As a new parent, you are faced with many decisions to make
regarding the health and welfare of that most precious baby that
has come into your life. Often, you are at a loss as to how to
cope with new issues that you have never before had to deal
with—breastfeeding or bottle feeding, cotton or paper diapers,
store-bought or homemade baby food, colic, tummy time, baby food
recipes, etc. It can be somewhat overwhelming, making you wish
that you had signed up for a Parenting 101 class long ago.
One area that you need not fret about is what to feed your
little one. Today there are many options and brands of baby food
on the market such as Heinz, Holle, SMA, Cow & Gate and Bounty
from which to choose. Organic baby food has come to the
forefront with many delicious choices, and homemade baby food is
another option that you might wish to explore. Let’s take a
closer look at some of these types of baby food.
If you choose to go with a prepared baby food, you can rest
assured that your baby will be getting adequate nutrition and
healthy ingredients in his diet from companies that have stood
the test of time. Quality control is of the utmost importance
and the balanced nutrition of these foods will follow your baby
from the time you start weaning him up to his toddler years.
Organic baby food originates in pesticide-free and
herbicide-free soil. Most of the fruits and vegetables are grown
on certified “organic” farms in a completely chemical-free
environment. These foods tend to cost more, but careful shopping
and coupons can keep the cost at a reasonable level.
Your baby will be ready to start on solid foods at sometime
around the age of 6 months. This is a good time to try homemade
baby foods, if you are so inclined. Baby food recipes can be
extremely simple, such as mixing rice powder with a little
breast milk or formula. When you introduce a new food, make sure
that you feed him that food for 4 to 7 days without introducing
other new foods. Then, if he has an allergic or digestive
reaction to the food, you’ll know what’s causing the problem.
Making your own baby food does not need to be time-consuming or
complicated. A food processor can help you puree fruits and
vegetables, which you can then freeze in cubes for future meals.
Special trays can be purchased for this, or an ice cube tray
should work quite well. You can store cubes in your freezer in a
plastic freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Almost any soft fruit or vegetable can be pureed and mixed with
a bit of water or breast milk. Recipes can become a bit more
involved with the addition of simple spices, syrups or juices as
your baby advances into the toddler stage. He will enjoy finger
foods and be able to chew food that is lumpier and more
textured.
Providing your baby with a well-balanced diet is an important
part of his overall growth and well-being. Knowing that you have
many good choices to accomplish this goal should put your mind
at ease and make this part of parenting so much easier!