Organic Baby Food

Organic Baby Food Host: For her first time mother, Rhoda Hersh, there is no greater joy than being a mom. Rhoda Hersh: The first time that I looked at her and I saw her smile and recognize with me with me the love in her eyes, it was amazing. You know everyday there is something different and something new and when people say to you that you don’t understand until you have a child, it’s really true. Host: But one thing Rhoda did understand before the birth of her daughter Ronnie was how she would feed her. Rhoda Hersh: I decided to feed my baby organic food from the moment that I knew that I was pregnant. The concept over organic food was familiar to me because my mother raised me eating organic food. It was something that was very important to me from the beginning. Host: Being raised on organic foods herself, mom new it wouldn’t be easy. Rhoda Hersh: The organic food is certainly—it’s a little bit more difficult to find, takes a little bit more effort and it’s a little bit more expensive. Host: Now Rhoda prioritizes her time and money to make sure that Ronnie is fed only organic formula. Rhoda Hersh: Certainly there are areas where I feel comfortable scrimping and saving money but on the food that’s going to go into her body, that’s not one of the areas where I feel like I can afford to choose something cheaper. Host: So what constitutes organic? Rhoda Hersh: Organic foods are foods that are not treated with pesticides, not treated with hormones, not treated with anything to help them grow or protect them from the environment. Host: According to pediatrician Dr. Melissa Shanker, although going organic has gained popularity over recent years, it’s not for everyone. Dr. Melissa: It’s important to think about—I don’t think it’s important to feed your child everything organic for a few weeks and it gets more difficult and it’s much more expensive. Host: She says the good news is even mass produced baby foods and formulas are pristine in nature. Dr. Melissa: Now baby food is regulated so its not supposed to be made with anything, its not supposed to be made with preservatives, its not supposed to be made with any sort of chemicals, so baby food in general is safe. Host: But if organic is still something you’d like to give a try. Here are a few ways to get started. Research organic foods in your public library or on the internet, that’s where Rhoda located her daughter’s organic formula. Rhoda: I was very surprised to see that not only a lot of the local health food stores but also now major grocery stores are starting to get more organic friendly. Host: Ask plenty of questions. Health food store employees are not only knowledgeable, they’re always eager to educate customers about going organic. Dr. Shanker says if you can only afford to choose a few organic foods for your child, start with red meats, non organic meats can contain hormones which have been linked to early stage puberty and don’t be afraid to make your own organic foods keeping the following tips in mind. Rhoda Hersh: You can steam something and then put it in a blender or mash it finely but you really shouldn’t add things to alter the taste. Things that you should remember is they should never add salt, they should never add sugar, they should never add honey. Honey shouldn’t be used before the first year of life. Host: And like all perishable foods, home made organic baby foods must be tightly sealed in plastic bags or plastic containers to help keep this foods fresh and to help prevent food poisoning. Although organic may not be for everyone, for Rhoda, it’s the very best she can give her daughter.