If You Want To Control Baby’s Food Intake, Make It Yourself

Feeding babies from a jar is a great convenience for parents, but if you want more control over what goes into your child’s body, make it yourself.

“Babies need variety - fruits, vegetables and grains,” says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Pamela Savage-Marr.

Simply grind batches of cooked spinach, carrots, peas, apples and fresh fruit such as blueberries and raspberries in a food processor or baby food grinder, found at stores such as Toys ‘R’ Us and Sears for about $20. Fill ice cube trays with the processed ingredients and defrost them as needed for meals.

Mash fresh, ripe bananas for a fast, high-potassium kiddie blast. Oatmeal, cooked noodles and meats can be processed the same way by adding a little milk, butter, water, gravy or broth to achieve a smooth consistency.

Don’t worry about babies getting too much fat in their diets. They need it for their development.

“Children under age 2 should not have their fat restricted,” warns registered dietitian Gail Posner. “They need whole milk and whole cheeses.”