| 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
| |
| |
|
