The idea of organic baby food might sound like a considerable expense, but the truth is that it is much more reasonable in comparison with boxed baby food. Not only is it friendlier on your pocket in the long term, but also much healthier for your baby and the environment, as it emanates a lower carbon footprint.
Advantages of Organic Food to Babies
An organic intake will have many benefits on your child’s health, which may help them physically and mentally. Some advantages include:
Less Chemical Exposure: Organic baby food is a healthier choice as chemicals and preservatives aren’t used for manufacturing. Pesticides used in commercially packed foods are known to affect brain development and your overall health, as they’re not meant to be eaten even in minimal quantities. If you find buying organic fruits and vegetables expensive, always remember you can even grow a small patch, especially if you have access to a garden.
Stay Mentally Fit: The popular saying “You are what you eat” is undoubtedly true. Eating junk and unhealthy food packed with preservatives and pesticides may cause obesity, depression, increased risk of ADHD, and similar mental health problems in the future. So what’s the solution? Feeding yourself and your children fresh, homemade food as much as possible.
Enhanced Physical Health:Health problems like obesity and blood pressure are on the rise in children all over the world. According to the British Journal of Nutrition, toddlers who were exclusively fed organic dairy products faced lesser health issues, like wheezing and eczema. It is vital to understand this, as asthma and allergies are a growing concern in children.
Eco-friendly: It is essential to mention that non-organic fruits and vegetables are sprayed with chemicals to avoid getting affected by insects. This chemical penetrates into the soil when it rains and has a negative impact on the environment and wildlife. Moreover, it never completely washes off the plant and is consumed by people, thus adversely impacting their health.
Better Taste: Commercial and non-organic foods may sometimes not taste fresh due to the added preservatives. Organic food is much fresher and healthier in comparison, as it is packed with natural flavors. It makes them taste so much better than pesticide-infused food.
Check out some easy-to-make recipes for natural homemade baby food: 21 Homemade Baby Food Recipes
Benefits of Organic Food to the Environment
Making your organic baby food may seem like more time and effort-consuming, but it is definitely worth it. It protects your health, as well as the planet’s, by lowering the carbon footprint. Here are some benefits of organic baby food to the environment:
- Lesser air, water, and land pollution
- Conservation of water, as lesser water is used
- Reduced soil erosion
- Increased soil fertility
- Utilizes lesser energy
- Healthier for nearby birds and animals as they don’t consume any chemicals
- Healthier for people who live nearby as they get to consume fresh water, uncontaminated by pesticides
- Animals that are raised organically aren’t fed any growth hormones, animal byproducts, or antibiotics, hence reducing the risk of illnesses
Why Organic Food And Commercial Products?
Now let’s discuss why most commercial products may be harmful in detail to become more aware of how detrimental they can be to your health and the environment.
Chemical Build Up: Over the years, chemicals known as ‘body burden’ can collect in your body and cause long-term side effects like headaches, weak immune system, and problems with childbirth. It shouldn’t be taken lightly, as these toxins can even transfer from your body to the baby through breast milk.
Risk Of Cancers: Intake of pesticides and toxins, even in low doses, can enhance the risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia, brain tumors, and lymphoma.
Children at Risk: children can be impacted by pesticides the most as their brains and bodies are still developing. Being exposed to such chemicals at an early age can result in behavioral disorders, weak immune systems, developmental delays, motor dysfunction, and even autism.
Risk To Pregnant Women: Pregnant women should be cautious about their feed because whatever they consume can be passed onto the baby through the womb and later through breast milk. Hence, not only is the consumption of organic products important for babies but even for adults because, one way or another, what you consume somehow affects those around you too.
Dos & Don'ts of Making Your Own Baby Food
Here are some do’s and don’t you need to be mindful of when preparing organic baby food:
- Always remember to wash your hands before cooking and feeding your baby
- Be mindful of cross-contamination when dealing with raw meat
- Always properly rinse your vegetables and fruits
- You can even thin baby food with breast milk rather than boxed milk
- Never forget to test food yourself before feeding your baby; it may be too hot or not fully cooked
- Whenever you introduce new food to your baby, feed in fewer servings as you never know what your baby may be allergic to
- Avoid adding too much sweetness or salt, and use organic honey instead of processed sugar
To conclude, shifting to organic food isn’t only vital to protect your baby and the environment but even for yourself. Invest in learning more about how you can make your family’s well being a top priority and take care of the environment at the same time.