As you may know, I recently had a son in February, 2009. Right now, at 6 months, he is transitioning in to starting solid foods in addition to breastfeeding. Last night, I attempted a “real” solid of sweet potatoes mixed with breast milk. I LOVE sweet potatoes! However, the experience was so new to him that he seemed to not feel the same way about sweet potatoes that I do!

I bought a small organic sweet potato for him and baked it in the oven with ours. I let it cool and then poured some pumped breast milk in with it so the consistency would be soft and mushy. I have only given Joel rice cereal and bananas mixed with breast milk so this new food was very different for him. He just let the sweet potatoes sit in his mouth and made a silly little grimace with his face. Then he would cough and try to get the mixture out of his mouth.

I only gave him tiny spoonfuls so I didn’t understand why it was so hard for him to eat it. My husband, Jeremy, reminded me he probably has not got the hang of swallowing the strange stuff in his mouth yet..

Duh! He is used to just sucking in mommy’s milk and drinking without having to put in extra work that is required with solids.

So I’ll try again soon.

This story may even be familiar to those of you who have older children who are not enjoying the new foods you put on their plate.

They may think broccoli is the nastiest thing ever or that green beans are really just meant to give to the dog sitting under the dinner table. Whatever your situation may be, a lot of kids have trouble eating foods that are fresh and great for their health.

Our nation is constantly bombarded with refined processed foods, sugar and white flour products. Packaged foods are full of salt, MSG, and high fructose corn syrup.

Right now I am learning that my 6 month old’s food preferences are already beginning. Therefore I am starting on fresh, raw foods and not buying processed baby foods in the jar.

Lets learn more about some ingredients in processed foods:

  • Monosodium Glutamate (MSG): Many of us have heard of MSG. Many Asian restaurants add this substance to enhance flavor. It can be found in packaged seasonings, salad dressings, and canned soups. MSG psychologically makes the consumer want more and more of the food containing the substance and the Food Industry knows that. Otherwise bland foods are given the additive so they will taste better.  MSG can cause headaches and future health problems like obesity. MSG is an excitotoxin,  meaning it excites the body’s cells to the point of damage. This is poison to your body! Avoid MSG by eating raw, organic, and fresh foods.
  • High fructose corn syrup: Yes this substance comes from corn, but it is not good for the body. High fructose corn syrup is sweeter than table sugar and cheaper to produce which brings down the cost of the foods we buy. Fructose causes the brain not to recognize when we are full while consuming a product with this ingredient. And why do you think the obesity rate is so high? It is due to the fact that so many products on store shelves have HFCS as the first ingredient! Products like bottled juice, sodas, cereals, and condiments. Companies mask the fact that their product is really unhealthy by promoting it as natural and full of vitamins, etc… Marketing does work when consumers are ignorant of what they put into their body.
  • Salt: I cannot even name all the processed foods that are high in salt. Salt is added to foods to add flavor and prevent spoilage. It even helps disguise metallic or chemical aftertastes in products such as soda. Some administrations recommend the average person consume no more than 2,300 (mg) of salt/day, but most people consume much more than that because it is hidden in everyday products. When flavoring meals, try out pure sea salt and organic spices and increase your water content as salt naturally dehydrates the body.

As you can see, many products we buy contain hidden dangers. These 3 substances are included in the ingredients because they make the consumer enjoy the product. What would the average kid think of unsweetened apple juice? No sugar means no way! Kids like things that taste good-especially if nutritious eating habits were never encouraged or learned at an early age.

This is the dilemma we are facing. A nation of overweight children who detest anything labeled “Healthy.”

As parents, we have to establish healthy eating habits while allowing our children to learn to make their own decisions. You are the one that they learn these habits from. So start now!

nourishingdays

nourishingdays

To Your Well-Being

Olivia Johnston

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Filed under: Healthy Eating

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