Ever wonder why, at the grocery store, the price of some things is given per pound and others per ounce? Could it be because your grocery store wants the prices of its products to be obvious to you, its valued customer?  This is what the self service checkout machine calls me. “Welcome, valued customer!” The polite side of me wants to say “Thank you valued self checkout machine.”  I never say this out loud though cause it would be weird.  Anyway, I drift from the point. No, the grocery store does not want anyone taking a close look at the price of something when it gives it in ounces.  And once you stop and do the math, you’ll see why.  

Let’s start with baby food. As of August 2020, here were the prices at my grocery.  Earth’s Best organic applesauce and organic bananas in 2 ounce jars – 32.3¢ an ounce.  That’s $5.12 a pound.  Organic bananas are 69¢ a pound.   So for the simple act of pureeing your own banana, and maybe adding water to thin it, you save $4.43 a pound.  At over $5.00 a pound, one apple could cost over $2.00.

You can make your own applesauce. It’s apples and water.  That’s all.  Cook until the apples are soft and put it in a blender. The same goes for carrots, pears, peas, you name it.  You can get fancy – make a carrot, pear and broccoli – apple blueberry and spinach- check out what the baby food makers are doing and copy that. Or make up your own. 

But remember:  Jarred baby food comes in “Stage One” to “Stage Three”, which progresses as the baby’s age does.  There are certain foods a baby of 6 months shouldn’t eat that a 9 month old can.   If you can’t find spinach, for example, in a baby food jar at Stage Two (six months) then don’t make your spinach if your baby is in that age group. 

Also,  do not add salt, sugar, or strong spices. By getting the baby’s palate used to the taste of simple, real food, you are helping them form good eating habits for the rest of their lives.

If you’re a gardener, imagine making your baby’s dinner from food you’ve grown yourself.  It’s the cost of seeds and water. And you can feel good knowing for sure that no pesticides, insecticides, GMO’s, factories, long haul trucks, etc. got between you and the food you made for your baby.   And you have just gone nice and easy on the environment.  That’s a good day’s work, friends.