Throw out the preservatives forFresh
By Gisele Zanier
B
aby food gardens - sounds refreshingly good, right? Read on! Being a parent is one of life's most rewarding jobs, and expensive.
The cost of living has never been so high and how on earth are you meant to stay on your budget when it comes to feeding your little critters mouths? Every Australian household is open to saving a dollar here and there, and with the constant price risers of almost everything it's becoming really hard to get ahead, especially when skipping meals is just not possible, especially for the little ones. Pre-made baby food from your local supermarket can seem convenient and easy whilst on the go though, believe it or not it's actually eating away at your pockets without you even realising. So why constantly dash down to the supermarket to buy a pack full or preservatives when we can have it fresh whenever we want? If you live in a household where everyone likes to eat, eat, eat, plant expert and founder of Beyond Sunflowers - Gisele Zanier has put together her top tips on why and what you need to be growing in your baby food garden. 38
Peninsula Kids – Spring 2018
The health benefits: fresh or processed? I think this term pretty much speaks for itself. While pack baby food is super easy, especially when on the go, what are you really serving your baby and have you ever looked at the pack? Think natural, if you pick an apple there is only a certain life span before its had its day and that's the exact type of food you should be feeding your baby. Cupboard life spans for baby food can last over a year and with all those preservatives that's just nasty. Growing fresh produce is excellent for cutting out all the unnecessary add ons - and once you have prepped, you can store it in the freezer for a few months too, and of course without the additives. Homemade baby food can be just as easy and convenient as the pack. Where to plant: Building a veggie garden is simple; find a place outside that gets a minimum of 5-6 hours of sunlight a day. Your garden does not have to be huge; you can keep it as big a small as you please. Make sure your soil is high in organic matter or well fertilized, plant all your seeds with enough room between each, depending on what type of veggie you are planting will determine how much room them need. Remember to water, weed and harvest your veggies when ready. Don't worry if your first go isn't a hit; the more you grow the better you get and this will also give you the continued next page.....