I just want my DS to have the best foods possible...

[mrs.t]

I have a 5 mo DS who will be starting solids soon. I have been trying to get into the habit of eating much better than I have in the past, and obviously I want the best for him. There is SOOOOO much information out there, and if you look long enough, everything conflicts with something else. For example, soy...great according to some people, evil according to others. Or olive oil...it's really good for you until you heat it too much and then it loses it's beneficial properties. So I'm getting completely overwhelmed. I just don't have the brain power these days to remember all this stuff, let alone apply it. I basically figure if I just stick with whole foods and try to stay organic, it's better than nothing. I know there is more to it than that, but I don't even know where to start. I have such limited time for research. Is there a book or cookbook or something that I can start with, just to get the basics? I just want to feel like I'm doing better than staying away from fast food, KWIM? I have access to some pretty decent stuff locally, there is a farmer's market nearby and I have different grocery stores to choose from.

I guess I'm not being clear about what I'm asking. I just want to know where to start and what changes to make in the types of foods I bring into my home so that I will provide the right foods for my DS.

[The4OfUs]

How about this: If your grandma (or great grandma, basically whoever was around before WWII) couldn't get it in her market, don't get it from yours. That's pretty easy IMO and a good start. You can get WAY caught up in the details, and they will, as you've written, drive you crazy. My basic guidelines for the healthy stuff I buy (I do buy a portion of crap because I'm a moderation type gal ) is:

5 or less ingredients on processed foods.
Organic dirty dozen if possible (I have not been able to source org grapes often) (just google "organic dirty dozen" to get a list)
Organic processed stuff when it seems like a better idea (fruit/grain bars, gummy fruits for lunches because they use plant-based dyes and more natural junk than mainstream processed junk - but I buy regular pretzels, and regular rice, etc.)
Shop the store perimeter mostly and stay away from the interior aisles where all the processed stuff is.

That's my basic "when I'm being good" plan.

[mrs.t]

Thank you so much! That's what I have been trying to do, no scary ingredients (basically anything that I can't pronounce won't make it into the cart) organic fruits and veggies, stay away from artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, HFCS, etc.

[mamadelbosque]

Yup I agree w/ the4ofus - I buy organic whenever it is: decent looking, not utterly outrageous, available If all 3 co-incide, I buy it organic. If they don't, then I don't. I live in a pretty rural area and honestly don't have much access to lots of org stuff. So lotsa stuff I buy conventional. I make as much stuff as I can from scratch at home... but some stuff I could make but don't (like pizza sauce - I just can't find a recipe I like as much as the stuff from the store...).

Generally, I *try* to avoid fast food... but we end up at mcdonalds fairly regularly (mostly cause' of play places. I'll be honest )

[mama1803]

http://michaelpollan.com/books/food-rules/

http://www.ninaplanck.com/books.html

These are some of my favorites.

[chaoticzenmom]

Healthy baby food is soo easy. I would make a batch of something once a week. Organic peas (boil the whole contents of a costco bag), butternut squash, etc. I would cook it until tender..not salts, then blend it with a hand blender, then pour it into baby-food jars or small freezer jam containers and put into the freezer. Then I'd take out one or two a day so they could thaw. I don't have a micro, so I'd heat them in a pot of hot water (not actively cooking). Avacodo mashed, banana, cooked mashed apples, sweet potatos, butternut squash, cooked/mashed apricots, etc.

Also, those babyfood grinders are wonderful. Baby can eat whatever you eat (within reason) by grinding the food and mixing in a little water or breastmilk to desired consistency. Consignment stores have those usually...they're about 15 dollars at the store.

[redvlagrl]

Check out Baby Led Weaning. That way you can give your DS the same wonderful food you are feeding the rest of your family. no purees. We didn't do any food delaying as some evidence shows early introduction of potential allergens can have a protective effect.

We do organics for the dirty dozen and anything else that seems reasonable. Local where we can. Only ethically raised, pastured meat. Organic milk. Conventional cheese because organic is too expensive but we live in Canada where there are no hormones.