Are babies best served by food that is “scientific, uniform, twice boiled, and sold in jars.” And what about that white rice cereal? In our culture, it’s a classic first food. But, Dr. Greene says it’s akin to feeding baby white flour. He goes so far as to say, “it’s no wonder that kids are hooked on junk food when their first food is akin to Wonder Bread!” (see the entire article at Healthy Child, Healthy World)
My husband and I bought up (expensive!) baby food and fed our babies rice cereal and water (or breast milk) like most parents. But when I think about the concept of “baby food” after reading Dr. Greene’s work, my common sense tells me that feeding baby the whole foods we eat – with variety, spices and all – is a logical way to avoid fussy eating and teach baby to love those greens!
Making baby versions of your family’s food should be easy, convenient, frugal, earth-friendly and healthy. Of course, that’s assuming you’re already eating organic, whole foods. But if you’re not, approaching baby’s diet as an extension of your own might be just the encouragement you need to start making those choices that you really want to make anyways! And, that’s good because baby will be eating exactly what you’re eating someday. And that day comes more quickly than you’d expect!
If you want to learn more about the issues and science behind the baby food myth, get yourself a copy of Dr. Green’s Feeding Baby Green. The book is chock-full of ideas you can use to develop your family’s approach to feeding baby well.
Do you plan to feed your baby homemade baby food? Or, maybe you already do? Either way, you’ll quickly discover that cooking baby food is easy. Run down to the farmer’s market and buy whatever fresh, organic produce is priced right. Cook and puree single foods or mix and match a few for an older baby. 