What Exactly Does Organic Mean?
Organic vegetables and fruits
are grown without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers,
bioengineering or ionizing radiation. Foods with the “USDA organic” label are produced and handled according to these strict standards. Before a food can be labeled ‘organic,’ a
government-approved, independent certifier inspects the farm where
the food is grown to make sure the farmer follows all the rules
necessary to meet USDA organic standards.
Companies that handle or process organic food must be certified too!
Homemade Baby carries both the
USDA and Oregon Tilth (the government-approved independent certifier)
certifications
and carefully hand selects each ingredient used in each
meal. In addition, all of Homemade Baby’s kitchens are
USDA and Oregon Tilth certified to ensure that you get
the organic integrity you’re paying for and that no cross-contamination
can occur. Only the purest, safest foods find their way
to your baby’s high chair!
Organic food is produced by farmers who use as much as 50% less energy than commercial farmers, and emphasize renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic farming is also better for farm workers, who are exposed to massive quantities of chemical fertilizers and pesticides during conventional farming.
Why Is Organic Better For My Baby?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Academy of Sciences, standard chemicals used in conventional farming are up to ten times more toxic to children than to adults, depending on body weight. Babies have a lower body weight and a higher metabolism so they in turn take in more toxic chemicals. And pesticides are especially damaging to developing organ systems and babies livers which are immature and less able to detoxify damaging chemicals.
New Evidence Confirms the Nutritional Superiority of Plant-Based Organic Foods, State of Science Review, March 2008 - Read Article
What does "Certified Gluten-Free" mean?
Gluten-free, to the medical community refers only to the storage proteins known
to damage the small intestine for persons with gluten sensitive enteropathy (celiac
disease and dermatitis herpetiformis). Gluten-free diets avoid the storage proteins
found in wheat, rye, and barley. People who have been advised by their physician
to be on a gluten-free diet should eat gluten-free food. This would include,
but not be limited to, people with celiac disease, or gluten intolerance.
Gluten-free certification helps consumers by giving them confidence that
a product is gluten-free. This not only reassures the consumer that the product
has been tested and the site inspected, but it also saves the consumer time
that would have been spent calling the manufacturer for the gluten-free status
of the product.
Why kosher?
"Kosher" means "fit or proper" in Hebrew. This term is generally used to describe foods that are prepared in accordance with special Jewish dietary laws, such as not mixing meat and dairy products. But you don’t
have to be Jewish to eat kosher food. Foods that are prepared under kosher
guidelines meet specific nutritional requirements and strict hygienic regulations.
Most
leading food brands are kosher. Homemade Baby uses Kosher Overseers of America,
and we believe that by using kosher ingredients and preparing them in a kosher
and certified organic kitchen, Homemade Baby foods are the healthiest they
can be.
What is HACCP and why is it important?
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is the strictest food safety system imposed by the FDA. HACCP is a systematic approach to identifying and controlling hazards (microbiological, chemical or physical) that pose a danger to the preparation of safe food. HACCP seeks to control the safety of ingredients and supplies coming into a food business and what is done with them thereafter. The implementation of HACCP is a legal requirement for many American and most European food companies.
Why non-gmo?
GMO stands for "genetically modified organism" and refers to
a plant or seed that has
been modified by scientists
to perform better. Plants and seeds are modified
in order to be more disease-resistant,
more hardy in the face of
tough weather, or even to resist chemical herbicides used to kill
weeds.
Some of the problems with
GMOs revolve around the
issue of sustainable farming,
which is a philosophy of food production that
promotes respect for our
earth’s resources,
social responsibility and
conservation. GMOs spread
unnatural strains of man-modified
organisms when their seeds are carried by the wind
to nearby farms, reducing
biodiversity. These modified
plants and seeds are manufactured
and controlled by large corporations, allowing
them to more easily dominate
smaller farms, who can
no longer compete using
natural plants and seeds.
The other issue with GMOs
is that we don’t know the long term effects, if any, that these
genetically modified plants
will have on human beings
when consumed year after year. Homemade Baby feels
that the jury is still
out on GMOs, and therefore
avoids their use in our foods.
Why fair trade?
The Fair trade system helps family farmers in developing countries to compete in the global marketplace, receive fair prices for their products, and achieve a higher standard of living for their families. This means that owners of small farms can offer quality products and still compete with big corporate farms. Fair trade also promotes sustainable, environmentally sound farming practices that respect our environment.
I’ve heard it’s hazardous to microwave
food in plastic containers. Is that a problem for microwaving my
Homemade Baby cups?
Many plastic products contain
compounds known as phthalates, or plasticizers, which make the
plastic more flexible. When you store or wrap food in plastic,
small amounts of phthalates migrate into it. While, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention reported that most Americans
now have detectable levels of phthalates in their blood, it’s not
yet known what long-term effect, if any, these compounds have on
our health. High acid content (as in tomatoes) or high fat content
(as in cheese) and heat (microwaving) increase the likelihood of
phthalate migration.
Homemade Baby products are not high in acids or full of fats that would cause migration. In addition, the cup is made from polypropylene, which contains no known dangers. Our cups are also microwave safe and certified by the manufacturer as food grade. Plus, you only need to warm our food at medium (50% power) for 30 seconds. The cups are top-rack dishwasher safe, so you can re-use them
for non-food purposes -- like arts and crafts and storing colorful things.
Can I re-heat the food after I've already
heated it once?
Yes. You can re-heat as many times as you want. Just be sure
to use a different spoon when
feeding your baby to avoid any cross-contamination
with your baby's saliva. Return to top
Is Your Packaging Recycable?
Homemade Baby uses a #5 polypropolyne package, which is recycleable in community recycling programs. We actively encourage the recycling of all packaging materials.
Is Your Packaging Safe for my baby? Yes. Our polypropolyne package is safe and FREE of additives that have been associated with migrating/leeching into foods. Our packaging has been certified FREE of the known additives which have been associated with potential health issues due to additives migrating into foods.
Specifically, our packaging is FREE of the following additives:
How do I introduce my baby to solid foods?
Around six months of age, gradually introduce one nutrient-rich infant food each week. Iron-fortified infant cereals are a good first food. Variety is less important at this early dietary phase, since breast-milk or fortified infant formula meet an infant’s needs for the entire first year. Following infant cereal, explore pureed vegetables and fruits, choosing single ingredient options like Homemade Baby’s So Smooth dishes Just Peas or Just Pears. Present each new food ingredient 5-7 days apart to check baby’s responses. Progress to mixtures of different ingredients only when all ingredients have been successfully offered separately...otherwise it will be difficult to determine which food is causing a negative reaction if one should appear. Once each individual ingredient has been served successfully and baby is ready for a more adventurous texture, you may branch out into Homemade Baby’s Good Mushy dishes such as Piwi (pears and kiwi) or Roasted Acorn Squash & Apples.
What is a balanced diet for my baby?
Infant "diets" are inherently unbalanced! From birth to the first birthday, breast-milk and/or fortified infant formulas will supply the primary nutrients baby needs. Most pediatricians recommend breast-feeding if at all possible and for as long as possible. Globally, health agencies advocate one to two years of breast-feeding. Breast-milk boosts your baby’s ability to fight infection and increases their chances of better adult health. If you are unable to breastfeed, or if it just doesn’t work for you, always select infant formula manufactured in the USA and postpone cow’s milk until 12 months of age.
What is a balanced diet for my toddler?
Food choices start to resemble the family’s dietary patterns from 12-24 months - the toddler stage. Transition toddlers away from bottles to covered cups at about 12-15 months and continue to broaden the dietary experiences of toddlers with five or six eating occasions per day. Toddlers have small stomachs, and burn through their body energy reserves about every 2-3 hours.
Toddler "diets" have slightly more balance than infant diets as solid foods gradually begin to replace breast milk and formula.
Below is a sample menu for a typical toddler day:
2 cups of pasteurized, Vitamin A and D fortified whole (full fat) milk or an equivalent dairy product providing calcium and protein
4-8 tablespoons total of fruits and vegetables (strive for five different kinds in one day)
2-4 tablespoons of cooked and minced meat, fish, poultry, egg, tofu or legumes
3 servings of breads or similar foods with an emphasis on whole-grains
1 serving of iron-fortified cereals
2 cups ofmilk, or calcium enriched Soy Milk
Don’t stress out over daily nutritional requirements. Look at the foods consumed by your toddler on a weekly basis for a better nutritional picture.
When is my baby ready to try Homemade Baby?
Signs that your infant is ready to try Homemade Baby’s So Smooth meals include:
She holds her mouth open -- ready to accept a spoonful of food
She uses her eyes to track your hand movement as you bring an infant spoon to her mouth
She shows interest in foods or table activity
She lifts her head up while lying on her stomach
She sits up with some assistance from an adult
Signs that your infant is ready to try Homemade Baby’s Good Mushy meals include:
She successfully enjoys pureed foods such as the So Smooth meals
She has tried each of the individual foods on their own (to check for negative food responses)
She directs many food and non-food objects to her mouth with some accuracy
She starts to roll to one side or rolls over completely
She grasps objects with her whole hand
She babbles in one syllable sounds
Signs that your infant is ready to try Homemade Baby’s Kinda Chunky meals include:
She has tried each of the individual foods on their own (to check for negative food responses)
She successfully sits up on her own
She grasps objects with her whole hand and controls placement of objects in her mouth
She has more precise control over her fingers when picking up foods
What age should my baby stop drinking formula or breast milk?
Pediatricians and dietitians recommend breast-feeding for as long as mom and child both want to continue. Ideally, babies should breast feed for the first year of life...but some amount of time is better than none. The next best choice for first year nourishment is formula, which should be discontinued at 12-15 months. At this point in development, the infant/toddler should be eating enough semi-solid and solid foods to provide sufficient nutrients and energy. This is the best time to "wean" a toddler from a bottle to promote better tooth, mouth and speech development. At this stage of development, the bottle probably won’t deliver milk in sufficient volume for good nutrition, and it’s probably a good time to curb reliance on the bottle as a pacifying device. Additionally, most toddlers have a good number of erupted baby teeth at this stage, and bottles are notorious for bathing teeth in natural milk sugars that promote bacterial growth, increasing tooth decay.
What nutrients does my baby/toddler need?
The nutritional goal for adding fruits and vegetables is to introduce baby to Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and fiber-rich foods. Excellent sources of Vitamin A include sweet potatoes, butternut squash, carrots, parsnips, and apricots. The body can store Vitamin A until it’s needed, so regular (but not daily) sources are fine.
Vitamin C, which is required daily, is found in foods such as broccoli, kiwi and melons. Citrus fruits, tomatoes and strawberries offer a superior source of these nutrients for the older baby or toddler who doesn’t have problems with diaper rashes. Fresh fruits retain 20% more Vitamin C when sautéed or stewed/boiled than if they are canned, which is why Homemade Baby’s freshly cooked dishes are so rich in this important nutrient.
When an infant’s bite matures and she can move foods around their mouth with enough care to limit choking possibilities, it’s time introduce more hearty and fibrous foods. Uncoated, whole grain round or square cereals made without wheat can be served as finger food to help build baby’s grasping skills. Kidney beans and lentils are exciting new foods for older infants and toddlers to experience. During this phase, it’s time to try Homemade Baby’s Kinda Chunky foods, which feature more heartily textured blends of several ingredients.
Many animal foods such as pureed meats or poultry provide introductions to higher protein foods with more iron-rich offerings than fruits or infant cereals. Older infants and toddlers can join you at the dinner table and begin to savor small servings of mashed, boneless fish or cubes of cooked egg yolk.
Why are vitamins and minerals important for my baby?
Children and adults alike eat foods organized into collections called diets for the purpose of providing nutrients to the body. All nutrients are actually chemicals that provide for bodily growth and repair, energy, and regulation. The essential nutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water:
Carbohydrates and fats fuel or energize the body,
Proteins, vitamins, and minerals aid growth, regulate body functions, and repair cells and tissues, and
Water assists or lubricates all body processes.
An infant’s monochromatic diet of breast-milk provides these six essential nutrients conveniently and in the optimal amounts until 4-6 months of age. At this point in development, the infant body needs additional sources of the important mineral iron. Solid foods come into play at this stage to meet baby’s growing nutritional needs and complement the breast-milk or formula. If your infant started on non-fortified infant formula, switch to an iron-fortified formula after the first year. By the time the first birthday is celebrated, an infant should have integrated some solid foods into her daily diet to insure adequate nutritional intake.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents to provide Vitamin D (the "sunshine" vitamin) to infants who are exclusively breast-fed, have darkly pigmented skin, or do not get regular sunlight exposure. Outside playtime a total of 2 hours a week is all it takes to meet most fair-skinned infant’s needs . Key food sources such as fortified infant formula or Vitamin D fortified cow’s milk at 12 months will meet the Vitamin D need, too. Aside from milk, most dairy foods like cheeses or yogurt are not fortified with Vitamin D. They do provide top-notch nutrient sources of calcium, protein, phosphorus and potassium.
How can I be sure my baby is getting the right mix of nutrients every day?
Your health care provider/physician will measure your infant and toddler at periodic visits. You’ll know your infant is doing well by the number of wet or soiled diapers they have per day and how long they’re growing.
How much should my baby eat each day?
A typical serving size for an infant or toddler is one tablespoon per year of life. So within one eating occasion, a 9-month-old infant may have just less than 1 tablespoon each of pureed peas, prepared infant cereal, and minced tofu. Focus on the novelty and joy of eating without becoming preoccupied with the amount of foods consumed. Recent theories on adult health suggest that life-long eating behaviors and attitudes start with infant feeding experiences. Your child will speak to you about their appetite and satisfaction using body language; if she loses interest or turns her head away, it probably means she’s full.
Should my baby eat three meals a day? What’s a healthy feeding schedule?
Most pediatricians recommend feeding infants breast milk or formula based on their demands and not a schedule. Around their first birthday, when infants become toddlers, they’ll gravitate to an eating schedule. Look for the 18-24 month old to start adhering to more traditional schedules of 3 meals and 2-3 snacks a day. The biggest difference is the amount of food offered during each eating occasion. Toddlers should consume about 1 tablespoon per year of life of each food they eat.
Why are additives and preservatives a problem?
Food additives are government-regulated chemicals added to extend the lifespan of food or to improve its flavor, aroma or texture. Salt, honey and white sugar are all common food additives.
The food industry is challenged to produce massive quantities of food for cost efficiency and population demands, transport the food for greater distances and under greater temperature extremes with the expectation that a food will last 7 days or 28 months! Many consumers also want foods prepared more quickly, with fewer utensils and greater consumption ease. It is only through food additives or innovative technologies that many of these characteristics can be achieved.
There is a trade-off in packaged or processed foods, and many parents are now selecting fewer food additives in their family diets. The additives that have the greatest health impact appear to be those that have sodium in their chemical structure. Greater sodium levels raise blood pressure in sodium-sensitive people and put greater demands on the kidneys.
What kinds of foods are babies typically allergic to or should be avoided?
The US government is revving up its consumer education about 8 foods that are the most allergenic to children and adults alike. Leading allergens which must now be labeled or identified on processed food labels include wheat, soy, milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts and peanuts. Infants and toddlers are likely to have negative reactions (not necessarily allergic responses) to citrus fruits, strawberries, and chocolate.
How will I know if a food is upsetting my baby or they are allergic?
Begin with single-ingredient foods and allow 5 - 7 days between each new food ingredient. This way if your baby has a reaction, you’ll know which ingredients to blame. Some usual signs of food allergies are:
a red rash around the anus
gassiness
vomiting or increased spitting up
general cranky behavior
rash on the face
diarrhea
Keeping a written record of what your baby eats is a good way to identify any allergies, and it’ll be helpful for when you speak with your pediatrician.
What kinds of foods might make my baby choke?
Foods that are dense in texture and about the same size as an infant or toddler’s throat:
Hot dogs or wieners
Appetizer-sized sausages
Whole grapes
French fries
Raw baby carrots
Foods that are sharp or angular:
Tortilla chips
Potato chips
Bagel chips
Foods that are small enough that they can be accidentally inhaled instead of swallowed:
Sunflower seeds
Shelled nuts
Nuts
Popcorn
Raisins
These are guidelines we hope you find helpful. Please remember to
discuss all your baby’s nutritional needs with their pediatrician.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is the strictest food safety system imposed by the FDA. HACCP is a systematic approach to identifying and controlling hazards (microbiological, chemical or physical) that pose a danger to the preparation of safe food. HACCP seeks to control the safety of ingredients and supplies coming into a food business and what is done with them thereafter. The implementation of HACCP is a legal requirement for many American and most European food companies.