Posted in Going Green

Things sure have changed since even my Little (only five years old) was just starting on solid food and guzzling down formula like there wasn't enough to go around.  With the advent of mainstream consumer interest in organic and natural products, more and more companies are getting on board.  Formula companies are now offering organic baby formula, baby food jars are being filled with all sorts of organic goodness, and children's wear is more often woven from organic cotton.  Yay! 

One of the companies that was making organic baby food when my little one was eating it was Earth's Best.  They are still in the market, and going strong, from the look of things.  They'll have some competition now though, since old reliable Gerber has gotten into the game with their new organic line.

Then there's the age-old concept our grandmothers and their grandmothers before them used: real food!  You can make your own baby food and if you are already using organic produce from your own garden or the local farmers market, you're ahead!  Here are a couple of ideas to get you started:

• Peas: Harvest those peas, shell 'em, and cook them for 10-15 minutes or until tender.  Drain them and set aside a little bit of the cooking liquid.  Puree the peas and reserved liquid in a blender.  Mmmm, good.  When baby is teething, try defrosting a small number of frozen peas in the fridge.  My Little loved to make peas "pop" between her gums.  The chillly treat was her favorite for months!
• Zucchini: Okay, the standard gardener's joke of what to do with all the extra zucchini each year gets a bit of help with this one.  Place a small zucchini (trimmed and sliced) in a steamer and cook it about 10 minutes (or until tender).  Drain, puree and voila!  (No steamer?  You can also place it in a saucepan with just enough water to cover it, bring it to a boil, then let it simmer, covered, for 5-6 minutes.  Cool it and throw it in the blender.)  The same thing goes for cauliflower and broccoli!
• Sweet Potato: I haven't met a baby yet that didn't like sweet potato!  Grab a large sweet potato, scrub it down, peel it, and cut it into small cubes.  Steam it until it's tender (10-12 minutes) or use the saucepan method above for about 15 minutes.  Drain and cool the goodies, blend away, and serve.

Don't forget that you can use a simple ice cube tray to freeze servings of baby's favorite organic foods in advance.  Time and time again I've seen parenting magazines proclaim that one cube worth of frozen puree is one serving...imagine how you could work ahead for the whole family.  Make a cook-ahead day where you use favorite veggies to make casseroles, stews, and canned goods ahead, and make baby's food in advance too.  Nothing like storing away the largesse of a successful homestead garden before the frost sets in...no matter who you're feeding!