Fall is just around the corner, and with it, a delicious bounty of fall fruits and vegetables! Squash, apples and pears, oh my!
Do you make or have you considered making your own baby food? With the rise of GMOs and pesticide use, more and more parents are turning to homemade food to nourish their wee ones. Making delicious baby food from scratch is so easy, thanks to many new and innovative products on the market today.
As I spent yesterday morning making my son a batch of organic spinach, carrot and turkey mish mash, I found myself thinking....this is so easy, and took no time at all! When I feed my son, I am confident that I chose fresh and organic ingredients, and rest easy knowing that I know what I am putting in his mouth.
Some experts and parents agree that when making baby food from scratch, organic is best. Limiting the amount of chemicals in your baby's food is absolutely something to think about. Of course, buying organic fruits and vegetables can be cost prohibitive for many of us. If you are trying to find a balance between cost/value/nutritional value, check out the website, http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Dirty-Dozen-Foods#slide-1, to learn which foods contain the highest levels of pesticides. This way, you can pick and choose which items you will stick with organic only!
My personal recommendation is to use a microwave steamer to steam your fruits and veggies, as it cuts down your prep time immensely! If using a silicon or plastic based steamer is not your thing, go the old fashioned route and steam or boil your food on the stove top. Once your food is cooked and soft, blend away! We love the Beaba baby food maker, http://www.beaba.com/en/categorie/3. In just a few minutes, you can have a blend of delicious pureed fruits and veggies!
Get wild and create your own blends, or feel free to use any online organic baby cook book to help you along the way! We love mixing whatever is fresh and in season! Up next this week; sweet potato, kale and chicken! Looking for a delicious fall morning staple? Try mixing oatmeal, apples and cinnamon. This is especially great for little ones with tummy troubles!
What about spices you ask? Spice away! In our culture, we are so afraid of giving our children spices at an early age. But you will find that in other cultures around the world, babies are introduced to commonly used spices right from the get go. Imagine, helping mold your child's palate from the beginning! The sooner your baby is introduced to varying flavors, colors, and textures, the better your chances of a well rounded eater down the road.
Check out http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/tipspices.htm#.UizKCdK-qpc, for tips on adding spice to your baby's meals. I typically make my food in batches, and add my spices for each particular meal, which gives my baby a new experience each time. Some of his favorites include cinnamon, cumin, parsley, and basil.
Ok, I have my food ready, now what? You can make large batches of food to freeze and store for months at a time. There are so many options for food storage, and you can pick and choose based on the amount of space your freezer will allow. We love Beaba's line of food storage containers, which you can also check out at the website listed above. If you are on the go, and still want to feed your child your wholesome homemade delights, check out the Sili Brand, http://thesilico.com/, which created the "original reusable squeeze pouch".
If you find yourself with even an hour to spare one upcoming fall Saturday or Sunday, give making homemade baby food a try. You will love the results, and more importantly, so will your kids!!!!
Lori A Pratt
Mother to one 10 Month Old Adventurous Eater
