organic food

[fatnhap]

hi,

trying my best to give fresh homemade food to dd who started solids 3 weeks ago but now i have even a less of a life than i did before. all i seem to do is mash, blend, feed, clean up and then think of what to steam and mash for next meal. want to give one meal from a jar during the day and wondering what's the best organic product out there. thanks.

[anchovies]

Have you got a freezer? If so the old ice cube tray thing works a treat, I used to make a tonne of purees on a sunday afternoon, freeze them, then mix and match them all week. Failing that I reckon any of the organic versions (cow and gate, hipp etc are fine) DS always really liked the baby organix stuff the best though, just pick the plain veg or fruit versions watching out for any of the possible allergy things. I thought it was ridiculous that jars saying 4 months plus had gluten in them, you have to check really carefully.

[WideWebWitch]

Go for simple things like bananas and avocados, then you don't have to do much to them, gotta go but may come back later.

[Chuffed]

agree with anchovies, ice cube tray and then put them into zipseal bags labelled with what is in each. Mash/puree seperate foods as it makes it easier with making up different meals ie. a cube of carrots, peas, chicken blended with some vegetable soup can make up a meal or you could replace the carrot the next day with cauliflower. Also try amending the meals you and dp/dh make ie. buy some gluten free pasta for a while for you and when you make a meal don't put salt and blend a bit up afterwards to freeze. This keeps a small supply constant.
As for jars check them as some contain sugar/gluten etc but boots, organix, heinz, hipp are all OK. (well they were for dd)

[fatnhap]

thanks for tips, very useful. feel guilty about giving jar food, it's not really that bad 1 x a day is it?

[snafu]

God, don't feel guilty. I'm probably considered quite 'militant' about food but I still gave ds organic jars. IIRC Baby Organix shepherds pie always went down pretty well! I would sometimes mix it up with e.g. peas, potato etc for a bit of variety and did offer the homecooked stuff as well - but it often went in the bin. Some things don't change!

[anchovies]

Don't feel guilty it's a right pain isn't it. The jar food is fine, especially if it makes for an easier life! Don't worry before long dd will be eating "normal" food which is a billion times less effort!

[fatnhap]

hhmmm.... 1 last question ... jar food doesn't make baby go off home cooked food does it? i guess it depends on what a crap cook one is and i definitely fall into this category . on a more serious note, wouldn't want dd to reject fresh food

[anchovies]

Not in my experience, DS always preferred home cooked to jars - god knows why!

[purpleturtle]

I always used Hipp jars. No real reason, just did. I heard of someone recently whose baby woulldn't eat jar food at all. Not a problem I've ever had, both mine have happily eaten almost anything from the word go.

[WideWebWitch]

fatnhap, the odd jar is fine imo and shouldn't make her go off stuff. When she's a bit older cooking needn't come into it that much, lots of fruit and veg are fine raw/lightly cooked.

[Marina]

Mine have always happily eaten both. I have no problem with giving the odd jar to babies...great way to see if they like something before you spend £££ on one organic squash and find it gets spat all over the kitchen.

[dot1]

we decided after a couple of months to keep making all the savoury stuff - so pureeing veg. sauces, etc. but to buy puds!! We were feeling like a flipping cottage industry, spending all our spare time peeling pears, apples etc., cooking, blending, freezing..!! Much easier now 'cos we tend to just make more of what we eat and mush + freeze that for ds, but buy Hipp/other organic puds!!

[Chuffed]

dot that's what we did as well. All the fruit etc was jars and some of the meals. dd has always eaten both with no problem.
It is easier to make the savoury expecially if you can time it with your meals ie: seperate some vege's out before you mix them in - seperate out a bit of stirfry before adding the sauce and you have some more cubes to add to your collection. Not a lot of effort needed vs the fruit.