The Well-Fed Baby

All the things everyone should steer clear of—pesticides, additives, colorings, preservatives, hormones, antibiotics—are especially important to keep out of a baby’s system. Some other elements can interfere with normal development. Most of all, fish high in mercury and other heavy metals should be avoided. Tuna and swordfish are the best-known culprits.

In general, when buying food for your baby, look for organic products without additives or added sugars. Another good rule of thumb is “the fewer ingredients, the better.” When you’re introducing a baby to a new food, this approach makes it much easier to identify allergies. Talk to your pediatrician about the best sequence of foods for your baby.

The most sustainable, healthful and economical way to feed your baby is to make your own baby food. The benefits:

• Reducing the amount of packaging you use
• Saving money
• Knowing exactly what’s in your baby’s food
• Introducing your child to a wider range of tastes, flavors, and textures

Making Your Own

Making your own baby food isn’t as inconvenient and time-consuming as you might think. Babies can be picky eaters, but they aren’t exactly restaurant critics. A few tips:

• Use organic, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables.
• Look for meat and poultry raised without added hormones or antibiotics, and trim off excess fat.
• To soften food, steam it rather than boiling it; steaming preserves more vitamins and minerals.

Note that some vegetables—most notably spinach and beets, but also other greens and turnips—can be high in nitrates. Since nitrates can cause anemia, you may want to limit the amount of these you give to a very young baby.

Three Time-Saving Tips for Making Your Own Babyfood

• Use your leftovers. Just about any healthy food can be quickly blended into a baby- friendly meal.
• Make a big batch at a time and freeze individual servings in ice cube trays.
• Three good bets to start with: mashed bananas, avocados, and carrots.

Learn More

Get more information on organic fruits and veggies at The Organic Report.
Learn more about your baby’s nutritional needs at Natural Family Online.