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Organic Food for Babies

Baby food should be tasty and offer the best nutrition, with no artificial colourings, preservatives or processed sugars. GM-free ingredients made in organic baby food are the best alternatives to be found in stores today.

Organic food is rich with essential vitamins and minerals. Natural systems for fertilising the soil and keeping pests under control are used instead of relying on chemicals.

Before you start weaning your baby, take time to check out the organic fresh fruit and vegetable sections in your supermarket. Organic carrots, potatoes, parsnips, apples and pears, which are excellent first foods, can easily be cooked, pureed and even frozen.

Babies have immature digestive systems and need pure and safe foods. Nutritionists have said that choosing to feed your baby organically may be the most important way to give them the best start in life.

Tips for weaning your baby, organically:

• Purees: Try mixing up a teaspoonful or two of organic Baby Rice with baby's usual milk. It is a good, mild first weaning food by itself, and also serves as a base for pureed fruits and vegetables.
• Finger foods: Great organic snacks like: carrot, apple, celery, pepper and cucumber sticks. For toddlers there are a range of organic fruit and oat bars, which are tasty and have no added sugar or salt. Pieces of well-cooked scrambled egg (organic free range ones) are also nutritious and easy for babies to pick up and eat. Chunks of cheese make good finger foods.
• Broaden your baby’s taste buds by offering a wide variety of foods. Cook a mixture of organic vegetables, e.g. carrot, potato, sweetcorn and peas, and puree. If you can find organic squashes, e.g. butternut squash, and organic sweet potatoes, these are very popular with babies.
• If you are breastfeeding then try introducing iron-containing foods to your baby’s diet. You can include purees of (organic) meat and poultry, lentils or pulses. Organic meat comes from trusted sources, from animals reared properly, fed well and treated humanely. Also offer a food or drink rich in vitamin C with your baby’s meal – vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron better.
• Breast milk or formula milk should be used as baby's main milk drink up to the age of 12 months. But use organic milk in meals you are preparing for your baby – it tastes good and has also been found to be higher in important nutrients, especially omega 3 essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins E and A.
• Milk and milk-based products are excellent sources of calcium for babies – vital for making strong bones. Full-fat organic yoghurts are available in plain or fruit varieties and are easy for babies to eat.

If you’d like more information about going Organic, then please go to www.whyorganic.org and http://www.soilassociation.org

Source: The Soil Association and WhyOrganic.org