Lots of health-conscious women go organic when they’re pregnant, which is smart for minimizing their babies’ risk of exposure to toxins. I definitely tried to eat organic about 90% of the time during my pregnancy and thought it was so important that I dedicated an entire chapter (“The Big O”) of Feed the Belly: The Pregnant Mom’s Healthy Eating Guide to going organic.
If you’re going to make the effort and spend the cash when your baby is developing, it’s only natural that you’d want to do the same once she’s ready for her first bite of real (well, mashed) food. I certainly wanted that for Willa once I started introducing her to food around 6 months.
I make my own baby food when I have time with my Beaba Babycook, but the entire process takes about 45 minutes. Time is definitely short for me these days and feeding my baby is often an on-the-go sport, so I need some reliable healthy stuff to throw in the diaper bag.
Willa took on the project of testing organic baby food with gusto (see image). And while she’s not the critic her mommy is, she definitely exhibited some likes and dislikes. We tested 10 products—all USDA-certified organic and containing no artificial preservatives (some do have added vitamin C)—with special attention to the delivery system and packaging for each brand. Here’s a snapshot of several of the brands on the market and whether they’re worth the price. Grab a bib and go!
And just one tip I wish someone had given me: Don’t feed your baby directly from the jar. She will only be eating a few spoonfuls of food at first, and once your child has “contaminated” the container, you need to throw it out. Instead, transfer the amount for the feeding into a separate small dish first, then cover up the food container and refrigerate it. Most companies tell you on the packaging how long you have to use it once opened (usually two to three days), and most jars contain two to three servings. And if you microwave the food, always test it first to check for hot spots!
Ages: 4 months+
Flavor: The 1st foods are very simple—just bananas, carrots, etc. For jarred food, it tastes pretty fresh, and I like the fact that they offer “1st prunes” for babies who need to get things moving! The 2nd foods get more interesting and include tasty “antioxidant blends” and “wholesome breakfast” options like Apple Peach Barley.
Price: 1st foods (4 months+), 63 cents; 2nd foods (6 months+), 86 cents–99 cents; 3rd foods (9 months+), $1.13–$1.20
Delivery: Glass jars. The pro is that they’re recyclable. The con is that they’re breakable.
What’s special: Since Earth’s Best is one of the largest organic-baby-food companies, the prices are reasonable and you can find the products virtually everywhere.
Find it at: Target, as well as drugstores and health-food stores nationwide.
Next page: Ella’s Kitchen
