Category Archives: Baby Foods

What do I Feed My 14-month Toddle?

Now LO is 14 month old (young) :-). What solid food have we fed him so far?

  • Grains – organic brown rice cereal, oat,  wheat, quinoa, barley, millet, amaranth
  • Fruits – organic apple, banana, avocado, pear, blue berry
  • Vegetables – organic yam, butternut squash, pea, green bean, broccoli, spinach, red legume, corn, cabbage, celery, cucumber,  black-eyed beans
  • Meats – organic chicken, beef, egg yolk, egg white, pork
  • Milk Products – Organic Homo 3.5% cow milk, Gouda cheese, plaint yogurt

14 m0nth toddle dinner

The photo on the left is one of regular dinner for my 14-month old. It has oat meal, quinoa, millet, amaranth, egg and spinach. My LO loves this type of combination!

Again, if we have the choice, we always opt for organic food. It’s highly recommended to Avoid Genetically Modified Foods for Your Baby. Yes, it’s a little bit more expensive. However, since we are making baby foods at home, we save some money than buying those baby foods in jars. Our baby foods are made with loves and the best possible ingredients!

What GM Foods are on the Canadian Market?

GM-Food-Chart-2012_largeBased on CBAN, four GM crops are grown in Canada: corn, soy, canola and white sugar beet (for sugar processing). These are widely used as ingredients in processed foods. There is also now some GM sweet corn grown in Ontario and more could be grown in the future.

  • GM papaya, cotton and some types of squash are grown in the U.S. and can be imported, mostly as processed food ingredients.
  • GM Tomatoes: There are no GM tomatoes on the market anywhere in the world.
  • GM Potatoes: Monsanto took GM potatoes off the market because of consumer rejection.
  • GM Wheat: In 2004, Monsanto withdrew its request for approval of GM wheat in Canada and the US because of consumer and farmer protest. Monsanto has relaunched its GM wheat research.
  • Most of the GM corn grown in Canada is hard corn used for animal feed or processed food ingredients. There is no GM popcorn on the market. There are a few varieties of GM sweetcorn now being sold in Canada.

Avoid Genetically Modified Foods for Your Baby

Canadian government does not require labeling. But for your baby’s health,  you can still make a choice:

  • Eating certified organic food is one way you can avoid GM food because GM is prohibited in organic farming. This includes organic dairy, eggs and meat because animals in organic farming are not fed GM grains like corn or soy.
  • Avoid eating processed foods with corn, canola and soy ingredients.
  • Buy cane sugar or organic sugar to avoid eating sugar from GM sugar beets.
  • Support farmers who fight GM: buy food directly from farmers who
    do not plant GM corn, canola or soy or use GM grains for meat, dairy or egg production.

GMO-Foods

How to read the GMO labeling

Foods that are genetically modified have a 5 digit code that begins with a 9. Foods that are organic, which cannot be genetically modified by definition, have a 5 digit code that begins with an 8. Lastly, foods that are neither genetically modified nor organic have a 4 digit code.

monsantoapplecode

What is Genetic Modification and Are GM Foods Saft to Eat?

What is Genetic Modification?

Genetic modification (GM) is recombinant DNA technology, also called genetic engineering
or GE. With genetic engineering scientists can change plants or animals at the molecular level by inserting genes or DNA segments from other organisms. Unlike conventional breeding and hybridization, the process of genetic engineering enables the direct transfer of genes between different species or kingdoms that would not breed in nature.

Are GM Foods Safe to Eat?

We don’t know what, if any, impacts GM foods could have on our health. There are many
unanswered safety questions.
Many scientists warn that:

  • The process of genetic engineering could create new allergens.
  • Foreign DNA may be able to survive in the human gut.
  • Animal feeding studies indicate liver and kidney problems.

GM foods are approved for human consumption based on company-produced science. The data is secret and is not peer-reviewed by independent scientists. Health Canada does not do its own testing. There is no mandatory labeling in Canada, and no tracking or monitoring of possible health impacts.

What Finger Foods can I Offer to My 10-month old Baby?

At around 8 months of age, your baby might show an interest in feeding himself/herself. Finger Foods such as soft fruits (banana, peaches or pears) or steamed vegetables can be introduced at this time to develop self-feeding skills.

What are finger foods choice do I have for my baby?

  • Fruits – Peeled raw fruits such as bananas, pears, peaches, papaya or blueberries are good introductory finger foods.
  • Vegetables – Steamed cauliflower, broccoli, beans or peas are good choices; Potatoes and yams cut in wedges and roasted are healthy alternative to french fries.
  • Breads and Cereal – toast, whole-grain crackers and rice cakes; cooked pasta, whole-grain cereal such as Cheerios, cornflakes or spoon size shredded wheat can be served without milk.
  • Meats and Proteins – small pieces of cooked chicken, beef, fish and cubes of soft tofu – you can serve them with homemade vegetable purees.
  • Dairy Products – at around 9 months, dairy products can be introduced. Cheese can be served either grated or cut into thin slices. Most babies also enjoy melted on bread strips.

 

Should I Feed My Baby Salt?

Sodium is an essential dietary nutrient that plays an important role in metabolism and maintenance of blood pressure. Sodium occurs naturally in many foods such as cow’s milk, human milk, cheese, vegetables and grains. To adults, an excess of sodium can raise blood pressure and cause significant health problems in later life. As it’s not clear what the consequences of excess sodium are for infants, it seems wise not to use added salt when preparing baby food.

What Solid Food do I feed a 9-month Baby?

We started feeding our LO solid foods when he turned 5-month. Our pediatrician recommended to start solid food at 4-month; but we waited for one more month just to be save.

Now LO is at 9 month 3 weeks. What solid food have we fed him so far?

  • Grains – organic brown rice cereal, oat,  wheat, quinoa
  • Fruits – organic apple, banana, avocado, pear, blue berry
  • Vegetables – organic yam, butternut squash, pea, green bean, broccoli, spinach, red legume, corn
  • Meats – organic chicken, beef, egg yolk

If we have the choice, we always opt for organic food. Yes, it’s a little bit more expensive. However, since we are making baby foods at home, we save some money than buying those baby foods in jars. Our baby foods are made with loves and the best possible ingredients!

When can I Feed My Baby Cheese and Yogurt?

Based on The Baby’s Table, from 9 to 12 month, it is a sensible time to introduce calcium-rich dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese. Introducing them earlier than 9 month may increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. Cow’s milk for drinking should be postponed until 12 months.

What type of cheese and yogurt can a 9 months old baby eat?

All cheese must be pasteurized. Cheddar, mozzarella, Edam, Gouda and cottage cheese tend to be popular with babies.

To avoid the additives found in many commercial yogurts, choose a plain high-fat yogurt (any yogurt above 3% milk fat) and mix it with your baby’s favorite fruit or vegetable puree.