My favorite kids’ cookbook title, until today, was Feed Me! I’m Yours. As of today, it is Just Two More Bites! Helping Picky Eaters Say Yes to Food. ($13.95/paperback, Three Rivers Press, 294 pages; Linda Piette.net)

(What is it with the exclamation marks! And parenting books! We are the world! We are the parents! De-exclamate, already.)

Yes, nutritionist and dietitian Piette has brought us the recipes we’ve been waiting for: Poop Goop I and Poop Goop II:

So without further ado:

POOP GOOP I
1 cup raisins
1 cup prunes
1/4 cup dates
8 ounces prune juice

Mix together in a blender or food processor. Store in the refrigerator. Use 1-2 tablespoons per day.

POOP GOOP II
1 orange
1 apple (with skin)
1 cup raisins
1 cup prunes
1/2 cup prune juice
1/2 cup orange juice

Mix together in a blender or food processor. Store in the refrigerator. Use 1-2 tablespoons per day.

(from “Just Two More Bites”)

Nummy, huh? For real — these two sound like a lifesaver, if you’re having butt distress. But there is more to eating than, yeah, pooping.

May I digress for a moment? Thank you. I’ve been receiving some great books and CDs lately, and had planned to do a big round-up, but I started reading “Two More Bites” and am transfixed. So the round-up will have to wait.

For quite a while now, I have been fed up with the whole “blame the mom” thing. They’re not sleeping right? I don’t have them on enough of a routine. They can’t knit? Dive off the diving board? Run a mile? My fault again. So I knew, going into this book, that there would be a little finger-pointing. And there is (it starts on page 12 of Chapter 1: “Solving the Puzzle of Picky Eating”). But I have to agree with Ms. Piette here — if you’re dieting, or have some food issues yourself, or aren’t sitting down to eat with your kids (I am guilty, guilty and guilty as charged), what are you teaching them?

She suggests not rewarding good eating with toys (in the long run, it may convince young eaters to like the toys plenty, but dislike the foods they’re trying). She includes great suggestions on the best eating gear (cups, spoons, etc.) for various ages, ways to get older kids involved in the kitchen (orange squeezers, egg beaters, ice-cream makers) and how to roll with the changes (never give up hope).

Piette also addresses special needs kids and their propensity for having eating problems. (Researchers estimate that up to 80 percent of children with special needs have feeding problems, according to the book.) I was glad that she brought some of this out, because it’s something I’ve never spent much time thinking about. It does make me wish we had more aides and parent helpers during lunchtime in schools. We are desperate for parent helpers during mealtimes at our school, and others are in the same boat, I’m sure.

She talks about celiac disease (gluten intolerance), reflux, low iron and other issues, but writes in layman’s terms, which I appreciated. She gives pages and pages of info on techniques and strategies, well beyond “Serve them dip with vegetables for a pre-dinner appetizer! They’ll love it!” (Ha. This is standard advice which quite honestly has not helped one bit at Wacky House.)

I highly recommend this book. Here is one more recipe:

APPLE CARROT SQUARES
Use these not-too-sweet squares as a substitute for muffins:

1 cup flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2/3 cup applesauce
1/3 cup grated carrots
Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, 1 tbsp. wheat germ

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix together the flour and baking soda. Set aside.
3. Mix all the remaining ingredients, then add the flour mixture.
4. Pour into a greased 7-inch square pan.
5. Bake for 45 minutes.

(from “Just Two More Bites”)