Make your own baby food; it's easier than you think,

Many parents are beginning to make their own baby food in an effort to start their babies off on the right, and healthy, foot. Contrary to popular belief, making your own baby food can be easier than you think.

Why make your own?bull;You control what's in the food. Many parents are concerned about the health effects from the abundance of additives, preservatives and pesticides included in prepared foods today. When you make your baby food from scratch, you know exactly what is contained in the food.bull;Ingredients are fresher. The fresher a food is, the more nutrients it has intact. bull;It's cheaper. You will save money by making your baby's food because you won't pay for the extra packaging, advertising, and profits a company needs to make.bull;It's green. Making your own baby food may help you reduce garbage because it eliminates waste from the packaging that baby food is sold in.What to watch for bull;Keep it clean. Practice good hygiene and wash your hands and all equipment thoroughly before starting.bull;Use organic ingredients. By using organic foods you can avoid possible harmful effects from pesticides, waxes and food coloring. bull;Keep it simple. Parents often think they need to make fancy meals for their babies when in reality, they don't. Babies are quite impressed with one-ingredient meals in the beginning, so keep your meals simple. Once your child is past 8 or 9 months, you can start playing with combinations.Many parents worry that foods they are making will be too bland for their babies. Consequently, some parents feel the urge to add either salt or sugar to baby's food. However, parents should keep in mind that a baby's taste buds are just awakening at this stage in their development. They do not need anything more than the natural flavor which emerges from these foods.How to store foodbull;Label foods. Homemade baby foods can be refrigerated for up to 48 hours and frozen for up to 2 months. It is a wise idea to add labels to all containers when freezing foods. List the food type and the date it was made. Always let frozen foods thaw in the refrigerator. bull;Be container conscious. Many parents are aware of the dangers of bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles. However, BPA is also present in many other plastic objects, including storage containers. Choose your containers wisely by avoiding those that contain BPA and PVC (polyvinyl chloride).