Your thoughts on baby food jars?

[mountainboo]

Hi
my little one is 6 months and is now on second stage weaning. I have so far refrained from giving him any baby food jars as I cook and steam things from fresh. I am, however finding that all my spare time is being used up cooking continuously so that I can provide a varied diet. Breakfast is fine and dinner is fine as I usually give him waht I've cooked for us. It's lunches that are a nightmare. There are only so many times you can give them cubes of veg with rice, he must be getting bored. I occaionally give him a boiled egg which is a change and veg with cheese but there are things I cook for lunch that can't be frozen. So anyway, do you think it'll be ok to give him the occasional jar for lunch: ie organic HIPP or something?

[Hellyon]

Hi MB.
A while since I did this (master Hellyon is 10 now). I use to prepare a variety of foods and freeze it in ice cube trays. Some was not specially prepared e.g. if I was doing mashed potato I'd do a little extra, but I did things like mashed sweet potato, very finely chopped onions and mushrooms, broccoli and finely diced courgette etc. By freezing the different cubes I had a good variety which I could then mix and match to create ever varying combinations, it took the tediousness out of it. I used to make and freeze batches of a mild korma sauce too which made for great 'baby' curries which my son loved and is still one of his favourites. Good for you though doing it fresh, it's hard work I know.
By the way jars of baby food are absolutely fine and the HIPP is especially good

[lozzylou]

hi mb i tried to give my boys all fresh food but it isnt always possible. i used jar foods at times, if i was at home in the day i would cook fresh but if i knew i had loads to do i would use a jar.
my sons loved mash too which is easy and quick to do. i added things like beans, veg cheese.
good luck x

[McNoodle]

I agree, it's great if you can give them fresh but it is time consuming - both making and preparing batches. My little one had the HIPP Organic at that age. They're fine.

[mountainboo]

Thanks for your answers. It helps. Mild korma sounds great, will try that one, haven't made a curry in ages. xx

[spanner7853]

Hi mountainboo. Your not alone and when I went back to work I had even less time to make thinkgs. I get digs from my mother in law as well about giving him proper food. I bought Hipp organic as it looked better but at the end of the day most babies will eat anything you give them, within reason. My son is 10 months old and he eats anything my family eats. I check the salt content in most things and I wont give him chips , chocolate or sweets. The occasional jar wont hurt him so don't worry.

[Tups]

My daughter religiously prepared her own food for her baby, thinking that was the best thing to do but then I persuaded her to give herself a break and introduce a few jars. There are 4 good reasons for using jars:
1. They are easy, giving you more stress-free time with your baby
2. They are nutritious
3. You know they are eating the right amount of food
4. They are an easy, hygienic way of carrying food around

Don't be afraid to use them, either occasionally or more regularly if you want to.

[tigwig]

I don't see any problem with jars of baby food. I had grand ideas of how I was never going to use jars and do home cooking but my baby decided she didn't like it! I used jars or packet food until she was over 1 I think.

[terambulan]

Not CURRY for such a young babe.....it'll get the squits. Can't you save some of yesterday dinner for lunch the next day. Instant mash is easy with oxo gravy and some frozen peas. Any easy digestible foods but not spicy. Tuna with smash/boiled lentils (iron), pasta & mashed grilled fish finger & peas. Make your lunch and share with babe, even a sandwich can be fork mashed and shared.

[Tups]

I would have thought oxo gravy has too much salt in it? I think the main problem with using 'adult' instant food is the salt content. I learned to cook food with no salt if I was giving some to my children and now I can't stomach anything with more than a trace of salt in it. For example, Heinz baked beans have 6g! That's a hell of a lot of salt! (The low salt version only has 0.5g) If you are using ready-prepared food, always check the labels for the salt content; it can be lethal.