Mary Hartley, Eliza’s Mom, is a registered dietitian/nutritionist. She is Eliza’s sounding board, business partner and nutrition advisor at Mimi’s Soup Spoon. “I am so happy that Eliza chose to follow her bliss and create Mimi’s Soup Spoon. She has a gift for understanding children and they relate to her pure and gentle spirit.” Mary makes her professional expertise available to Mimi’s clients. Mary answers their questions about food and nutrition for children via the Contact Us page, and, with Eliza, she co-writes their monthly newsletter, Mimi’s Message.

Mary has been a nutritionist for 30 years specializing in obesity adult and childhood obesity and eating disorders. She has worked in HMOs, medical practices, teaching hospitals and universities, and had a successful private practice in Providence, RI for 15 years. “Eliza’s first nutrition class was in utero when I taught at Rhode Island College. She has been surrounded by nutrition professionals ever since.”

“Cooking with your preschoolers is one the most important actions you can take to establish positive eating behaviors.” Research shows that, between ages 2 and 5, children develop food preferences that persist into adulthood, and they are more open to trying foods they help to buy and prepare. New foods and cooking skills also appeal to preschoolers on so many levels: their curiosity about everything new, their desire to master skills like pouring and stirring, their need to contribute to the family, and their pride in creating a masterpiece.

Mary Hartley is currently the nutritionist for Calorie Count Plus, a premier website of About.com Health, and she owns a web-based diet analysis and nutrition counseling business, www.EatByNumbers.com.