Homemade vs jarred: which is better?

ejgballerina

DS started solids about two weeks ago and so far, we're just working through Earth's Best 1st Foods organic jars.  I work FT and all my extra freezer space is taken over by frozen BM.  What are the main reasons to make your own baby food?  Is it better for babies or is it just that it saves money?  I always thought I would make food, but with working long hours, I just don't think I'm going to have the time (or freezer space)!

TakYelgif

I was making my own food for a while there but it was just to save money.  The ingredients and govt rregulations on baby food is pretty strict there really are no extra health benefits to making your own baby food.

Once they are table/finger foods you have to be more concerned with health.

ETA:  I stopped making my own food becuase I too work full time and just didn't have the time to make it.  Now DS just eats whatever we eat so it really isn't much of a problem.

GretchenlovesMichael

i do find it to be somewhat labor-intensive.  well, not really that bad, but i spend most of a day every couple weeks cranking out mass quantities of food (although i do make double the food you would have to, now that i think of it lol).  i do it b/c i think freshly cooked and pureed food (even frozen and used within a month or so) retains more nutrients than jarred food.  also to avoid any cross-contamination for little M who has a pretty intense soy and milk protein intolerance (with homemade i have complete control over what touches the food once it's in my hands).

i also do it to save money and waste (carbon footprint and all that), but more b/c it feels like the best thing for them.  however if all of a sudden tomorrow i wasn't able to use homemade baby food any more and had to instead use jarred i wouldn't lose any sleep over it.  (where if i had to stop BFing i would be devastated).  my point is that i feel it's incrementally better for them, and would also use jarred if needed.

sorry for the long rambley answer lol

beebe929

I found for things like squash/sweet potato/carrot that is was way easier to do it on my own.  Also the texture was better, I found those veggies to be too thin in the jars.

But fruit I did jarred.  It was hard to keep up with anything except applesauce. So I did a lot of the blueberry/apple mixes.

You will find the puree stage goes by pretty fast.  So if you do make your own, don't over do it.

Good luck.

It is fun to see the reaction to new tastes.

 

DavezWife

I have never bought a jar. never.

making food is super easy. I just made a couple things every couple of weeks, and once frozen, tossed it into plastic zip baggies. it was not really cheaper for us, b/c I fed her organic until age one, but I felt better knowing what went into her tummy.

she moved onto chunks pretty quick.

Soon2beMrs.Sivert

We do it because we would like control over what they are eating and because we can offer more varieties than jars. I'm hoping it will be easier for them to transition into table food with us. Although, I have no direct proof this will be the case. I don't think it's too labor intensive. We make large batches every other weekend and we've been blessed with a mil that even makes it herself.

Mrs.OL

We made about 90% of DS food.  When he wasn't getting homemade food we used Earth's Best Organic. 

I made the decision to make his food because I wanted to control the what he was eating.  I wanted to make sure he was getting all of the neutrients and vitamins that he could and I wanted to limit the number of watered down processed foods.  MH and I make dinner for ourselves everynight and I wanted to do the same for him.  I also had a lot of "working mom's guilt" going on and spending the time to make his food helped me feel a little bit better about not being around all day to feed it to him. When I realized the cost savings of making his food it was really a no brainer for me.

Jarred foods are fine and if you don't have the time/energy/desire to make food, there is absolutely nothing wrong with them. 

Alli321

I do just because it is cheaper.  Also I am not working, but I usually do a big batch at night after DD goes to sleep every few weeks.  I guess it is good that you know what is in the food since you are making it, but my main reason is money.

iluvadam

There is really no difference when speaking of health reasons to make your own, especially if you buy organically.  The difference is most definitely cost.  I wanted to make my own but I just did not have time.  It is really hard to spare that time when you have a little one.  Williams Sonoma sells a baby food maker that seems pretty cool.  It steams and purees in one machine.  Seems like a huge time-saver to me if you can justify the cost, seemed kind of expensive.  I would love to have that.  As far as freezer space, maybe you already knew this but I just thought I would suggest it, you can put the homemade purees in ice cube trays and freeze them.  Then pop them out into freezer bags to save space. 

As someone else already said, the baby food stage goes by really fast.  Just keep it easy for you.  Have fun!

SeaSoul

I think of it this way:  would I want to eat every meal from a jar?  No way.  So I don't think it's fair for me to do that to Cal.  I try to think of him as a little me rather than a baby who can only eat baby food.  Plus, I want more control over what he eats and be able to gradually expose him to a variety of foods, textures, herbs/spices, etc.  So far, so good!  The kid has quite the palate! 

roaringrock

jarred baby food is "fine" but nothing compares to homemade. you have total control and if you use fresh ingredients a jar simply can't compete.

lnle

we just got a book called Super Baby Food that's all about making your own baby food at home. The author seems kind of militant about avoiding jarred foods, but I think the guidelines and recipes will be handy. Plus there's a fun chapter at the end about making your own playdough and stuff.

I too have a small freezer and I worry about having space for BM plus baby food. We'll have to do some reorganizing!!

schmoodle

I wanted to make our own but like you, I work FT (well, part time, but part time for me is still about 40 hours a week), and just couldn't deal with the added chore/stress. So far we're very happy with the Earth's Best. The one thing we made ourselves (bananas) he HATED, although it could have just been because it was the first food we tried. I'm just making sure to buy organic, to make myself feel less guilty for not making his food.