A Bit of Baby (Food) Reminiscing

A recent post from 18 Reasons about a baby food swap got me reminiscing a bit about the days when I did the same.

Preparing food for babies at home was once a commonplace affair. But, with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, commercially prepared baby foods found their way onto store shelves in 1927 with Dorothy Gerber’s first offerings. They were promoted as a convenience food that gave moms a bit more freedom from the kitchen, even if it came at a higher price. The slick advertising campaigns that soon followed, highlighted the ultimate in nutrition for the baby and ultimate in convenience for the woman, further cementing jarred baby foods as the preferred method of feeding babies in the U.S.
Today, it is estimated that a baby will consume 600 jars of baby food before moving on to real food. That number far exceeds a baby in Western Europe where babies consume only about 240 jars, and in Eastern European countries, such as Poland, where only 12 jars are consumed. The average cost for those 600 jars of baby food is about $300, but that amount can be considerably higher especially when the cost of organic baby food is factored in.
For a multitude of reasons, including cost, variety and health, preparing baby food at home is once again becoming fashionable. A growing number of parents are making the choice to switch from jarred foods to homemade baby foods realizing that it is an easy and convenient way to ensure their child has a foundation for health and healthy eating habits.
“Making baby food is the ultimate in convenience,” says Lisa Barnes, owner of Petit Appetit, a San Francisco-area company dedicated to empowering parents with the nutritional information and cooking skills necessary to prepare healthy, organic meals for their entire family. “And,” she adds, “homemade baby food is the ideal way to monitor quality, nutrition content and variety of foods your baby consumes. By simply straining, pureeing or mashing adult food, you can make nutritious, whole foods without adding unnecessary salt or sugar.”
Baby food can be prepared in a variety of different ways. Bananas, for example, can be mashed with a fork, while other fruits and vegetables can be steamed until soft then placed in a hand blender or food processor to blend it to a smooth consistency. For harder to process foods, such as meats or tough-skinned vegetables including peas and corn, look to use a high-powered blender or a food processor.
Having four children of my own, I have experimented, using a variety of different tools to prepare foods to the proper consistency. Initially I used a small, hand-cranked food mill that served its purpose in the early stages by milling soft fruits and vegetables along with tofu to a smooth consistency. But after a few short weeks, its capacity proved limiting, and vegetables, such as peas and corn (with their outer skin), didn’t process as smoothly as needed. Once my child graduated to meat, the hand-held mill no longer performed to my expectations, so I graduated to a hand-held stick blender, which enabled my to quickly blend a wider variety of ingredients with ease. Eventually, I struggled with this too. For the most part it performed as I needed it to, but I but still occasionally struggled with its ability to process to a smooth consistency.

True Liberation
It wasn’t until after my twins arrived, that I realized how wonderful my Vita-Mix® Professional Series would prove to be. Not only does the capacity allow me to prepare lots of food that can be frozen for use later - meaning it saves me a lot of time, the Professional Series is useful for preparing healthful foods for my older children, and even for myself and my husband. The Professional Series has proven to be the ultimate kitchen tool time and again. Because of its professional quality, preparing a wide range of foods is more convenient than ever. Meat is no longer an issue, as The Professional Series has the power and design to blend every bit of it to the same consistency, leaving no larger chunks that the babies couldn’t eat.
As the twins progressed through their new culinary experiences, and eat more, I was able to blend large portions, freezing some for later. The blender is also fun to use for everyone in the family, making soups, smoothies, and even dessert sauces.
By making baby food for my four children, I have learned a lot about the importance of educating my little ones about healthful eating habits. As Barnes says, “Children need to know that food doesn’t come from a jar in the pantry. Even visiting the farmer’s market with babies lets them experience the colors of the market, exposing them to new experiences. Then using those foods to prepare meals at home is the perfect way to educate your children about the field to table concept of eating.”
The sooner you can give children a greater variety of foods (what nutritionists call ‘feeding the rainbow’), you’ll set the foundation for a lifetime for healthful eating.
All this leaves me to ponder – in my spare time – whether Brussel sprouts will continue to be one of my son’s favorite vegetables when he heads off to college in 11 years.


For those of you in the San Francisco area, here are the specifics for the 18 Reasons event.

Friday, August 13th, 2010, 11AM-12PM, RSVP required
Homemade Baby Food Swap with Karen Solomon
$5 for everyone
RSVP by August 11th: info@18reasons.org

Feeding your bambino nutritious and delicious food is important, we all know that. It can also be expensive and time-consuming. But, like with most things, when we combine efforts the results are bigger, better, and more fabulous. At our first ever baby food swap, co-hosted by Karen Solomon, we're tapping our collective blending powers to make the most important of tasks - feeding our children - easier. In return for bringing a batch of organic homemade baby food (in 10 half-pint containers), you'll get to meet other parents, trade baby food secrets, and leave with 10 different half-pints of pureed deliciousness. We'll have coffee and tea on hand to help fuel the swap and your day.

Note: All baby food must be made from 100% organic ingredients. If it is seasonal, even better!