Archive for May, 2010
MOOOws on Organic Milk
USDA’s 2002 organic rules said that dairy herds must have access to pasture. They did not say the animals had to actually be fed on pasture. This loophole is now supposed to be fixed. USDA has just issued new rules.
Starting in June, organic dairy herds must be sent to pasture for the entire grazing season of at least 120 days and must get at least 30% of their food from pasture during that season. Smaller organic dairy farmers are already doing this. Now the big ones will have to come into line. And about time too.
Here’s how the New York Times explains this action.
Before this final rule, the Cornucopia Institute had a number of concerns (in 2008). The proposed rules were bundled together with provisions that had not been properly reviewed by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). These problems have now been solved.
Mark Kastel of the Cornocopia Institute writes:
In its final version we are virtually 100% satisfied (still doing some technical review). Even more importantly we are highly impressed by the professional approach taken by Kathleen Merrigan and the staff at the organic program as to how they plan to implement this.
He sends the Institute’s most recent press release celebrating the new rules.
Score this one as a win for organic advocates!
Organic Baby Books
Organic Baby is a great all around starter book, that not only provides organic baby food options as well as organic baby product reviews, it also provides some great advice for those who may not be able to afford the full head-first jump into organic. The author, Kim Rider, gives her insight into buying conventional baby products, and what to look for, as well as what to look out for.
Although it’s received mixed reviews on Amazon, it’s a great resource for those mothers looking into organic living. It’s definitely good for someone who is just beginning to go organic. Those who are already living their life organically may be turned off by the basics in this book.
Nevertheless, it is a fantastic book for those new to living organically, and are wishing to surround their baby with organic materials and feed them organic meals.
Click here to get our version….
-Mark
Belly Baby Tricks – Flashlight
I’m sure some of you have heard the ole flashlight trick but if not here goes. Your baby is sensitive to light and if you are anywhere from 4 months on you will be able to play this trick that will stimulate the baby’s senses.
Turn off all the lights and get a flashlight. (low powered small one)
Start on one side of your belly and turn on the light. You will be able to feel the baby move away from the light or kick where the light is. See how they react to when you move the light slowly to the other side. You may feel your baby follow the light and turn or they may turn away from the light. Not really sure if this has anything to do with there personality but you can be the judge. I’m guessing if they follow the light then you may have a curious little one on your hands right out of the gate. I would love to hear some stories if anyone has any experience with this.
Thanks for listening,
Mark
Bottled Water Vrs Tap Water
Okay let’s get out the definition book first. By definition water is water. That is to say, all water on Earth is a compound of two hydrogen and one oxygen molecule. The difference between various types of bottled waters lies mainly in where the source is located and what processes the water goes through before it is sold to consumers.
Some types of bottled water, such as well or spring, get their designation from their original source. Mineral water must contain a specified amount of trace minerals naturally before it can be sold. Distilled or purified water must be put through a filtration or mechanical process in order to remove contaminants and minerals. Some water types may actually fit into several different categories- distilled water, for example, is also purified by definition. Spring and well waters make excellent refreshments during and after exercise, but distilled water lacks trace minerals and may not have a satisfying taste. Mineral water may have a natural sparkle and refreshing taste, but a little may go a long way.
Water-Quality Regulation
Two different groups govern the quality of drinking water in the United States. The Food and
Administration sets standards for bottled water, while the Environmental Protection Agency
sets standards for tap water. Side-by-side there are very few differences between these two
sets of guidelines. However, proponents of both bottled water and tap water would have you
believe otherwise.
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is a consortium of bottled-water companies that
joined forces to promote and help regulate the bottled-water industry. They created a policy called
“The Model Bottled Water Regulation,” (available at www.bottledwater.org). All companies in the
IBWA abide by these regulations and claim that bottled water is subject to certain standards that
are more aggressive than those governing tap water. No third-party investigations have
demonstrated that bottled water passes more safety and health checks before reaching
the consumer.
So at the end of the day what we need to be clear on here people is that when you are buying that cheap bottled water just to fill up your fridge you are essentially buying tap water that has probably been sitting in warm plastic bottles for a long stretch of time. We all know how I feel about plastic and heat.
There are some exceptions. If you are out and about and need to hydrate then by all means go ahead and get a bottled water. I don’t know about you but FIJI water is my favorite. A bit pricey but worth it.
If your refrigerator comes with it’s own carbon filtration system (most do now a days) then you are essentially getting better quality water then 95% of the bottled waters available.
If you are looking for a plain water filter then BRITA is the way to go. They are simply the best.
So remember the plastic in those plastic water bottles is cheap. Go ahead and get one of those hiker bottles to put your filtrated water in for on the go. Or you can check out our Stainless Steel Baby Bottle for hot and cold liquids or our entire line of PVC, Phthalate, BPA and Nitorsamine Free (what a mouth full) Bottles.
Hope that helps,
MARK
Show your Mother some Natural Organic Love on Mothers day
Ohh Momma!!! Today is your day to get adored, appreciated, and most of all loved. So of course I will have to give a shout out to my beautiful MOM To Be Shirley and the best MOM on the planet Grammy JOY. I love you both!!!
Mothers Day was originally conceived by Julia Ward Howe after the American Civil War as a day honoring (in her opinion) the inherent pacifism of mothers, Mother’s Day now simply celebrates motherhood and thanking mothers. Mothers often receive gifts on this day.
Mother’s Days are celebrated on various days of the year in different countries because they have a number of different origins. One school of thought claims this day emerged from a custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Mother worship — which kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of gods, and Rhea, the wife of Cronus — was held on March 15 to March 18 around Asia Minor.
In most countries, Mother’s Day is a new concept copied from western civilization. In many African countries, Mother’s Day has its origins in copying the British concept. In most of East Asia, Mother’s Day is a heavily marketed and commercialized concept copied straight from Mother’s Day in the USA.
Julia Ward Howe wrote the original Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870, as a call for peace and disarmament. An excerpt follows:
From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: “Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice.”
Blood does not wipe our dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace…
Howe failed in her attempt to get formal recognition of a Mother’s Day for Peace. Her idea was influenced by Anna Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker who, starting in 1858, had attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers’ Work Days. She organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors.
Jarvis’ daughter, also named Anna Jarvis, would, of course, have known of her mother’s work, and the work of Howe. Much later, when her mother died, this second Anna Jarvis started her own crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother’s Day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908, in the church where the elder Anna Jarvis had taught Sunday School. Grafton is the home to the International Mother’s Day Shrine. From there, the custom caught on — spreading eventually to 45 states. The holiday was declared officially by some states beginning in 1912. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother’s Day.
Here is a nice little poem that sums it all up.
I Said a Mother’s Prayer for You
Author Unknown
I said a Mother’s Day prayer for you
to thank the Lord above
for blessing me with a lifetime
of your tenderhearted love.
I thanked God for the caring
you’ve shown me through the years,
for the closeness we’ve enjoyed
in time of laughter and of tears.
And so, I thank you from the heart
for all you’ve done for me
and I bless the Lord for giving me
the best mother there could be!
Go ahead and Treat yourself today… and this is a special shout out to all mom’s. Just for reading this post we are giving a special 50% off to those who have read through this little post. The code is below:
50% entire order 1025650
A little gift that indulges a special mama in a big way. From lips to toes, and everywhere in-between, she will adore Earth Mama Angel Baby’s pampering pack of essential natural and organic goodies.
Its just a little something that says a big “I Love You” – naturally! CLICK HERE
That’s the News and I’m otta here…. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO EVERY MOTHER OUT THERE….
WITH LOVE,
MARK
Building Blocks of Nutrition
In this section you’ll read how a little preparation can help you and your baby reap the rewards of the best nature has to offer.
Building Block A: Breastfeeding
It’s no secret that breastfeeding offers the best foundation for good baby nutrition. The World Health Organization swears by it, and more than 90 percent of moms in countries like the U.S. and Australia try it each year.
However, many moms begin supplementing prior to 4 – 6 months and stop breastfeeding long before the recommended two year period.
Lack of good support, discomfort and misconceptions about milk supply are just a few of the factors leading moms to wean sooner than they want to.
However, if you can prepare, by taking a short course or visiting with a lactation consultant, you’ll be armed with factual information, real expectations and a positive attitude. Here you’ll find some breastfeeding tips to help you find the support you will need.
If you need breastfeeding tips for twins, check out this breastfeeding article on Raising-Twins.com.
However long you choose to continue nursing, take care of you and your baby with a sound breastfeeding diet.
Building Block B: Supplementation
If your baby is dealing with dehydration or critical condition in the first days of life, supplementing infant nutrition with formula may be essential. Likewise for mommies who return to work and are unable to maintain a consistent pumping schedule.
Even if you plan to breastfeed exclusively, I recommend having a preferred organic baby formula in mind. It’s one less thing you will have to think about in a potentially stressful situation.
Check out our line of Organic Baby Bottles HERE.
Building Block C: Solids
When your baby reaches 4 – 6 months they will likely be getting information from your pediatrician about starting solids. This important milestone in infant nutrition can be overwhelming, because there are so many options.
By choosing organic baby food, you can avoid pesticides, additives and preservatives that could lead to allergic reactions.
Are you concerned about the higher costs associated with buying organic baby foods? Or maybe you just want to be 100% sure about the ingredients in your baby’s food.
If so, consider making homemade baby food. All you need is fresh organic produce, a baby grinder and some nutritious baby food recipes.
Building Block D: Toddler Nutrition
When your baby turns one year old, you will want to be sure to incorporate protein into your baby’s diet. You may also want to determine if vitamin supplements are necessary for filling gaps in baby nutrition. Here are some tips on how to choose vitamins if and when you do use them.
Your one-year old may also be ready for finger foods at meal time and during snacking. Toddlers like the independence they gain from feeding themselves.
Finally, for the first three years of your child’s life, it is best to choose organic over conventional foods.
Why Organic is good for our babies
As parents, we want to feed our children healthy food. What parent would turn down the chance to give a child delicious, healthy food that is convenient, a good money value, that the child loves – and then responds with a, “Thank you, Mommy, that was great! May I help clean up?”
In practice, though, many powerful forces determine our food choices. Our children have tasted artificially flavored, partially hydrogenated, day-glow snack foods and clamor for more. Our kids tell us that their friends’ “parents let them eat” the latest processed food fashion. Huge sums of money pay for artists, musicians, toy manufacturers, psychologists, and marketers to work together to carefully manipulate your child’s food preferences.
We’re busy and want something simple, quick, and preferably inexpensive. We return to the ruts of the unhealthy foods we ate ourselves as kids or that we know our own kids will like. We feel guilty because of our busy lifestyles and don’t want to say “no” to our kids – especially if it means yet another battle.
And the last straw – we hear conflicting information about what is healthy. High carb or low carb? Low fat is good for kids. Low fat is bad for kids. Sugar doesn’t affect behavior. Sugar causes ADHD. Aspartame is totally safe. Airplane pilots aren’t allowed to eat foods containing aspartame because it affects their judgment
Phew! What’s a parent to do?
Thankfully, making healthier food choices is simple and clear. Increasing fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the diet makes the diet healthier. Especially in our antibiotic-flooded age, eating foods that contain live active cultures of beneficial bacteria makes our diet healthier. Decreasing artificial chemicals in the diet and the environment, makes us all healthier.
Nutrition is not an all-or-none activity. The goal is to keep making choices that make the diet a little better.
A Stitch in Time
DDT used in the United States before 1966 may have caused an epidemic of premature births that has only now been detected! According to a fascinating study published in the July 14, 2001 issue of The Lancet, scientists who studied stored cord blood samples from mothers who had delivered at that time found elevated levels of DDT breakdown products among the group who had premature deliveries or low birth weight infants. This would make DDT responsible for a host of medical problems and the deaths of many children – but the link wasn’t proven until more than 30 years later! DDT use in the United States was stopped in 1972 because it caused reproductive damage to birds (the bald eagle and brown pelican were nearly extinct), but DDT is still widely used in developing countries for insect control. I’m certain that the dangers of some chemicals in common use in the United States today will be proven in the future. I believe that toxic chemicals are one of the biggest health threats to our children. We may not prove the links until they are grown, but we must not wait until then to provide them with safe food, water, air, homes, and schools.
On a personal note, my wife has now recovered from a very malignant form of breast cancer. She has no family history of the disease, but toxic chemicals were used on her farm when she was a child.
What we now call ‘conventional farming’ is actually something very new. In the 20th century, our naïve optimism about science led to the over-exuberant use of antibiotics, infant formulas, surgery, pesticides, hormones, and fossil fuels. It’s time to bring this back into balance.
Organic food has long been the standard for human nutrition. In contrast, many chemicals and hormones introduced post World War II do not have proven long-term safety. Some of them may be fine. Time will tell. I prefer organic for children where there is a good choice.
With the dramatic increase in organic farming in recent years, the new generation of organic farmers is developing innovative and earth friendly ways to increase yields and improve flavor. What is organic and why is it so important for our children?
Organic Defined
Organic refers to the way agricultural products–food and fiber–are grown and processed. It is an ecological system that relies on healthy, rich soil to produce plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of innovative practices that work with nature, instead of against it, such as crop rotation, cover crop planting, beneficial insect release and composting. In the case of livestock, no antibiotics or synthetic hormones are permitted. Organic production also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Organic practices mean:
- No pesticides to contaminate our soil and water or injure farm workers
- No fertilizers to runoff and contaminate rivers, lakes and oceans
- A healthier and more sustainable environment for us all
Pesticides In Our Food and Environment
Chemicals used in conventional farming pose many risks to human health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged with evaluating pesticides and setting “acceptable risk” levels of exposure. EPA’s tests have largely been conducted on fully grown adult men or non-human animal species, exposing them to one chemical at a time. Evidence now shows that chemicals in combination–the way we are usually exposed to them in everyday life—may exponentially increase health risk.
Additionally, many EPA-approved pesticides were registered long before extensive research linked these chemicals to cancer and other diseases. Now the EPA considers 33% of all pesticides as potentially cancer-causing.
Why Organic Especially for Children?
Children are developing organs to last a lifetime. Due to their smaller size, fast-growing speedy metabolisms, and less varied diets, infants and children are more vulnerable to health and developmental damage. In 1993, a congressionally mandated study by the National Academy of Sciences expressed concern that existing methods of risk evaluation for pesticide exposure were failing children. More recently, the Consumers Union and Environmental Working Group have released studies confirming that children are overexposed even if their exposure is within legal limits.
The Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 mandated a review of agricultural chemicals in light of this new information about risk assessment. Included in this act is a requirement to impose a 10-fold margin of safety to protect children when setting standards for the use of pesticides on food. While safety standards have become more strict, buying organic products, if they are available and you can afford them, and supporting organic agriculture may be your best protection.
Why Does Organic Cost More?
Organic products do tend to cost more than their conventional counterparts. To some extent, this is changing as production capacity and demand for organic products increase, improving production efficiencies and lowering prices at the checkout. In addition, many involved in organic are striving for a sustainable agricultural system–one which is ecologically sound as well as economically viable. Paying farmers a fair price for their products is an important tenet for many involved in organic agriculture.
Raising a family on a budget can pose challenges at times. Watching pennies and doing “the right thing” for our families can sometime seem in conflict. For example, in the case of organic foods and fibers, it’s understandable to question if the benefits are really worth the extra cost. Looking beyond the price of an organic product and considering the true value, may shed light on the subject. When considering products for your children, organic may indeed be a far better value.
An Opportunity to Support a Healthier Tomorrow
Our children are our most treasured resources, and we have the opportunity to protect them. By reducing toxic exposure, organic products can help us raise healthy, strong children. Through nurturing the soil and keeping toxic and persistent chemicals out of the environment, organic agriculture is one thing we can support to help us pass along a healthy and safe planet for future generations. The cost may be a little more, but the value for you and your family may be far greater.
Read more: http://www.drgreene.com/article/organic-choice-our-children#ixzz0n0ujMDFA
We thought this was a good one.. MOBS
How to make your own Natural Soap
Good Clean Fun
Make your own natural bar soaps for the perfect holiday gift.
By Sara Snow
After years of taking a backseat to liquid pump options, bar soaps are finally making a comeback. Browse any specialty or gift shop and you’ll find a multitude of cleansing bars that are both beautiful and eco-friendly. Pump soaps require a lot more packaging—plastic bottle, plastic tube, plastic pump—than their old-fashioned friends, which usually come wrapped in a single layer of plastic or paper.
With the holidays approaching, now is the perfect time to jump on the bar-soap bandwagon and create your own fragrant works of art. Not only are bars of soap a good green choice for the home, but they also make special gifts when wrapped in brown or decorative paper and tied with a bow. Plus, by making your own soaps you can control the ingredients and keep the product natural for your friends and family.
For the soap recipes below, start with a basic soap and add ingredients from there. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can start from scratch and make your soap the traditional way, with fats, water and lye. Or you can do it easier (and perhaps safer) with our melt-mix-pour method. This will allow you and your kids to personalize the soaps you make by simply mixing your favorite essential oils, exfoliators, moisturizers, herbs and flowers into a basic store-bought soap.
Stellar Suds
To create natural, gift-worthy soaps, choose one of our three recipes (below) and follow these instructions.
1. Start with a fragrance-free soap: glycerin, white or olive oil. (We used glycerin soaps in our recipes.)
2. Have your child help you cut 8 oz. of the soap into small pieces, using a plastic knife or other safe utensil. Melt the pieces down in either a double boiler over low heat or in a microwave (take care to keep little hands away from the heat). Stir frequently. If using a microwave, heat on medium power in short time segments to avoid a mess.
3. Once the soap has melted, allow it to cool slightly while stirring frequently. Help your child mix in ingredients and pour into the mold of your choice. Cupcake or loaf pans work well—a small loaf pan allows you to cut your soap into rectangular pieces, while a tube or a pipe (such as a piece of PVC pipe) creates beautiful rounds. A cupcake mold (mini or large) produces perfectly sized individual patties.
4. Allow your soap to sit overnight. Once it has set, remove from the mold and slice (if necessary). For gifts, your child can wrap one or more soaps in recycled paper and tie with a ribbon. As an added touch, include a note explaining the benefits of each herbal ingredient.
Recipes
Lavender Soother
8 oz. melted soap
1/2 tsp. lavender essential oil
1 Tbsp. dried lavender flowers
Lavender helps calm achy muscles, soothe colic and guarantee a good night’s rest. We mixed lavender essential oil with dried flowers for an effective and beautiful bar of soap.
Nori Cleansing Soap
8 oz. melted soap
1/2 tsp. tea tree oil
1 sheet nori, cut into slivers
Nori is an extremely nourishing sea vegetable that can help with cell regeneration. Tea tree oil is naturally antifungal, antibacterial and antimicrobial. The combination of these ingredients makes this soap perfect for acne-prone skin.
Softening Oat Scrub
8 oz. melted soap
2 Tbsp. quick oats (the pieces will be smaller than regular oats)
1/4 tsp. cedarwood oil
1 Tbsp. honey
The oats act as gentle exfoliators, while the honey soothes and softens skin. Once finished, this soap will be honey-brown in color. Since the honey and cedarwood oil are both gentle antiseptics, they’re great for oily skin. Also, try swapping cedarwood for birch sweet oil, another mild-scented essential oil.
Sara Snow is the host of Get Fresh with Sara Snow and Living Fresh, both on the Discovery networks. Sara also writes for CNN.com and Treehugger.com.
How To Make Organic Baby Shampoo
Organic Eggs Make a great Ingredient
Hi everyone thought I would share this article on how to make your own Organic Shampoo. Check out the ingredients of our Our Organic Baby Shampoo’s here.
First of all let’s go through what Organic means on a label. 100% = only Organic ingredients are used. When something is labeled Organic it means 90% Organic ingredients are used. And when something is labeled “made with organic” it mean 70% is Organic ingredients.
When you make your own hair products you can pretty much dictate what and what doesn’t go into your hair. You are going to have to play around and act as your own chemist when it comes to your hair as your hair is just as unique as you are. Try adding a bit more of this and a bit less of that and see what results you get. As the ingredients are all readily available and the products easy to prepare, every member of the household can have their own special organic hair care program.
As no chemicals have been used to make the products, homemade hair care will be kind to your hair, skin and to the environment. There are no fears of introducing chemically derived products such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate to the hair and skin. Such chemicals are reported to cause skin irritation and many people try to avoid them.
INGREDIENTS:
No special ingredients are required to make your own organic hair products. Many of the items can be found in your store cupboard right now! Eggs, honey, cider vinegar and olive oil not only make a wonderful salad dressing, but also are great for use on hair to give you smooth, silky locks.
The most important thing to remember is that the better quality the ingredients, the better the end result will be. Therefore use the freshest of ingredients wherever possible. The benefit of using certified organic ingredients is that you have the reassurance that the ingredients you are using have been grown without the use of harmful chemicals or chemically derived substances.
Some of the most common ingredients used in homemade hair products are:
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Fruit
- Avocado
- Honey
- Coconut Oil
Useful Websites
- Longlocks.com – a wide range of recipes.
- PioneerThinking.com – many recipes and ideas.
- KidzWorld.com – a children’s website, but it contains lots of useful information.
In general, the ingredients are mixed together and then applied to the hair and scalp. As there are no chemicals that have been added to speed the process along, better results are reported after leaving the ingredients on the hair for a couple of hours before rinsing well. This depends, of course, on the type of recipe or treatment.
As homemade hair care is completely natural, it also contains no preservatives. Therefore new mixes should be made each time, and any leftovers refrigerated in an airtight container.
- Cider Vinegar
- Chamomile
- Oils
These organic products are readily available from regular grocery stores and organic markets.
Hope this Helps,
Mark
How to make Organic Baby food
This article I found interesting on www.organicauthority.com/ so I thought I would share with you.
How would you like to save around $30 a week while feeding your baby the highest-quality organic foods?
You can make a week’s supply of baby food in only 30 minutes with an innovative new kit that contains all of the supplies you need to create fresh cuisine for your pride and joy.
Designed for infants 4-6 months old, the So Easy Baby Food Kit preserves foods’ natural color, ensures your baby will not be exposed to harmful pesticides or additives (including sugar and salt) and allows great flexibility in choosing seasonal produce.
The kit, which contains a workbook, 22-minute educational video, nutrition reference cards and freezer trays, is one of the best-selling items at Inventive Parent, a Hampton, New Hampshire-based company that offers parenting tips and distinctive products.
“New parents appreciate the easy-to-follow instructions, recipes, and simple, reassuring nature,” says company founder Sharon Mullen.
“This kit takes all of the guesswork out of making your own baby food,” she tells OrganicAuthority.com. “It is a popular gift because it is thoughtful and unique. Customers who have been making their own food often purchase additional trays to let them make larger or more batches of food at a time.”
New moms are deciding to make their own baby food for several reasons, Mullen notes.
“They want to know what’s in the food they feed their baby,” she explains, “and this is the best way to control it. This increased involvement in your child’s diet is a natural progression from breastfeeding. It is an act of love to prepare a meal, and when you can combine this love with better nutrition, more convenience and less expense, you have a sure winner!
“Too often, the food made for older babies is a combination of several items,” she adds. “When you make your own food, you can control what goes on the plate and save these ‘casseroles’ for later.”
The do-it-yourself approach is also far less expensive than jarred alternatives, including the organic brands, she says.
“It’s nice to pull freshly made food out of your freezer, already divided into 1-oz. portions, rather than scooping food from countless bottles,” Mullen says. “You have an awful lot less recycling to take out every week!”
Important Health Note
Be sure to follow the directions enclosed in any baby food kit, as certain vegetables-particularly greens, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, celery, radishes, beets, carrots, cauliflower, French beans, parsnips, peas, potatoes and turnips-should never be used. They contain nitrates, naturally occurring chemicals that can lead to a potentially fatal condition known as “blue baby syndrome”-a type of anemia that causes infants to turn blue (hence, the name).
Infants younger than 6 months lack the stomach acids required to digest nitrates, so avoid these vegetables when going the make-it-yourself route. To be safe, physicians recommend waiting until your baby is 8-10 months old before using high-nitrate vegetables in homemade foods. It’s perfectly fine to buy jarred organic baby food that contains these vegetables, as the manufacturing process effectively eliminates nitrates.
Be advised that some organic-food proponents assert that organically grown produce does not contain nitrates. This is incorrect, as the nitrates come from within the vegetables-not just the soil in which they are grown. The So Easy Baby Food Kit includes a list of safe vegetables, based on infant age, so you can rest easy. With proper education, there’s no reason to postpone rolling up your sleeves to puree!