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