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Expert Q&A

	By Cynthia Lair Nutritionist

I'm a first-time grandparent, and my daughter says I shouldn't feed my 8-month-old grandson any adult table foods – even mashed potatoes. What are some ideas for homemade baby foods I can make?

I don't agree with your daughter. In fact, I have written a whole book showing how to take food that the rest of the family is eating and alter it slightly for Baby. The book is Feeding the Whole Family (Moon Smile Press, 1998).

When we feed babies, we are not just providing them with nutrition but training their taste buds. So that they can graduate easily into eating the food that everyone else eats, we begin by serving them pureed versions of what the parents are eating. Cooked vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, corn or cooked grains like rice, millet, buckwheat and barley can be given a whirl in the blender, making excellent baby food.

It is a misconception that baby food has special properties that can't be duplicated in the kitchen. Quite the opposite. Baby food in jars is old and contains processed fruits, vegetables and cereals with filler added. Freshly-cooked food is better tasting and has more nutrients. If your daughter is concerned about iron, be aware that there is more available iron content if fresh fruits, whole grains, vegetables, nuts and seeds, dried fruit and beans are included in Baby's diet. The type of iron they use in processed baby food is not very absorbable but is chosen for its commercial appeal. For example, it doesn't discolor the cereal, it adheres to flakes and it is cheap to buy."

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