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Article #297: The Baby Food Debate: The Benefits of Homemade Baby Food Over The Jars

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






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