Raising an organic baby

Credit: Nicole Bridger

Skip the additives and preservatives of jarred baby food and make your own—it’s fast, easy and totally organic

I love making food for my baby. I feel good knowing exactly what is going into the food and how it was cooked.

We consulted our naturopath for guidelines on what and when to feed him. She recommended breast milk only until 6 months, then to start with dark green leafy vegetables, like kale and spinach—very different from the conventional rice cereal. By starting with more bitter vegetables, I am prepping his palette to enjoy the taste—hopefully for the rest of his life.

Next, I’ll move into other sweeter vegetables and slowly fruit. Grains, beans and legumes are not introduced until 9 months because of allergies and the necessary development of his digestive system. At 12 months, I can introduce yogurt and oats, and then at 18 months meat, poultry and fish. Because peanuts and eggs are common allergens, they are not introduced until 2 years of age.
 

I use a BEABA baby food maker. I love it because you steam and blend all in the same container, which means easy cleanup! But a food processor or blender works well, too.

And the most important part: I only use organic produce.

I like cooking this way for my baby because I know every single ingredient that goes into it, so I can be sure my baby isn’t getting any of the sugars, fillers, additives or preservatives common to processed, pre-packaged baby food. It’s cheaper, too!

How to make your own organic baby food

Start by steaming or roasting the veg/fruit; this way of cooking ensures that you are keeping as many of the nutrients as possible in the food.

Then purée, adding a bit of water until it is the right consistency.

I then put the food into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once hard, I empty the cubes into a Ziploc bag or Tupperware to keep in the freezer.

When I am thawing the food for a meal, I will mix different cubes together, for example squash-kale-zucchini, broccoli-beet-carrot, or yam-chard-cauliflower. But since my baby is only 7 months, we haven’t yet gotten into the more exciting recipes like beans with vegetables or yogurt and fruit.

By making the food and freezing it, I only have to cook food once in a while when I have the time. Most of the time I am just pulling cubes out of the freezer, which is practically instant and makes my life much easier. 

Making baby food is easy and fun and I encourage you to give it a try!

Nicole Bridger was born and raised in Vancouver. In 2007 she started her own company, a clothing line of sustainable, contemporary women’s wear (website). In January of 2009, she and her husband became parents to their son, Rhame. They live and work in Vancouver.

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