Americans have long depended on jarred baby foods for convenient
feeding. In the past few years more and more processed food options
have entered the children's food market. The big brands have expanded
into pre-packaged "toddler meals" and "school lunches" all in the name
of helping busy parents who need things to be fast and convenient. Even
for those parents with the best effort and intention, there may be
times when you just can't make or safely pack your own food. One of my
clients had served her eight-month-old homemade, organic baby food from
his first bite. However while traveling with her son to England; she
brought a few jars of food "just in case" she ran out of fresh items on
the flight. Here are some tips for buying commercially jarred foods,
when you're in a pinch.
o Opt for those with the most calories, meaning more food per unit weight.
o Look for jars of organic foods, without fillers.
o Check that the expiration date on the jar has not passed.
o Choose foods without chemicals and preservatives.
o
If feeding your baby a vegetarian diet, look for the Vegetarian
Society's "V" symbol on the jar or container, to be sure it is truly
vegetarian.
Benefits of Homemade
Babies usually triple their
weight during their first year. If they are what they eat, this is the
most important time to give them the best. You may not be able to give
your child fresh, homemade foods everyday, but here are the benefits
for you and your child when you do make the effort.
More nutritious
Homemade
food is more nutritious than commercially prepared baby foods because
it retains more of the nutrients, especially vitamin A and B. This is
because the food is less processed. The jarring process necessitates
the use of very high heat under pressure. Much more than you can
generate when cooking at home. Unfortunately, many vitamins are
destroyed by heat.
Some of the baby food on the market has
additives and thickening agents including cornstarch, flour, chemically
modified starches or "tapioca" (corn syrup, starch). This means your
baby is getting less fruit and vegetables and more "filler". Consumers
are also getting less nutrition and value for your money.
More Control
By
making your own food, you'll know exactly what your child is eating.
You can monitor their diet, and know which vitamins and nutrients are
lacking. A study by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2002, reported that
over 40% of children's calories come from fast and processed foods.
Spend your time making your own food, rather than reading and de-coding
labels on processed foods.
No Chemicals or Preservatives
Your
food will not have anything added, that you didn't put there. You're
not trying to preserve shelf life or disguise any of the ingredients in
your food. Preservatives include partially hydrogenated oils or
trans-fats, which are linked to diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
Taste
While
sometimes convenient, a big drawback of commercial baby food is that it
bears little relation to the real food. Fresh, seasonal food just
tastes better. You probably haven't eaten baby food since you were a
baby - because you don't want or have to. If feeding homemade baby
food, your child will appreciate real foods from their first bite.
These will be the flavors and food items that they will continue to
enjoy as they grow. Jarred baby food is not available in every fruit
and vegetable, nor is it seasonal. You may miss the opportunity to
introduce fruit and vegetable options, which you want your baby to eat
later with the rest of the family. Some children get used to bland,
smooth, jarred foods and have difficulty being reintroduced to the same
real foods and textures later.
Less Waste
Making food gives
you control over quantity, taste, texture and expense. You will not
have to throw away partially eaten jars of food. Instead you can cook
what you know your baby will eat, prolong the life of your homemade food
in the freezer, or eat your child's food yourself.
Create variety
from a single, whole food item. When making baked sweet potatoes you
can chose to puree some, cut pieces into soft chunks, and leave the rest
whole. Because your homemade purees are made with whole foods, the
leftovers can be made into soups, side dishes and sauces for the rest of
the family. You may doubt that because you've never considered making a
delicious soup from a jar of baby food. However many favorite cream
soups get their start from humble, fresh purees.
Less Cost
The
cost for making your own baby food is often less than buying
commercially prepared baby foods, if you shop smart and cook in larger
quantities. For instance a four ounce jar of baby food ranges in price
from .60 - $1.20 each, depending on brand and place purchased. However
when making your own baby food, and following our tips for creating
convenience and buying in-season whole foods you can save on the price.
I purchased enough apples for an apple puree for $2 at the farmer's
market, and my recipe yielded 16 ounces, thus my cost is $.50 per four
ounce serving.
Excerpt from The Petit Appetit Cookbook (Penguin March 2005) by Lisa Barnes.
Lisa Barnes is a cookbook author and the owner of Petit Appetit, a cooking service devoted to baby and toddlers. She teaches private and group cooking classes to parents in Northern California who want to provide their children with fresh, healthy, organic foods. Visit http://www.petitappetit.com for more information and to sign-up for free newsletters.
Lisa Barnes is a cookbook author and the owner of Petit Appetit, a cooking service devoted to baby and toddlers. She teaches private and group cooking classes to parents in Northern California who want to provide their children with fresh, healthy, organic foods. Visit http://www.petitappetit.com for more information and to sign-up for free newsletters.
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