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Organic, Please
Converting "Conventional" Kids to Organic
By Jacqueline M. Duda
Start small, Dr. Pennington advises. Substitute foods on a case-by-case basis instead of implementing a complete overhaul of your child's diet. "This will surely lead to disaster," she says. "Gradually introduce organic versions of their favorite foods such as vegetable-based pastas. Provide plenty of organic fruits and vegetables, especially when you're on the go." Organic peanut butter can be easily substituted for conventional versions.
Children are unable to differentiate between the appearance of an organic fruit and a conventional one, so fruits and vegetables can be an effortless switch. Be mindful of children younger than 3 for whom foods such as whole grapes can pose a choking hazard.
"Toddlers love to smear and touch things," says Dr. Pennington. "Tactile sensation is part of their learning experience. Oranges are a great choice. The segments allow young children to squish them, teeth on them and savor the delicious juice."
Beth Sitz, a mom of two from Frederick, Md., has gradually weaned her children from conventional foods. "We used to eat frosted cereals every day," says Sitz. "And then I started reading about the artificial ingredients in processed foods and the pesticides and chemicals used on conventionally grown produce." She began selecting organic foods at her local Whole Foods Market. To make the initial transition easier, she started with unsweetened, puffed rice cereal and naturally-flavored fruit cereals sweetened with a dollop of organic honey. Sitz's family now consumes a majority of organic foods, although she has faced some barriers along the way when visiting friends and relatives.