Making organic baby food is easy, and gives your baby the best
possible start.
Babies who develop a taste for good wholesome food early on are
likely to carry on enjoying the pure, fresh flavours of good
nutritious food. By starting your baby off on organic food, you're
providing all the
health benefits of organic foods
into the long term, and doing him or her a great favour for the
future.
WHY FEED YOUR BABY ON ORGANIC
FOODS?
A baby's weight triples in the first year of life. It's vital that
his or her developing organs, which can't yet cope with chemical residues
in food, are nourished with the best possible food, free from
additives and pesticide residues.
If you start making organic baby food when your baby's still tiny,
you'll be setting a pattern for
easy healthy eating
right through childhood, the teens and beyond.
WHEN TO START MAKING ORGANIC BABY
FOOD
The World Health Organisation recommends that babies be fed
on breast milk, or formula, only for the first six months, and then
be weaned gradually on to solid food. It is thought that introducing
solid food earlier raises the risk of babies developing an allergic
reaction. Many manufactured foods carry the suggestion that you use them for babies from 4-6
months. Be guided by your health visitor, but don't be in a rush to
start your baby on solid food.
To start with, when your baby is under 9 months, you can prepare purees
especially for him or her, using organic fruit and vegetables in simple
organic baby food recipes.
Later on, between 9 months and a year, your baby can have a portion of the organic
foods you feed to the whole family. Many of the recipes in the
Easy Healthy Recipes
section are suitable for babies and small children, if they are pureed or mashed so
the consistency is right.
TIPS ON MAKING ORGANIC BABY FOOD
Although cow's milk isn't suitable as a drink for babies
under 1 year, you can use it as an ingredient in home-made organic
baby foods such as custards, rice pudding or cheese sauce.
Be extra careful over hygiene when making organic baby food.
Sterilise baby's bowls, spoons and cups until six months. Wash your
hands before you handle foods, and again in between touching cooked
and raw foods. Keep kitchen counters and utensils scrupulously clean.
A couple of pieces of basic equipment are essential for making
organic baby food – a small sieve, and a blender or mouli food mill.
Don't season organic baby foods with salt, sugar or honey.
When feeding your baby, put the amount you think she or he will
eat in a bowl, and throw away any leftovers after the meal is
finished.
Untouched food can be covered and refrigerated for 24 hours.
Don't reheat food which has been previously heated.
FREEZING HOME-MADE ORGANIC BABY
FOOD
To save time, make batches of the
organic baby food recipes
that are suitable for freezing (some aren't and have to be made in
tiny quantities to use immediately). Freeze them in ice cube trays
(sterilised, if baby is under 6 months), so that you can defrost
individual portions easily.
When you're making organic baby food for the freezer, cool the
food quickly, by standing the pan or bowl in cold water. Puree the
food, and, when well cooled, freeze.
When you want to use the food, pop the cubes out into a bowl and
leave to defrost slowly in the fridge. Warm through gently in a
saucepan.
Be very careful if you use the microwave to defrost and reheat
frozen food. Microwaves can reheat food unevenly, or to very high
temperatures. Stir microwaved food well, leave it to cool, and test
the temperature yourself before offering it to your baby.
Throw away leftovers. Don't re-freeze food that has been
previously frozen, and then warmed.
How long will frozen foods keep?
Plain fruit and vegetable purees: up to 6 months.
Fruit and veg purees with added milk, yogurt or fromage frais: up to
2 months.
Purees of fish, chicken or meat: up to 3 months.
