Baby your baby with the freshest, healthiest food possible

“It’s tempting to shop for convenience for baby food, because babies keep us so busy,” according to Hillary Bisnett, director of the Ecology Center’s Healthy Food in Health Care initiative.  “So we sometimes forget that they deserve locally grown, pesticide-free foods, too.”

And making your own baby food, when prepared in large batches and frozen in small portions, can be just as convenient as store-bought food.  “You can ensure that your baby is eating the freshest, healthiest food possible, made with organic, fresh and local produce, and save money, too,” Bisnett said.

This month’s recipe for green beans or peas, suitable for infants, was supplied by Beth Pope, a registered dietitian who completed a rotation with Bisnett this year.

Pope and Bisnett recommend two ways to economize on purchases on organic produce during this month, when so much good food is coming to market.

“You should prioritize your organic purchases,” they say, by reviewing the 'Dirty Dozen' list, which lists the fruits and vegetables that have the highest pesticide residues when not grown organically. Several Ecolink readers zinged us last month for running a strawberry recipe but neglecting to mention that non-organic strawberries are often high in pesticides. 

The also say eating seasonally is a way to make organic foods more affordable. You can find out what’s ripe near you www.realtimefarms.com, www.localharvest.org or www.foodsofmichigan.com.

Green Beans or Peas (4 – 6 months)

Preparation:

1.     If using fresh beans, wash and snap the ends off the beans. If using fresh peas, open the pods and scrape out the peas from the pod. (If using frozen peas or green beans, cook according to the package directions.)

2.     Place fresh beans or peas into a steamer basket in a pan with just enough water to slightly show through in the basket.

3.     Steam until very tender; be sure to check on the water level.

4.     Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the beans.

5.     Place vegetables into a blender or food processor and puree until skins are well mixed.

6.     You may wish to push the green beans (or peas) through a sieve or mesh strainer to get rid of any remaining skins.

Nutrients:

Vitamins A, C, K, Niacin, Folate 

Minerals: Potassium, Sodium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium