Why Organic for your Baby?

When I had my first son, 5 years ago, I started making my own baby food— it just seemed like a natural thing to do.  Of course, many friends thought I was crazy and told me just to buy it from the store.  As I continued to do more research, I realized that there are a lot of important benefits to choosing to make homemade organic baby food than it being more cost effective.

What are the benefits of homemade organic baby foods?

Nutrition – Fresh is best, as it involves less processing, preserves nutrients, and you can choose organic, local, in season foods.

Taste – Part of feeding your infant is getting him accustomed to the social aspect of eating, the experience of eating. Homemade foods taste more like “real” food.  This makes the transition to table foods easier because your baby is used to tasting true foods.  Did you know that food preferences are formed very early in life – before age 2 is a critical time? When you introduce flavorful fresh and healthy foods at a young age, it helps your child develop a taste for it and hopefully a preference for those foods over their childhood.   Best of all, organic fruits and vegetables really do taste better. Try doing a taste test with organic verses conventional fruits and vegetables and see what you think…you will be amazed!

Less waste – It sometimes takes a baby trying a new food up to 10 times before developing a taste for it. So when you open a jar of baby food – 4 or 8 oz. It doesn’t give you the opportunity to try again without purchasing another jar. If you use the ice cube tray method, you have 1 oz serving sizes so you can defrost what you need.
What is organic?

“Organic” means that the food has been grown in safe and healthy soil using natural fertilizers free of synthetic pesticides or additives or hormones, in the case of meats & dairy products.

The organic farmer believes, and rightly so, that if you avoid treating the soil with chemicals, the food it produces will be better for humans and the environment will benefit as well. The organic farmer begins by rotating the crops, a fine farming principle that was even advised in biblical days. Crop rotation keeps the soil from becoming depleted of nutrients. One type of plant will return nutrients to the soil that is needed by another crop. When the soil is richer, the underground creepy-crawlies thrive, and earthworms and soil-dwelling bacteria feast on the rich soil. In return for a nutritious place to live, they deposit their own nutrients.

Organic farmers use only natural fertilizers, such as manure and compost, and also use natural methods to control insects. This means that organically-grown foods do not contain pesticide residues and other chemicals that may be harmful to human health.
So what are the benefits?  What does the research tell us?

By choosing organic you avoid toxins, pesticides and hormones. And this is so important when it comes to our babies and children. Pound for pound an infant and children consume more pesticide due to body size.  Young children are more vulnerable to developmental damage from pesticide residues on foods.  They are more vulnerable because of their fast growth and speedy metabolism, and smaller size which mean they eat more fruits and vegetables in relation to their body weight due than adults. A child’s developing immune, central-nervous and hormonal systems are vulnerable to damage from toxic chemicals.

Some of the pesticides directly affect the growth of a child’s head and brain, which can put a child at risk for intelligence and behavioral disturbances. And, “children may be at risk of higher exposure to the toxins found in non-organic food because baby food is often made up of condensed fruits or vegetables, potentially concentrating pesticide residues.”

Organic foods are more nutritious.

Although in the past this was generally debated and there was no evidence that organic foods were more nutritious.  There have been more research studies conducted.  Recent studies have found that organic foods are more nutritious which relates back to the method of growing fruits and vegetables.

It’s a fact . . . according to a recent report from the Organic Center called “Still No Free Lunch: Nutrient Levels in US food supply eroded by pursuit of high yields.” Evidently, US Department of Agriculture reports show that compared with 50 years ago, we now have more abundant grains, fruit and vegetable crops, but lower levels of vitamins and minerals in these foods. Studies have found 10–25% lower levels of iron, zinc, protein, calcium, vitamin C. And experts suggest the same is likely true for levels of other photochemical.

Why? Modern conventional farming relies on heavy use of fertilizers, close plant spacing, and high use of pesticides. These chemicals and farming methods make the plants grow faster but as a result, the plants don’t develop deep roots or develop their own defenses to fight off harsh conditions on their own. The result is lower nutrient concentrations.

How to find more nutritious produce? Eat organic. According to the report, organic farming produces lower yields but organic crops have higher levels of vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals—up to 20% more minerals, and up to 30% more antioxidants.  Organic foods give you more nutritional bang for your buck—another reason to choose organic foods for yourself and your family.

Can I afford organic foods?

Yes, organic foods are more expensive; however, the cost of these foods has actually gone down over the last couple of years as the demand for these products has grown. Organic farming methods cost more, however over the long term they are actually more cost effective.

As far as fruits and vegetables – the Environmental Working Group – a non-profit organization – has put together a list of the top 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables – often referred to as the dirty dozen.

* Peaches
* Apples
* Sweet Bell Peppers
* Celery

* Nectarines
* Strawberries
* Cherries
* Lettuce

* Grapes (imported)
* Pears
* Spinach
* Potatoes

Here are some other suggestions to make your life easier, and save money too!

* Supermarket comparison shop.
* Hit the Farmer’s markets
* Join a community-supported organic farm.
* Plant your own organic garden
* Check out your local Whole Foods Market monthly flyer for coupons and deals