Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.
I remember it like it was yesterday. My kitchen was covered with assorted strips of fruit peel and discarded cores. Chunks of pear, apple and mango were simmering away on the stove, condensing into a sloppy, mushy substance. After slightly cooling the mixture, I transferred it to a blender, where it was puréed until smooth. Then, ever-so-carefully, I spooned the puree into washed and sterilized ice cube trays, and set it in the freezer. I tackled all the dishes in the meantime, in between washing formula bottles and distracting little Ryder. After two hours, I transferred the cubes to a zipper bag, and once again returned the package to the freezer.
That was the first and last time I made my own baby food.
Honestly, I have much respect for parents who make their own purées. Because you what? It just wasn’t my thing at all. In fact, I found more satisfaction popping open a jar of baby food than I ever did taking the time to make my own. It’s what worked for me and I am totally cool with that.
And if you are a do-it-yourself parent, remember that while homemade baby food totally rocks, you may be missing the mark when it comes to including enough iron in your child’s diet. Most healthy infants are born with enough iron stores to initially meet their needs, but at about six months, baby’s iron stores start to deplete and breast milk can no longer meet his or her nutritional requirements.
Health Canada recommends babies between six and twelve months should be offered iron-rich foods two or more times a day. Iron is an essential nutrient for an infant’s growth and carries oxygen from the lungs throughout the body, including the brain, and helps a baby remember all of the new things learned each and every day.
Today, Nestlé Gerber is serving up the chance to WIN a “Feeding Time Fun” prize pack, valued at over $100, with special treats including Baby Cereal, which provides 100 per cent of the daily value of iron babies need.
The prize pack includes:
· Three boxes of Nestlé Gerber Cereal
· Deluxe Reclining Feeding Seat
· Snack bowls
· Kiddy Cutlery 3-Pc Set
· Babies R Us 10 pack bibs
· Babies R Us 12-pack super soft washcloths
It’s the perfect gift pack for an expecting mom or parents with wee ones. And even though my little guys are well beyond the mushy food stage, Nestlé Gerber is still the only baby cereal I trust. Each serving of cereal provides 100 per cent of the daily value of iron babies need, without any added sugar, salt, preservatives, artificial flavours or colours. They’re the only infant cereals in Canada with Probiotic B. lactis, which helps contribute to a healthy digestive tract flora. Good luck everybody! …