Wild Nutritionist Follow @wildnutritionist/ on Intagram Click here to learn more about Dr. Elana Roumell's Doctor Mom Membership, a membership designed for moms who want to be their child's number one health advocate! Click here to explore Steph Greunke, RD's Mindset and Metabolism Substack, nuanced discussions on fat loss and behavior change for women. Watch this episode on our Youtube channel @medschoolformoms Listen to today's episode on our website Kate Pope is a holistic chef, nutritional therapy practitioner, and certified GAPS practitioner (NTP, CGP), and founder of Regenerative Cooking School. Kate is known for helping mothers confidently navigate the introduction of solids the "gut health way" while also addressing the deeper patterns behind common (but not normal) symptoms. Her work supports families in resolving issues such as eczema, allergies and digestive dysfunction by using food as a primary tool for healing.  Her concept and signature courses, Mama Baby Biome and Baby Biome First Foods Plan, center around a mother's healing authority and power while teaching practical skills, shaped by her own lived experience as a mother, chef, dancer and self-healing woman. At the heart of all her teachings is that when a mother, and thus the family, is well-nourished, the health of the world can shift. This Episode's Sponsors  Discover for yourself why Needed is trusted by 15,000+ women's health practitioners, including Dr. Elana and Steph. Needed supports optimal health and nourishment throughout the Motherspan--from preconception through perimenopause. Enjoy their range of practitioner-formulated, third-party tested supplements and get 20% off with code DOCTORMOM. Visit thisisneeded.com Active Skin Repair is a must-have for everyone to keep themselves and their families healthy and clean.  Keep a bottle in the car to