The Green Parent » homemade baby food http://www.thegreenparent.com Your Kid Friendly Guide To Earth-Friendly Living! Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:53:12 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Homemade Baby and Parent Food All In One http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/05/27/homemade-baby-and-parent-food-all-in-one/ http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/05/27/homemade-baby-and-parent-food-all-in-one/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 12:00:44 +0000 Jenn Savedge http://www.thegreenparent.com/?p=2737 pastaforkbabyspoonby, Lisa Cain, PhD, co-founder of Babyfood101.com

Having a new baby can really test the Greenest of parents.  Lack of sleep, combined with lack of time leads many parents to buying packaged baby food.  Jars of baby food can certainly make life easier, and are a great solution for time-stressed parents.  But, they aren’t green.

So, what is a new parent to do?  Start cooking for you and baby.  You can make meals that both of you can eat and save time, money, and the environment.

Why start eating together now?  Well, many research studies have shown that the biggest factor determining the eating habits of children is the eating habits of their parents.  You eat fast food, your child will eat fast food.  You eat brown rice and tofu, your child will eat brown rice and tofu.

Cooking homemade baby food is actually really easy.  The key is to just plan meals for yourself that will incorporate some of the foods that your baby can eat, and then feed some to your baby.  You do have to go shopping and cook, but, with some planning, it should take you less time than waiting for the pizza delivery.  Cooking a meal will be less expensive and more satisfying.

Below is an example of cooking for yourself and baby.  This recipe includes a super easy pasta recipe for adults, a kind of grown up macaroni and cheese.  It also includes 3 foods that you could serve to an 8 month old baby: spinach, ricotta cheese, and pasta

Shopping List:

1 pound penne pasta
1 10 ounce package frozen spinach
15 ounces whole milk ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
salt and pepper

For Baby:

Cook pasta and spinach to package directions.   Squeeze water out of spinach.   In a large bowl, mix pasta, spinach, 1 cup ricotta cheese, and parmesan.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

 

lisacainLisa Cain is a mom of 2, a PhD, a foodie and the blogger behind Babyfood101.com

]]> http://www.thegreenparent.com/2009/05/27/homemade-baby-and-parent-food-all-in-one/feed/ 27 When To Buy Organic http://www.thegreenparent.com/2007/10/05/when-to-buy-organic/ http://www.thegreenparent.com/2007/10/05/when-to-buy-organic/#comments Fri, 05 Oct 2007 20:18:00 +0000 Jenn Savedge http://www.thegreenparent.com/?p=50

Just a few years ago, the organic section in my small town grocery store was limited to a dated funky looking package of tofu and a few dried up herbs. Now, organic foods are all over the store, from coffee, to eggs, to salad dressing. Organic foods are produced without all of the chemicals and genetically modified ingredients that are common in traditionally produced foods, so they are bound to be better for your health and that of the environment. But if you can’t afford to go whole hog (so to speak) and purchase everything with an organic label, use these tips to decide out when to buy organic and when to pass.

Buy Organic

  • Fruits and Veggies: Foods such as apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, peanut butter, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries use and retain the most chemical pesticides.
  • Baby Food: If you have a baby, find room in your budget for organic baby food, or better yet, make your own homemade baby food using organic ingredients. Babies have fragile, developing immune systems that cannot protect them from the adverse health affects associated with pesticides.
  • Meat and Dairy: Beef, poultry, and eggs are also good to buy organic, especially if you and your family eat them frequently.
  • Extras: If money is no object, consider purchasing organic processed foods such as ketchup or soup. These foods will contain some, but not solely, organic ingredients.

Don’t Bother

  • If your budget is tight, don’t worry about organic when it comes to onions, avocado, pineapples, mango, asparagus, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli, and eggplant as these fruits and veggies contain the least amount of pesticides.
  • Don’t even bother with organic seafood as there are currently no standards in place to regulate their labels.


Top 10 Foods To Buy Organic

  1. Peaches
  2. Apples
  3. Baby Foods
  4. Peanut Butter
  5. Bell Peppers
  6. Berries
  7. Imported Grapes
  8. Beef
  9. Dairy Products
  10. Eggs

One final note: All grocers are legally required to place organic foods (especially fruits and vegetables) where they won’t be exposed to the pesticide-laden water runoff from conventional produce. If your local store has forgotten that rule, remind them. If they still don’t move the organic food, shop somewhere else.

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