Feeling down

[Lou]

Hi

Just got back from the drop in clinic and yep as always I'm feeling crap. Isaac's weight gain is fine but the HV made me feel really guilty about giving Isaac jars. She said they are full of crap and if he doesn't have finger foods and our food mashed up then I will have problems with him from the age of 2 onwards and he will be a fussy eater. I'm feeling really really upset now and like I've been giving Isaac poison or something and that I'm a lazy cow for not mashing up our food and offering it to him. He likes the jars so I thought I was being a good mum and feeding him food thats good for him, obviously not. Why are heinz and cow & gate allowed to sell baby food in jars if its all rubbish? I thought the variety on offer was excellent and they were full of vitamins. Apparently they are not. Me and Jarrod certainly don't eat lentil and vegetable pasta bake for dinner followed by red fruit and apple dessert! (Issac's favourite). I know I could make that for him myself rather than getting a jar of it but it still wouldn't be our food mashed up!

I did do the done thing and made Isaac ice cubes of veg but then we went to Cambridge camping and I gave him jars for convienience and because he liked them I just carried on when I got home.

I feel so bad

Lou

 

[emilia]

Lou, don't beat yourself up... you did what you thought was right. It will be really good if your baby can have a bit of both. Jars for convenience and homecooked for nutrition.
These companies make great ooking babyfood, but they do fill it out with some un-nutritional "glues".
My first born mostly ate organic jars... he was a nightmare in the end - didn't like my cooking.

Worth a try, but don't feel bad!!! Combine a bit of your own food with the jars until Isaac takes to it.
pm me if you want some recipes or advice

Emilia xx

 

[weestar21]

i think health visitors make a point of making us mums feel bad

I only gave Adele jars of baby food till she was almost 2 years she was really fussy and wouldnt swallow lumpy things untill she started feeding herself.

If all the jars were full of rubbish they would be sued(sp?) for false advertisment. Go with what you feel is right hun!

Personally i think health visitors just want us all to be depressed so they can come sit on their backsides in our house listening to our problems for an hour so they dont have to do anything else. Maybe im wrong but get the impression thats exactly what mine is like

 

[emilia]

If all the jars were full of rubbish they would be sued(sp?) for false advertisment.

You're right weestar. However, the crap that they do put in, is used and approved because it meets guidelines. The jarred foods are heated to the extremes in order to make it safe and give it shelf life. If you pepared something yourself and put it in a jar, it wouldn't last past 3 days in the fridge. The heat treatment kills most of the nutritional value. Fruit and veggies are particularly sensitive. For example, if you slice an apple, it de-oxidizes within 30 minutes. Eating it afther that offers you nothing other than spongey fibre.

I'm not trying to upset anyone here, but fact is fact. Generally, we're exposed to very harmful chemicals that are added to our foods. These chemicals enhance flavours, retains colouring etc. Sunset Yellow that is used in so many products like Doritos, are linked to serious illnesses including cancer. Hyperactivity, dyslexia, asthma and ecsema included.
Manufacturers have to use controlled amounts approved by FSA. The manufacturer can not be sued. What we have to do for our own health, is to consume in moderation! I seldom have anything tinned, jarred or processed. In fact - I've avoided it for nearly 10 years now and I'm very passionate about it.

So, my advice would be to just cut down on it for the health of your bunnies, but instead, use jars for convenience.

Food is a wonderful thing and should be enjoyed every time. Sometimes we think that good and heathy eating comes at a price. That is not true. What we lack these days, is the time to prepare proper food for ourselves. I've learned from my previous choices and wish to share my knowledge with anyone interested.

Hope it helps.
Emilia xx

 

[weestar21]

[quote="emilia Sunset Yellow that is used in so many products like Doritos, are linked to serious illnesses including cancer. Hyperactivity, dyslexia, asthma and ecsema included.
Manufacturers have to use controlled amounts approved by FSA. The manufacturer can not be sued. [/quote]


sorry im a bit confused here....lol (takes me ages for things to sink in)

ok if it is linked to these seroius illnesses (wich is scaring me at the mo as i love doritos) how can they be allowd to produce this and sell it? i know you stated it is used with controlled amounts but even the slightest doesnt that still have effect?

sorry for bambling all these questions but i did think it was just my HV talking a load of rubbish.

 

[Lou]

Hi

Thanks for your replies and emilia I really appreciate the offer of some recipes. I would love some when your have time to send me some

As for the discussion on convenience food I have to say that in our house we eat foods that are ready prepared and also frozen foods. I buy fresh fruit, veg and potatoes every week but by the end of the weeks shopping we usually end up having something from the freezer till we get fresh shopping again. My mum never cooked anything from scratch so I havent much idea when it comes to cooking. A friend of mine from another forum has given me a link for a good childrens vegetarian cookery book from amazon so I'm going to buy that and make Isaac some food myself and, like you girls said, give him a mixture of both homemade and jars.

I have spoken with my 2 sisters tonight and they have both reassured me that Isaac is fine and I'm not a rubbish mum like the HV made me feel.

Surely if Isaac wasn't getting enough from his jars he would be underweight, hungry and miserable?

Lou

 

[emilia]

From a site I look at now and again, here's the gen on Sunset Yellow. I honestly couldn't tell you why the UK hasn't banned this additive. Check out this site - you might be surprised to see what has been banned in other countries.
www.ukfoodguide.net

Sunset Yellow E110

A synthetic 'coal tar' and azo yellow dye used in fermented foods which must be heat treated. Found in orange squash, orange jelly, marzipan, Swiss roll, apricot jam, citrus marmalade, lemon curd, sweets, hot chocolate mix and packet soups, breadcrumbs, cheese sauce, ice cream, canned fish, and many medications.

Side effects are urticaria (hives), rhinitis (runny nose), nasal congestion, allergies, hyperactivity, kidney tumors, chromosomal damage, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, indigestion, distaste for food; increased incidence of tumors in animals.

It appears to cause allergic and/or intolerance reactions, particularly amongst those with an aspirin intolerance.

Not recommended for consumption by children.

The Hyperactive Childrens Support Group belive that a link exists between this additive and hyperactive behavioural disorders in children.

Whilst being a commonly used colour in the UK its use is banned in Norway and Finland.

Emilia xx

 

[weestar21]

just looked at that site and my god its shoking to say the least, i then went through and everything in my cupboards, fridge and freezer have at least 6 or more of these (cant remeberthe 2 words but E number things that are dangerouse in health)

What is weird though is my parents had major drink problems so basicly we had to defend for ourselvs so we would always be eating ready meals and to be honest i havent really been effected that much OK i do suffer from dyslexia but i think its more or less to do with my mum drinking while she was PG with me but i may be wrong

Thanks for that web site its gave me a bit of a shock andthink i will surely have to re think my meals

xx

 

[lauramumof2]

Lou,
Dont you worry about the jars. Ive been giving a bit of both and when I was working more and when jess was wee it was more jar than homemade. Sure she is a bit fussy now and then but show me a toddler that doesnt kick off about food every now and again.

I still have jars and toddler meal for occassions when I want a fajita or something spicy. When the new baby comes till I get on my feet I can assure you there will be a stash of jars on hand for jess.

One book I do use though for making homemade is Bridgit L Wardley. Im not too fussed about some of the older kids stuff but the baby and weaning receipies have always been a hit.

How many times do we have to tell you, dont listen to the hv
Come to us, we know more and get paid less.

 

[emilia]

Weestar, I'm really happy that it was of some help to you. Like I said before, I really have no intention to upset anyone, but I feel so strongly about it.
It really is amazing and totally shocking, when we go and check out our food cupboards. A real eye opener, hey?

Anyway, I'm here if I can honestly help anyone put some simple recipes together and I would GUARANTEE that your bunnies would LOVE it!

On call... buzz me anytime!
Emilia xx

 

[Lou]

Lou,
Dont you worry about the jars. Ive been giving a bit of both and when I was working more and when jess was wee it was more jar than homemade. Sure she is a bit fussy now and then but show me a toddler that doesnt kick off about food every now and again.

I still have jars and toddler meal for occassions when I want a fajita or something spicy. When the new baby comes till I get on my feet I can assure you there will be a stash of jars on hand for jess.

One book I do use though for making homemade is Bridgit L Wardley. Im not too fussed about some of the older kids stuff but the baby and weaning receipies have always been a hit.

How many times do we have to tell you, dont listen to the hv
Come to us, we know more and get paid less.

Exactly what I wanted to hear Thank you. Oh and I always come to you girls and I do try and ignore the HV but its not always that easy. Its just this one particular HV that always makes me feel rotten.

Thanks again

Lou

 

[Dee1985]

Hi lou...

i gave Dior jars untill she was about 9months, i cant cook lol. i eat crap microwave meals ect fresh food is some thing i dont often get.

im a fan of jar food, i think if they were full of junk they would not be on the shelves. they are easier for me too.

i found this a while ago on the net. i have posted it on here before

might make you feel better

100% home made meals prob have more chemicals in than an equivelant baby food.

A recent survey has shown due to the high rulees etc monitoring the making of baby foods all of the fruit veg etc must be of a certain high standard that is not set for normal fruit n veg we buy. Some vegetables, including carrots, beets, turnips, collard greens, spinach and broccoli, may contain high amounts of nitrates, naturally occurring chemicals that can cause anemia in babies aswell as other forms of chemicals used in the processes from manure, growing agents cleaning agents and the way theyre handled.. Baby food companies must test for nitrates and other chemicals in these vegetables before they can be used to make baby food.

 

[kellie80]

Jess had nothing but Jars till she was 8 or 9 months old when i had a lot more choice what i could cook her and honestly the only thing she won't eat is sprouts and peppers so it hasn't made her fussy at all. Aimee has mostly jars but i do puree fresh fruit and if we have a roast dinner she will have that. I'm not very good at cooking or very adventurious in the kitchen. Its getting easier now she is getting older now though!

 

[Lou]

Hi

Thanks for your replies. I'm glad I'm not the only person on the forum that admits to not being much of a cook! I have tried to cook recently. I made a quorn chicken style casserole from scratch the other night and I can do basic stuff like quorn bolognaise but the thing is with giving Isaac our food its like dionne and kellie80 said, we eat things that just aren't suitable for Isaac. I can't mash up pizza or mexican bean burgers!

I feel alot happier now about the jars so I'm going to give Isaac his cereal in the morning then for his next 2 meals I will give one of jars and one homemade I think and see how he gets on. At bedtime now I let him drink as much of his bottle as he wants, usually about 3oz then I make up baby rice with the remaining milk so I know he is going to bed with something in his tummy. He is still sleeping through the night so he seems pretty content.

speak soon

Lou

 

[weestar21]

if it doesnt come with instructions i cant cook it

 

[Dee1985]

its to expensive to cook from scratch, every sunday i go out for a roast £3 each its great and no washing up

 

[weestar21]

we just go to his mums for sunday dinner most of the time.....lol

 

[Lou]

lol

We took Isaac out for a pub dinner in Cornwall one evening. The pub was no smoking in the food serving area so it was cool for Isaac to be in there. As for the washing up Dionne, I had morning sickness with Isaac at the start of my pregnancy and I begged Jarrod for a dish washer and yeah...I still don't have one.

Lou

 

[Kas]

Emilia if you have any good recipies can u share them with me, ive given Kaiden rice puddings in jars but ive started makeing my own over the past month, make my own fruit purees as well for him he loves it prefers them to the baby Jars. When i cook for me and my OH its fresh food i make it with, i buy a bit extra enough for one more person and put it in a small pot and dont add any salt, then i use my blender and blend them theres usually enough for 3 meals for Kaiden, so i let them cool and then date and freeze them and within a week we had a good storage so didnt have to use any jars. Its amazing what u learn on here!! I lived my student years on micro meals but i dont really go near them now. My cousin used to spend sunday afternoon cooking for her son god knows how she got the time!! XkelX

 

[emilia]

Hi Kas... will post some recipes tonight when kids in bed!

Emilia xx