Baby Food
Let us first dispel the myth that there is anything supernatural about packaged baby food. What is baby food? It is pureed “big-people” food, cooked without any salt. There is no reason you cannot make your own baby food at home (keep reading for more on that); I understand, as a Mommy, that sometimes convenience is more important than pretty much any other factor. So when you do buy baby food, purchase the glass, not plastic baby food containers; buy the biggest size, and once you’ve used the food, wash them to reuse for the food you make at home.
Making your own baby food is not complicated.My favorite option is a banana; they’re portable and all you need is a spoon. Just give it a little squish with your hand, split open one seam of the peel, and scoop it out with your spoon. It is the perfect baby food consistency. You can always use the spoon to mash it up in the peel a little more if it’s not quite squishy enough for your baby. Fresh avocadoes are also great, requiring just a bit more preparation. Remember they won’t keep very well, though, so you can feed half to baby and use the rest for fresh guacamole. Yum.
Other great baby food options: baked potato, baked sweet potato, yolks from hard-boiled eggs (the whites are harder to digest but the yolks are extremely nutritious), yogurt (when baby is a little older), pureed peaches, nectarines, or melons (no need to cook), pureed cooked pears, apples, green peas, squash, or carrots. As baby gets older and begins eating more, you can just puree little portions of your meal, or simply mash up a bit with a fork at the table. Letting the baby have such a variety helps prevent picky eaters once you hit the toddler years; just continue giving your child small portions of what you eat.
The best “green baby hack” you can incorporate is confidence in your own decisions and abilities as a parent. American culture has attempted to commercialize parenting, as with so many other things, and new parents are often left feeling the need to consult with a professional on every small decision and use the packaged product rather than what they can make at home. Don’t let a commercialized industry steal away the freedom and joy you should have as a parent.
Just love your baby, use your common sense, and ask lots of questions.
Image Credit:
