Crammed with refined sugars, chemically modified starches, preservatives, and artificial additives, most packaged baby foods are small more than processed nosh in a jar, which thinks that your bambino is mostly taking mouthfuls of fillers, instead of the fruits and vegetables pictured on the container.
If the estimation of feeding your infant mashed peas and carrots predating your pregnancy is giving you the heebie jeebies, consider whipping up your personal. This way, you'll know exactly what goes into your child's chow, without having to spend hr reading and decoding nutrition labels. Bonus: You won't be adding baby-food packaging to the landfill. Plus, considering that a 4-ounce jar of baby food costs between 60 cents to $1.20, you'll get to sock some additional cash away for your bairn's college fund. Basic Organic Baby Food
1. Thoroughly wash the fresh, organic fruits and vegetables you've purchased.
2. Steam, bake, or boil to the consistency of your baby's stage of eating.
3. Mash everything in your blender or food mill, or puree it with a little water. You don't need to add salt or sugar, says Dr. Sears. Try a bit of lemon juice as both a preservative and a natural flavor enhancer.
4. Strain the food to remove any stray peels. Pour the puree into the food-cube trays and stick them in the freezer.
5. When the cubes are completely frozen, transfer them into individual glass containers with two or three cubes per container. Label with contents and date, then pop the containers back into the freezer.
6. When it's time to chow down, heat up the individual portions. Remember to test the temperature of the food before feeding your baby.
