Jarred vs. Homemade - The Importance of Feeding Baby Homemade Food
Everyday, more and more people are realizing that we really are what we eat. With obesity and many illnesses sharply on the rise, Americans are starting to open their eyes to the possibility that food might indeed be making them sick. The market for Organic and Natural food is growing rapidly. Preservative free food are filling up the food shelves and replacing the colorful array of unhealthy snacks. The baby food market is booming with natural food. We have been introduced to Organic Baby Formula, Organic Cookies, Organic baby food and more. But parents, beware!
Living in the fast paced world that we are in today, many parents have found comfort in feeding their little ones with store bought organic baby food rather then preparing it themselves. Believing that they are providing their children with the best nutrition, most don’t consider the quality of food they are getting and how long the food is standing on the shelves before reaching their baby’s digestive system.
Not so long ago, I heard on the news that an Organic Baby Food Plant was accused of using spoiled, moldy vegetables while preparing their baby food. The managers of this company said that moldy sweet potatoes containing maggots were used. Company officials have denied all of the allegations and an investigation was being done. How can we trust mass production? I would never expect this from a baby food company. I find the thought of a little baby eating maggot contaminated food extremely disturbing. The truth is, you can never know exactly what goes on in the Food Plant and this is one of the many reasons why baby food should be prepared at home.
Why not treat your little one to fresh or steamed veggies and fruits, blended or pureed? Preparing your baby’s food at home gives you total control over what is put inside; you know it’s free of additives and hidden preservatives. You also know the quality of food you are using. Equip yourself with a hand blender and you are ready to feed baby delicious fresh food. Give it a try and you will be surprised to see how easy and simple it really is.
3 Responses to “Jarred vs. Homemade - The Importance of Feeding Baby Homemade Food”
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I haven’t tasted jarred baby food, but I suspect the flavor of freshly-pureed homemade food has to be better. Plus, you can add other flavorings like garlic or shallot (which you’d think babies wouldn’t like, but they do!). I fed my son all homemade food, and at two he adores veggies like asparagus, and avocado spooned right out of the shell. I would add pureed pumpkin to his oatmeal, and after realizing that he was eating more healthfully than I was, I started adding it to mine, too — delicious.
I definitely think that using fresh, organic fruits and veggies makes a difference in getting kids to like a variety of foods.
It’s not necessary to puree or mash it all either! If you’ve never checked into it, read about baby-led weaning, which is basically just a fancy name for letting your infant self feed. Surprisingly, there is no research supporting the introduction of solids by purees. This isn’t a new concept, and makes total sense once you learn more about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_led_weaning
http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/blw/engels.html
With our son we started with chunks of steamed sweet potato, banana, and progressed from there. He was spoon feeding himself by his first birthday and at 2.5 loves a variety of foods, including those some adults won’t touch!
I am all for baby-led weaning. We have been using this approach with our second child and it works wonderfully for us. Children have a natural intuitive ability which parents most often oversee. It is very important to have confidence in our little ones and allow them to guide us.