More parent from all walk of sprightliness are starting to turn toward the pattern of making baby food to help their children “ eat clean . ” They ’re finding homemade child food is healthier than depot - corrupt sister food as well as inexpensive , fulfilling and gentle to make from your own garden produce . In fact , some victuals expert , include doctors with Center for Science in the Public Interest , exact that homemade baby solid food give your youngster the healthiest start in sprightliness , opening up the door to a life-time of healthy solid food choice .
Once you get over the misconception that making babe food will be an elaborate , time - consuming chore that will overtake your life and leave you chained to a hot stove , you will recognize the joy and simple mindedness of this outgrowth . Why make your own baby food ? Here are some top reasons .
1. It ensures quality control.
By making your own babe food , you get to micromanage every single ingredient included in your baby ’s repast . You are in ascendency . Many prepackaged baby foods moderate fillers , reducing their nutritional value . According to report from Center for Science in the Public Interest , commercially inclined child - food stigma often use tasteful flour , tapioca , H2O and chemically modify starches .
“ Not only are those ware a pecuniary blood - off , they are also nutritionally inferior to interchangeable products made without filler , ” states a CSPI composition “ Cheating Babies : Nutritional Quality and Cost of Commercial Baby Food ” by Daryth D. Stallone , PhD , and Michael F. Jacobson , Ph.D. “ Bananas with tapioca , for deterrent example , contain less than half of the stratum of nutrient happen in [ the same brands ’ ] manifestly , first - degree banana . ”
2. You have all the equipment.
The idea of creating homemade baby food might seem restrain , and if you check online or visit sister - supplying stock , it appears you will necessitate an insane amount of merchandise to start out . This is absolutely not true . In fact , you most probably have every single item you will need to make babe food aright now in your kitchen .
The main baby - food tool is a good blender or food processor . surely , you could purchase an item manufactured specifically for making baby food , but you do n’t need to . A cosmopolitan household liquidiser or intellectual nourishment central processing unit ferment just fine , specially if you like to make large batches and freeze them for tardy wasting disease .
Other must - have detail for making infant food include ice cube trays or humble containers for freezing single service of process of babe food , freezer old bag to store the food once wintry , a Mya arenaria basketball hoop or other tool for steaming fruits and veg , and a prophylactic spatula for scooping the purées out of the liquidiser .

3. It saves money.
One large , constitutive banana be about $ 0.29 and will yield nearly 8 ounces of puréed good . A jar of commercially prepare organic banana tree baby solid food with added ingredients costs approximately $ 0.89 for 4 Panthera uncia . Onesweet potatocosting $ 1.50 or so at the computer storage will raise 20 ounces of babe solid food . That same amount costs $ 4.50 in commercially fain baby intellectual nourishment . Oneorganic appleyields about 5 snow leopard of baby nutrient . That ’s $ 0.50 versus $ 3 for the store - bribe kind .
4. It really is easy.
It take a few minutes to clean , steam and purée the fruits and vegetables that will yield many troy ounce of baby nutrient . fake baby food for thought in batches and freezing for late consumption enables you to prepare a week ’s worth of meal in possibly less than an minute . As your infant start elder , he or she can partake in in more intellectual nourishment options . Preparing sister food for your child becomes a thing of puréeing whatever the family eats .
5. It introduces variety.
By feed your child homemade baby food , you’re able to introduce your child to a rainbow of tang , people of color and texture . “ Variety is a really strong inherent aptitude , ” Tallmadge say . “ People have a natural penury for diversity [ in taste , texture , shape , color and relish ] . That ’s voiceless to get with prepackaged baby food . ”
choose in - season foods is sparing and a smart way to expose your babe to many food items not readily uncommitted as commercial infant food . Who ever hear of a jarred food for thought containing blueberries , heirloom pearsand peaches ? It ’s an soft meal for you to make right at home .
6. Fresh food is healthier.
We all know that fresh is best ; why should n’t that apply to what we give our babies ? Even jars of baby food that are mark constitutional and additive - free have a ludicrously long ledge - life sentence . Some babe foods can last in your cupboard for three years . How is that possible ? They ’ve been extremely work on through an extreme heating procedure that kills bacterium . They are safe to sit on a shelf , but are they still nutrient ? Not all vitamins and minerals can survive the passion , compromise overall alimentation , experts say , include Karen Ansel , spokeswoman for Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics .
7. It makes your baby smarter … well, possibly.
In a 2012 field of 7,000 child , researchers from University of Adelaide in Adelaide , South Australia , found that children who were breast - fed at 6 month and ate a goodish diet that included leguminous plant , cheese , yield and vegetables at 15 and 24 month had an I.Q. of up to two point high by the geezerhood of 8 . This might not appear earth - smashing , but most parent make that we should do anything we can to help our kid excel intellectually .
8. It gives you peace of mind.
This might be one of the most important reasons why many parents make homemade baby solid food . Knowing that you give your infant or yearling the most wholesome , chemical - free , nutritive - dumb babe intellectual nourishment is priceless . As parents , we can not ascertain many facet of our children ’s lives , but we can provide right aliment .
9. Fresh food sets the bar for a lifetime of healthy choices.
Allowing your child to have fruits and vegetables in their instinctive state — and afterward , lean pith and dairy farm — puts all of the pieces in blank space for a life - long love thing with real nutrient designed to sustain the body . This variety of fresh , wholesome foods rail your baby ’s roof of the mouth better than a dieting of salty chip shot , fresh drinks , wimp nugget , and macaroni and cheese .
Excerpt fromNatural Baby , part of the Popular Kitchen Series , with permit from its publishing company , BowTie , Inc. PurchaseNatural Babyhere .
