Solids | Noob Mommy

Eating Organic: The Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15

Apr

2010

Several months back, I was reading quite a few books on green living and eating and growing organic. It sort of all started out with me going to some local farmer’s markets. There is something incredibly invigorating and charming about strolling through a farmer’s market and being able to sample all the produce that’s in season.

I’m one of those people that stands in the produce section at the grocery store banging, shaking, smelling, probing (in kind of an extraterrestrial abduction sort of way), and conversing with different fruit.

Me: Hello, cantaloupe. (soft caress)

Cantaloupe: …

Me: Howzit goin, Canty? Can I call you Canty? Maybe you prefer Loupe. Sort of like antelope.

Cantaloupe: You’re an idiot.

Me: (oblivious) So, are you ripe today? Or will you be ripe in…say…the next few days? Because I’m in need of some fruit other than apples. See, apples I get. I can figure out if they’re ripe. They’re pretty straightforward. Worm or no worm. However, you, Canty, are among the top most mysterious creatures to me. Well, you and the axolotl:

Cantaloupe: (snickers)

Me: Am I supposed to shake you? Thumb you? Poke your belly button? What? Tell me!! ARE YOU SWEET?!

At this point, Noob Baby is moving away uncomfortably. She doesn’t even want to be seen with me. And I gave birth to her! How ungrateful.

By the end of this shopping trip, I’ve adopted Canty and he has a face drawn on him with my blood (think Wilson from Castaway).

Ok, I’ve lost track of what I was talking about… oh, right – organic foods!

So anyway, I highly recommend you visit a local farmer’s market for your produce needs. You get to taste before you commit (no arranged marriage here). You’ll find what’s in season (no cardboard tomatoes) for a really reasonable price… (especially if you’re comparing to Whole Foods, per say). I also like that most of the farmers use organic farming or don’t spray their produce with chemicals (even if they don’t have their organic certification). Of course, you’re supporting local farmers! No trucking in weeks-old produce and wasting fuel on transporting these goods.

*getting off my soap box now*

One of the reasons I try to buy organic is because it’s the most healthful (and environmentally friendly). I don’t have to worry about the hormone injections, pesticides, additives, etc. I’m not a super health fanatic, but if it’s reasonably priced, I do try my best to buy organic. But let’s face it, organic can be pricey.

Well, one of the books I read: To Buy or Not to Buy Organic by Cindy Burke was a really informative resource on the organic food and farming industry. It has a great history and background information section, as well as two lists that I’m going to share with you.

The first list, commonly referred to as The Dirty Dozen, names the foods you should strongly consider purchasing in organic form. These are the fruits and vegetables that are usually heavily sprayed with pesticides.

THE DIRTY DOZEN

Strawberries
Red & Green Bell Peppers
Spinach
Cherries
Peaches
Nectarines
Celery
Apples
Pears
Grapes (imported from Chile)
Raspberries
Potatoes

If you’re like me, perhaps going ALL organic is a daunting and expensive task. But, if you pick and choose what is more important (and I’d probably even add milk, eggs, meat), it’s still affordable and worth it for your health and especially your noob’s development.

This is also a helpful list to keep in mind if you’re making your own baby food, or deciding to purchase the regular or organic baby food. On a side note, most large grocery store chains offer a growing selection of organic, and I always find a decent selection at Trader Joe’s. Even Costco offers organic, free range chicken that is individually portioned for your freezing needs

Finally, Cindy Burke also lists the Clean 15. These are fruit and vegetables you don’t have to worry too much about. They aren’t heavily sprayed with pesticides, or many of them are imported from countries that don’t use pesticides in abundance like we do.

THE CLEAN 15

Asparagus
Avocados
Bananas
Blueberries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Garlic
Kiwi
Mango
Onions
Papaya
Pineapple
Shelling peas
Sweet Corn
Watermelon (domestically grown)

I hope you find these lists useful. And for you noob mommies and daddies out there that are entering the baby food/solids phase, don’t forget that you can make your own baby food with just a blender and some ice cube trays to freeze your mush. Super easy and affordable! No more lugging around glass jars of baby food.

If you have your own organic ideas, suggestions and finds… feel free to leave a comment! Or, just leave a comment about how freakin weird-slash-adorable the Axolotl is.

Tips to Get Baby to Eat Solids

Jun

2009

Really, Ma? You couldn't try to aim ... just a little?

Today’s post is in response to a question I received about an older post A Solid’s Feeding Guide. Anonymous wrote:

My friend’s baby is 6 1/2 months old and won’t eat solids. She spits it right back out no matter what it is. If you even put an empty spoon in her mouth she spits “it” out. Any tips on how to get her to eat? Her Dr. said just to keep offering it and if she’s not eating by 8 mo. then she will need speech therapy.

While we did get some of the usual dislike, gagging, “messy photo-op high chair moments” when Noob Baby first started eating cereal, she eventually accepted solids without too much fuss. (Now, I’m not even going to get started on how picky she’s become as a toddler. We’ll save that for a whole other post.)

Here are some tips on how to get your little rebel to eat ~~old people food~~ ~~nasty mush~~ pureed solids:

Wait till baby is showing readiness rather than going by age.

Good head control
Losing the “extrusion reflex” (tongue thrust)
Sitting well w/support (to be able to sit in high chair)
Significant, healthy weight gain. At least 15 lbs AND at least 4 months old (preferably around 6 months to be safe).
Growing appetite
Curiosity about food

Start with cereal – preferably rice or oatmeal

Try mixing the cereal with either water, formula, or breastmilk and find the COMBINATION and CONSISTENCY your baby prefers. Some prefer runny cereal, while other babies like the thicker texture. For babies with a strong gag reflex… thin, runny purees are usually preferable.

A little goes a long way

If baby is gagging, try putting just a tiny bit on the tip of the spoon. Then only place spoon at the tip of the mouth, just slightly inside. Putting spoon too far inside the mouth will trigger the reflex.

Try different foods

Some people say you should stick with one food color at a time or start with veggies first so the noobs don’t only want the sweet stuff. But if your little one isn’t eating at all, fruit is better than nothing! Noob Baby loves her fruit and will gladly eat the fruit purees over anything else. Remember to allow enough time between trying new foods (at least 3-5 days to avoid allergic reactions).

Say Oommmmm. I mean you, parents. Just breathe.

Even though you are soooooo over it and ready to throw in the towel, make sure mealtime is still relaxing and fun for your noob. Babies can develop anxiety towards the high chair if they are forced to eat (and gag) over and over again. I have been known to sing and fingerplay to get Noob Baby to eat. Shameful. I know.

If at first, second, or third you don’t succeed… try try again.

If she still isn’t eating, try again in a week or so, or even in a month (a month is a long time in noob years). It’s amazing how one day noobs like/dislike/eat/don’t eat something and the next day…. the COMPLETE FREAKIN OPPOSITE! Meanwhile, you’re sitting there with jar in hand, spoon poised, and a big WTF look on your face.

Hoodwinked Parent: But why baby why?? You swore to me that you loved peas yesterday. I went and bought 50 gallons at Costco yesterday. We had a deeaaaallll!!! I sold my soul to the devil for these peas!!!
Noob: (Smug look)

Be clever. Be tricky. Be a Jeddi.

Try dipping some food on his pacifier if he uses one… or other similarly ingenius tricks you can come up with. Suggestions anyone?

Know when something’s amiss and use your lifeline.

Ask your pediatrician for suggestions. As my reader mentioned, some babies do require medical attention, even in the form of speech or feeding therapy. I had never heard of feeding therapy until I was researching for this post. Here is an interesting link about Feeding Therapy for babies.

Well, good luck to you Anon and friends. I’m on my way to hide chicken and veggies in NB’s applesauce.

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