Choosing the right food for your baby may be one of the most tasking duty as a mother. Unlike what was obtainable before now, you would want to pick some baby foods that are free of pesticides and other harmful things.
I recall when my neighbour gave birth to her first baby. It was a pretty difficult duty finding the right baby formula for the child.
Although she made sure her baby went through the exclusive six-month breastfeeding, finding the right food for her after then did not come easy. The baby rejected several kinds of foods and was even crying at some point after eating some of them.
Of course, as a mother, you would rightly be worried over the right food for your baby. Just like my neighbour, every child deserves the right kind of food to grow into a healthy adult. It becomes even more important to be selective of what your child eats, especially in the first three years of his life.
According to Science Direct, what your baby takes in this period goes a long way in determining his food preferences when he later grows into an adult.
Going Organic: A Better Alternative For Your Baby
Little wonder many parents consider giving their babies organic foods.
Organic baby foods are grown without the use of pesticides and or synthetic fertilizers, unlike their non-organic counterparts. With organic baby food, your baby is assured of taking in stuff that are free from additives, preservatives, and other harmful substances that are all found at higher levels in non-organic foods.
So, now that you have decided to go organic with your baby’s food, I will be taking you all the way on how to make the right choice. And even if there are other things bothering your mind about organic baby food, like why they are different from others, this guide will deal extensively on that as you would find out.
Let’s keep going…
Why Organic Baby Food?
Now, why is there much noise about organic baby food?
Can’t you just buy the regular non-organic food for your baby?
Well, let me tell you as captured below why you need to get organic baby food:
Taste
One of the reasons you hear many parents fall heads over heels with organic food is that they are tastier than the non-organic baby foods. The organic baby food texture is sharper. They are more delicious and would, in the long run, create a yummy experience for your child.
Healthier
Organic baby foods have lower levels of exposure to pesticides and other toxins that may be harmful to your baby’s health. With organic food, you would not only bypass the junkie and over processed inorganic food, but also feeding your baby the right food with the right kind of nutrients needed for the proper functioning of his body.
Studies have shown that organic fruits and vegetables have a lot more antioxidants and vitamins than their non-organic counterparts, thus healthier options. Some non-organic food causes digestive issues for the baby. They might not be easily digestible, thus causing more pains for your little one.
Environmental Friendliness
Going for organic baby food also means you are backing an ecosystem friendly cause. With organic food, the soil benefits much more than non-organic foods. This is because organic farming does not cause pollution to the environment and reduces the emission of carbon dioxide to the environment.
Buying organic baby food means a vote for environmentally friendly farming systems like crop rotation and composting. That means once you go for organic baby foods, you are signing up for a better environment.
You Know What Your Child Is Eating
In many countries, organic baby foods must pass the scrutiny of several regulatory bodies. This means that whatever you are giving your baby must have been vetted. This clears any doubts that your baby might be taking in some harmful substances.
Difference Between Organic And Non-Organic Baby Food
One of the things you must know about organic baby food is that it is usually made from pureeing, cooking and packaging fresh foods. This is, however, not the case with non-organic foods that are gotten from food grown with conventional farming and ranching styles.
As expected, you can get many conventional foods at cheaper prices due to the inexpensive nature of growing them. Also, organic baby foods do come with a sticker that shows they are made free from chemicals, flavours, colourings and even preservatives. This means that an organic food must be free from the above-named things for it to qualify to wear that name tag.
In the USA, for instance, organic baby foods normally come with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic Seal. If your baby’s food does not come with this seal, you may as well drop the idea that it is organic. Don’t allow the flashy words to deceive you!
Organic Baby Food: What To Look Out For
Nutrient
While you know that the baby food is organic, it is still advisable for you to look out for some of the ingredients used in making the baby food. This would ensure you are buying the right one for your baby.
Usually, the pack would contain a list of the nutrients or ingredients used in making the organic baby food. To be sure of what you are buying for your baby, check out for the essential nutrients needed for your baby’s growth. The more high nutrient value the organic baby food has, the better and healthier it is for your child.
Ideally, you should go for organic baby foods that have more calories, avoiding ones that come with much fillers like sugar, water, colours etc. Also, every organic baby food comes with a seal that confirms it is made purely from organic materials. Like in the US, the USDA gives out such seal to producers which confirms the authenticity of the organic baby food.
Many manufacturers may even try to sway you with some other attractive words like “all home-grown,†“naturally-made†and all others. However, you should always insist on buying baby organic food with the USDA seal.
Public Opinion Counts
Getting reviews about organic baby foods is a no-brainer once you decide to go shopping. Definitely, you do not know it all and this can even be more evident if you are a new parent. Going over these reviews would give you an idea of what and where you can buy the best organic baby food for your child.
Just like the axiom goes, “the voice of the people is the voice of the gods”. Nothing beats going shopping for your baby’s organic food when you are armed with the right set of information.
The Taste Is In the Pudding
Oh yeah! You know they told you that the taste is in the pudding, right? Well, this cannot be truer especially when you are buying your baby’s organic food. It is a well-known fact that babies have a great taste bud and it thus behoves on you to pick the best food that suits their taste. And who says you cannot have a taste of the organic food before taking it home for your little one to eat? If the food tastes well, then it sure would be the same when your baby eats it.
What Is Your Budget?
This might sound elementary but you and I understand that it is best consider everything, no matter how basic. Before parting with your money to buy any organic baby food, it is essential to compare it with others.
As a mother, you would be on the lookout for the best organic food for the most affordable price. It is even not about how expensive the organic baby food is.
Why?
‘Affordable’ does not mean the brand is bad. Some organic baby food manufacturers may just be coming into business and want to get a share of market.
The bottom line is: go for the best quality. This is not usually a product of price. An expensive organic baby food might not be better than a more affordable one and vice-versa.
Consider The Packaging
Organic baby food do come in several packaging and just as these packs are diverse, so do they also offer different options for you.
Should you go for organic baby food with pouches or jars? I would not answer that question for you but would only give you a hint on what each of these packs come with.
Some pouches have openings that allow your child to share his food with friends. They can be used multiple times, have lesser chances of getting your baby injured and can be easily washed and kept for future use.
With reusable pouches, you could save more money instead of buying disposable ones. In addition, most of the pouches have waterproof zipper which ensures your child is protected from infections. The onus lies on you to pick the best organic food pack for you and your baby.
Go For Less Sugar
It might come off in different names, but you must avoid extra sugar when getting organic baby food. The sugar may come in different tags like fructose, corn syrup, maple, organic cane juice, to name a few.
Buy In Bulk
Although you may need a lot of money to buy organic baby food in bulk, it is the best for you in the long run. This is due to the fact that the amount of money you would spend on the baby food would be cheaper when you buy in bulk.
Also, you will not be running all over the place when your baby’s food finishes since there is a backup plan.
Taste Different High Brands
Even if you want to stay loyal to a brand, you can check out others time and again. This will help you determine which ones are worth switching over to. Aside from giving you more options to pick from, checking out other brands of organic baby food would expose your baby’s palate to different tastes. What other way to prepare him for the varieties ahead of him as an adult?
Go Local
Experts believe that the more locally groomed a baby’s food is, the healthier it is. More freshness always come with more nutrients which is what the organic food made from locally sourced produce gives.
Should You Go For Homemade Or Buy From The Shop?
This depends on how much time you have. Homemade organic baby food might be great so you can watch closely how and where it is made, but it would take a large amount of your time. It is even more tasking when your baby starts eating more amount of food. And if you have other things at hand to do, preparing homemade baby food might not be the best bet for you.
Does Organic Baby Food Mean Healthier Food?
Of course, organic baby foods are much healthier than non-organic. The dangers of giving your baby non-organic foods with pesticides, herbicides and others, are almost non-existent when your baby feeds exclusively on organic foods.
It would be more expensive to get organic food, but it is best for you and your baby in the long run.
Which Is Cheaper: Organic or Conventional Food?
On the average, organic baby food takes more time and other resources to grow. Most organic farmers do not have large farms. They may want to hike the price of their stuff a bit higher than the usual baby food to make up for the cost.
Why are Organic Baby Foods Fresher?
Sure, they are! You know that it takes preservatives for conventional food to stay longer. However, since organic foods do not come with these preservatives, they are more likely to be fresher than the conventional food.
Conclusion
You see, getting the best food for you baby is a matter you must treat with utmost importance and care. What your baby eats goes a long way in determining how healthy he becomes. And I believe that this post has been able to answer certain posers in your heart as regards going for organic baby foods. Do well to share it with friends if you’ve found it useful. Happy parenting!