Parents these days are going gaga over expensive organic baby food. But is it really worth the cost?
According to the Mayo Clinic, organic baby food provides little more than peace of mind. The FDA’s organic certification means that 95 percent of the ingredients were grown without pesticides or herbicides. That certainly doesn’t hurt, but doctors say its more of a plus for the environment than for your little one, and that buying organic for “safety” reasons doesn’t measure up with the dollar difference.
In fact, some pediatricians worry that the organic version of Similac baby formula, which uses sucrose from cane sugar as a sweetener, may be too sweet, causing babies to overeat, which could lead to obesity and rejection of other foods.
Don’t throw in the towel on organics just yet, though. The parenting experts at Cookie magazine consider organic baby food more nutritious because it’s often fresher. Most organic brands are flash frozen, preserving more nutrients than Gerber jars, which are heavily processed to prevent contamination.
The obvious way to ensure your baby gets the most nutrient-packed food is to make it yourself, but Cookie warns that this only makes sense if you’re using organic, local produce. The longer the produce sits after it’s picked, the more nutrients it loses, meaning that a grocery store carrot from 1,000 miles away probably isn’t worth your DIY efforts.
Making your own baby food is pretty straightforward – just follow a balanced diet including fruits, vegetables, grains and protein and make sure everything is thoroughly mashed or blended. Planet Green recommends steaming produce slightly before processing to ensure softness. Apples, mangoes, sweet potatoes, bananas, peaches, pears and carrots are all safe bets. Noodles, chicken and some types of fish can even be added as well, but make sure to cook and blend them thoroughly.
Of course, most new parents don’t have time to make their own baby food, and it’s highly impractical for traveling. To get the inside scoop on the best organic baby foods and where to buy them, check out Cookie’s taste-test of 12 organic brands.
Source: BecauseAction.com
