Is baby food the answer?

It is like searching for the meaning of life, searching for the solution to weight loss, isn't it?  It's easy for the answer to become much more complicated than it needs to be.  True, our reasons for eating or holding on to weight may complex, but the how's really aren't.  Finding the right foods to feed your body can be daunting, especially if your not an imaginative cook.  Then add the layer of organic, which, although becoming more affordable, is still beyond the budget of many.  In my case, there are six other people in the house that want to eat all the healthy food, too, so getting in my (and everyone else's) six or more fruits and veggies a day are, let's say, impossible!

So what to do?  Obviously, not eating right has not been the solution, and I could think of any number of excuses, yes, excuses, to not eat right.  A large part of my problem, though, has been the lack of ability to wrap my head around the complexities of healthy eating, while feeding six other, not shook willing, people.  Well, part of the solution has come from a somewhat unusual, and surprising, place.  My baby daughter.  No, it's not one of those aha moments about being around for my children, I had that a long time ago.  It was more practical than that, it was the food I was spooning into her mouth!

When I began the incredible vocation of mother ten years ago, baby food has a lot to be desired.  It was very unappetising eating, to say the least, and I remember putting my son on regular cooked food a soon as I could.  Chicken and apples were a staple baby food for him, yuck!!  Nowadays, baby food has come a long way, as I w very pleased to find out.  Chef inspired combinations of organic foods are put together in very simple, but appetizing ways.  They are great and basic ideas on how to  fuel our bodies optimally.  Such care is taken when feeding our little babies, however, this care gets less and less as we age.  Every aisle in the food stores should look like the baby food aisle, not necessarily the mushy consistency, but the ease of healthy ideas and with that much care in our nutrition. 

However, since our society is at that point yet, I will cook the honours of listing some interesting for combinations of nutrient rich foods that we can easily feast on.  And trust me, I've actually considered eating some of my daughter's yummies, just for ease.  But the simplicity of these foods are nice enough to tempt the rest of the family.  Take a look:

Spinach, peas and pear
Sweet potatoes, white beans and cinnamon
Apricot, peach and pumpkin
Green beans, zucchini and potato
Apple and blueberry
Blueberry, oats and quinoa
Broccoli and apple
Banana, beet and blueberry
Apricot and sweet potato

These are some great ideas for stir-fries, one dish meals, even smoothies!  This wouldn't be the first time I added baby food to a smoothie, it  take out all the work of preparing a fruit or vegetable purée.  Try to practice taking care of your body the way you would a baby's, with that much consideration.  Maybe we can force the for companies to start taking better care of their customers, too! 

Many thanks to Plum Organics, Sprout Organic (co-founded by chef Tyler Florence), and Happy Baby organic baby foods, for the inspiration!

Now to make some turkey chili with red beans and quinoa.