| Americans have long depended on jarred | | | | reading and de-coding labels on |
| baby foods for convenient feeding. In | | | | processed foods. |
| the past few years more and more | | | | No Chemicals or Preservatives |
| processed food options have entered the | | | | Your food will not have anything added, |
| children's food market. The big brands | | | | that you didn't put there. You're not |
| have expanded into pre-packaged "toddler | | | | trying to preserve shelf life or |
| meals" and "school lunches" all in the | | | | disguise any of the ingredients in your |
| name of helping busy parents who need | | | | food. Preservatives include partially |
| things to be fast and convenient. Even | | | | hydrogenated oils or trans-fats, which |
| for those parents with the best effort | | | | are linked to diabetes, cancer and heart |
| and intention, there may be times when | | | | disease. |
| you just can't make or safely pack your | | | | Taste |
| own food. One of my clients had served | | | | While sometimes convenient, a big |
| her eight-month-old homemade, organic | | | | drawback of commercial baby food is that |
| baby food from his first bite. However | | | | it bears little relation to the real |
| while traveling with her son to England; | | | | food. Fresh, seasonal food just tastes |
| she brought a few jars of food "just in | | | | better. You probably haven't eaten baby |
| case" she ran out of fresh items on the | | | | food since you were a baby - because you |
| flight. Here are some tips for buying | | | | don't want or have to. If feeding |
| commercially jarred foods, when you're | | | | homemade baby food, your child will |
| in a pinch. | | | | appreciate real foods from their first |
| - Opt for those with the most calories, | | | | bite. These will be the flavors and |
| meaning more food per unit weight. | | | | food items that they will continue to |
| - Look for jars of organic foods, | | | | enjoy as they grow. Jarred baby food is |
| without fillers. | | | | not available in every fruit and |
| - Check that the expiration date on the | | | | vegetable, nor is it seasonal. You may |
| jar has not passed. | | | | miss the opportunity to introduce fruit |
| - Choose foods without chemicals and | | | | and vegetable options, which you want |
| preservatives. | | | | your baby to eat later with the rest of |
| - If feeding your baby a vegetarian | | | | the family. Some children get used to |
| diet, look for the Vegetarian Society's | | | | bland, smooth, jarred foods and have |
| "V" symbol on the jar or container, to | | | | difficulty being reintroduced to the |
| be sure it is truly vegetarian. | | | | same real foods and textures later. |
| Benefits of Homemade | | | | Less Waste |
| Babies usually triple their weight | | | | Making food gives you control over |
| during their first year. If they are | | | | quantity, taste, texture and expense. |
| what they eat, this is the most | | | | You will not have to throw away |
| important time to give them the best. | | | | partially eaten jars of food. Instead |
| You may not be able to give your child | | | | you can cook what you know your baby |
| fresh, homemade foods everyday, but here | | | | will eat, prolong the life of your |
| are the benefits for you and your child | | | | homemade food in the freezer, or eat |
| when you do make the effort. | | | | your child's food yourself. |
| More nutritious | | | | Create variety from a single, whole food |
| Homemade food is more nutritious than | | | | item. When making baked sweet potatoes |
| commercially prepared baby foods because | | | | you can chose to puree some, cut pieces |
| it retains more of the nutrients, | | | | into soft chunks, and leave the rest |
| especially vitamin A and B. This is | | | | whole. Because your homemade purees are |
| because the food is less processed. The | | | | made with whole foods, the leftovers can |
| jarring process necessitates the use of | | | | be made into soups, side dishes and |
| very high heat under pressure. Much | | | | sauces for the rest of the family. You |
| more than you can generate when cooking | | | | may doubt that because you've never |
| at home. Unfortunately, many vitamins | | | | considered making a delicious soup from |
| are destroyed by heat. | | | | a jar of baby food. However many |
| Some of the baby food on the market has | | | | favorite cream soups get their start |
| additives and thickening agents | | | | from humble, fresh purees. |
| including cornstarch, flour, chemically | | | | Less Cost |
| modified starches or "tapioca" (corn | | | | The cost for making your own baby food |
| syrup, starch). This means your baby is | | | | is often less than buying commercially |
| getting less fruit and vegetables and | | | | prepared baby foods, if you shop smart |
| more "filler". Consumers are also | | | | and cook in larger quantities. For |
| getting less nutrition and value for | | | | instance a four ounce jar of baby food |
| your money. | | | | ranges in price from .60 - $1.20 each, |
| More Control | | | | depending on brand and place purchased. |
| By making your own food, you'll know | | | | However when making your own baby food, |
| exactly what your child is eating. You | | | | and following our tips for creating |
| can monitor their diet, and know which | | | | convenience and buying in-season whole |
| vitamins and nutrients are lacking. A | | | | foods you can save on the price. I |
| study by the San Francisco Chronicle in | | | | purchased enough apples for an apple |
| 2002, reported that over 40% of | | | | puree for $2 at the farmer's market, and |
| children's calories come from fast and | | | | my recipe yielded 16 ounces, thus my |
| processed foods. Spend your time | | | | cost is $.50 per four ounce serving. |
| making your own food, rather than | | | | |