Organic foods and "going green" are getting a lot of attention lately - especially when it comes to babies. But those foods cost more, and sometimes require special preparation. Is it really worth all the trouble to use special foods and find organic baby food recipes?
Feeding your baby natural, pesticide free foods is a good idea. Wholesome organic baby food recipes are a great idea, too. But special recipes aren't always needed. In fact, you can usually find standard baby food recipes and simply substitute organic ingredients!
ORGANIC BABY FOOD
Find several baby food recipes you're interested in. Go through the recipes and make a list of the ingredients you'll need. Then go to the store and check the organic produce section to get the produce you need. Check the meat department for organic meats - they're getting easier to find. You can also probably find organic beans and other foods canned or dried - right in your local grocery store.
Another option is to head to your local farmer's market. You can often find organic and local produce. This is what makes things really worth it for your baby - you can ask farmers how they're raising their produce and how they're raising their livestock. Then you know you're getting quality food and you're supporting your local economy.
Take your ingredients home and follow your recipe. Just substitute the organic ingredients for the normal ingredients. Your recipe will usually come out just fine. Do note that organic produce is often smaller than conventional produce, which has been grown with lots of chemicals to make it bigger. So you may need to buy a little more organic produce or adjust other recipe ingredients for the smaller size.
Having said all of the above, there are times when organic baby food recipes are worth the trouble of finding them. Organic recipes are more likely to incorporate a wide range of ingredients. Standard baby food recipes tend to be pretty bland, as well.
If you want to use ingredients that aren't often used in baby food recipes - lemon, lime, parsnips, lamb, or venison are some examples - organic recipes may be just what you're looking for. Organic baby food chefs are famous for going beyond pureed carrots and blended chicken noodle soup to provide your baby with a truly tasty recipe.
If you're cooking your food with local meats that have been raised on pasture (grass fed) the meat will be leaner than grocery store meat. Even organic grocery store meat is often raised in a feed lot on a heavy grain diet. Cattle isn't made to eat grain (and chickens are not supposed to eat a vegetarian diet - they eat grubs and insects). These diets make the animals fat... even if the grain or vegetarian feed is organic. So if you are able to get meat from a farm that raises their cattle on pasture without grains you will find that the meat is a lot leaner. An organic baby food recipe may cover how to cook leaner meats (or smaller vegetables). If it doesn't, just adjust the recipe to use a little lower heat for a slightly longer period of time.
Organic baby food recipes are not really required to make your own baby food - it's not hard to do at all, and organic ingredients can be substituted for conventional ones. But organic recipes may cover ingredients that regular recipes do not. They may also have tips for cooking organic produce and grass-fed meats that you won't find in regular recipes. If you're looking for a wide range of nutrient-dense recipes, find an organic baby food cookbook - it will be worth it.
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