Deciding To Go Organic

When it comes to feeding your baby, you may be wondering if it is time to go organic. The answer is up in the air and really comes down to personal choice. But when there is a new baby in the house many moms start to rethink their food choices. Tricia O'Brien, Features Editor for American Baby, tells us what going organic means for moms and babies and what items are most important when choosing to buy organic.

Organic means food produced without antibiotics, growth hormones and pesticides. That also includes no irradiation or genetic engineering. But, until more is known, the main reason to buy organic is to reduce exposure to pesticides antibiotics and synthetic hormones.

The main items to consider buying organic are baby food, meat and poultry, milk and certain fruits and vegetables. According to the Environmental Working Group produce with the highest pesticide levels are peaches, apples and bell peppers. Babies eat more pesticides per pound of body weight than adults. And toxins are stored in fat, and babies have a higher percentage of body fat than adults do. To safeguard children, feed them a diverse diet, with lots of whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Don't stress if your package goods aren't organic because they are probably not good for your child anyway. Also, don't worry about fruits and vegetables with an inedible peel such as oranges and corn. And don't worry about buying onions, avocado, or corn organic. These were found to have the lowest pesticide residue.

For more information on buying organic and other parenting tips, click here.
Tricia O'Brian & Erika Wortham