Now LO is 14 month old (young) :-). What solid food have we fed him so far?

• Grains – organic brown rice cereal, oat,  wheat, quinoa, barley, millet, amaranth
• Fruits – organic apple, banana, avocado, pear, blue berry
• Vegetables – organic yam, butternut squash, pea, green bean, broccoli, spinach, red legume, corn, cabbage, celery, cucumber,  black-eyed beans
• Meats – organic chicken, beef, egg yolk, egg white, pork
• Milk Products – Organic Homo 3.5% cow milk, Gouda cheese, plaint yogurt

The photo on the left is one of regular dinner for my 14-month old. It has oat meal, quinoa, millet, amaranth, egg and spinach. My LO loves this type of combination!

Again, if we have the choice, we always opt for organic food. It’s highly recommended to Avoid Genetically Modified Foods for Your Baby. Yes, it’s a little bit more expensive. However, since we are making baby foods at home, we save some money than buying those baby foods in jars. Our baby foods are made with loves and the best possible ingredients!

Based on CBAN, four GM crops are grown in Canada: corn, soy, canola and white sugar beet (for sugar processing). These are widely used as ingredients in processed foods. There is also now some GM sweet corn grown in Ontario and more could be grown in the future.

• GM papaya, cotton and some types of squash are grown in the U.S. and can be imported, mostly as processed food ingredients.
• GM Tomatoes: There are no GM tomatoes on the market anywhere in the world.
• GM Potatoes: Monsanto took GM potatoes off the market because of consumer rejection.
• GM Wheat: In 2004, Monsanto withdrew its request for approval of GM wheat in Canada and the US because of consumer and farmer protest. Monsanto has relaunched its GM wheat research.
• Most of the GM corn grown in Canada is hard corn used for animal feed or processed food ingredients. There is no GM popcorn on the market. There are a few varieties of GM sweetcorn now being sold in Canada.

What is Genetic Modification?

Genetic modification (GM) is recombinant DNA technology, also called genetic engineering
or GE. With genetic engineering scientists can change plants or animals at the molecular level by inserting genes or DNA segments from other organisms. Unlike conventional breeding and hybridization, the process of genetic engineering enables the direct transfer of genes between different species or kingdoms that would not breed in nature.

Are GM Foods Safe to Eat?

We don’t know what, if any, impacts GM foods could have on our health. There are many
unanswered safety questions.
Many scientists warn that:

• The process of genetic engineering could create new allergens.
• Foreign DNA may be able to survive in the human gut.
• Animal feeding studies indicate liver and kidney problems.

GM foods are approved for human consumption based on company-produced science. The data is secret and is not peer-reviewed by independent scientists. Health Canada does not do its own testing. There is no mandatory labeling in Canada, and no tracking or monitoring of possible health impacts.

At around 8 months of age, your baby might show an interest in feeding himself/herself. Finger Foods such as soft fruits (banana, peaches or pears) or steamed vegetables can be introduced at this time to develop self-feeding skills.

What are finger foods choice do I have for my baby?

• Fruits – Peeled raw fruits such as bananas, pears, peaches, papaya or blueberries are good introductory finger foods.
• Vegetables – Steamed cauliflower, broccoli, beans or peas are good choices; Potatoes and yams cut in wedges and roasted are healthy alternative to french fries.
• Breads and Cereal – toast, whole-grain crackers and rice cakes; cooked pasta, whole-grain cereal such as Cheerios, cornflakes or spoon size shredded wheat can be served without milk.
• Meats and Proteins – small pieces of cooked chicken, beef, fish and cubes of soft tofu – you can serve them with homemade vegetable purees.
• Dairy Products – at around 9 months, dairy products can be introduced. Cheese can be served either grated or cut into thin slices. Most babies also enjoy melted on bread strips.

Sodium is an essential dietary nutrient that plays an important role in metabolism and maintenance of blood pressure. Sodium occurs naturally in many foods such as cow’s milk, human milk, cheese, vegetables and grains. To adults, an excess of sodium can raise blood pressure and cause significant health problems in later life. As it’s not clear what the consequences of excess sodium are for infants, it seems wise not to use added salt when preparing baby food.