Review it Wednesday -- Making baby food, the easy way

Several months ago, I received a Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker to try. Since we don't currently have any babies in the family, I didn't have a pressing need to test it. However, my daughter, Jessica, is currently pregnant and I thought it would be a good product for her to have on hand once her baby is 6-months-old and starting on solids. Plus, Jess is the one in the family who likes to make smoothies, vegetable drinks and soups. So I gave it to her, and quite honestly, forgot about it. A follow-up email from the company reminded me that I needed to get on with reviewing this product and giving it either a green thumbs up or down. So, this week, Jess gave it a try. 

Like I said, there were no babies to feed, so she made a drink from the recipes booklet that came with the Baby Brezza. It is called Drink Your Greens and is for older babies through adults.

Jess started off by adding spinach, pear and melon into the machine. She then set the easy "steam and blend" button at 10 minutes. After it was done steaming, the machine beeped, then started into the blend cycle.

 After it was done steaming, the machine beeped, then started into the blend cycle. After 30 seconds, Jess added a cup of organic French Vanilla Yogurt, stirred it and served it. 

She enjoyed the drink, but her almost-four-year-old daughter, Laura, LOVED it! 

Here's what Jess thought about the Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker:

It worked well and was easy to use.

The machine has "steam & blend," "steam," and  "blend" buttons. You can set the steam time to 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 minutes. The instructions are thorough and easy to understand. However, I didn't like how the instruction book stated that the plastic "bucket" thing had a 160mL line engraved so you know how much water to pour in the back of it, when it is actually engraved with 180mL. I know that's not that big a deal, but it's still a mistake nonetheless. The only other thing I didn't like about it was that when I set the time and pressed start a blue light started flashing. I wasn't sure if that meant something was wrong and it wasn't going to start or if that just meant it was starting. I tried finding it in the book somewhere and nothing was said about a flashing light. So I just let it go and it worked, so I suppose the flashing light was an indicator that the machine was operating.

After it was all done, I realized that as a soon-to-be mom of a new baby, I will definitely enjoy using this baby food maker. It was just so easy not having to get out the pots and pans for steaming and then having to process the food. This will make making baby food so much easier this time around, that I'm actually looking forward to it!  

You can also reheat and defrost in the Baby Brezza and clean up with easy with 4 dishwasher-safe parts.

I really wish this product had been available when my own children were babies, because I love everything about it. First of all, making your own baby food is less expensive than buying the prepackaged food. Studies have shown that you can save at least 50% by making your own. And, of course, with all the concerns over BPA and food additives, you can ensure your baby's eating healthier foods when you make it yourself, especially if you are particular about buying organic foods.

And, of course, the Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker is an environmentally-friendly solution, as you eliminate the packaging that goes into all those serving sized baby food containers populating the grocery store shelves. 

This product warrants an easy green thumbs up from Green Grandma. I truly believe that if you are feeding, or planning to feed, pureed foods to your baby, the Baby Brezza is a must-have. And for those of you who like to make nutritious smoothies for yourself or your children, it doesn't get much easier or cost effective than the Baby Brezza, available on their website or other retail outlets for just $99.99.

While visiting the Baby Brezza website, make sure you check out their recipes!

Reviewing it for you,

Hana

Breastfeeding and cloth diapering times two!

I would first like to extend my thanks to Hana for allowing me to be a guest blogger tonight. Secondly I would like to introduce myself. My name is Danielle Gregory, and I am a SAHM (stay at home mom) with twin boys, Joshua and James, who will celebrate their first birthday tomorrow!

When Hana asked me to be a guest for her blog I was both excited and a little nervous, and I thought, “These are the same two feelings I had when I found out I was expecting twins!” Great excitement, because I have always loved children, and was looking forward to having my own; but with that feeling also came a nervous, almost fearful, feeling. “Am I ready for THIS?” Thoughts raced through my head, “will my body ever be the same?” (I came to find the answer is no, BUT they were well worth it!) “How are we ever going to afford these guys? Will I be able to nurse TWINS exclusively?” It was a lot to think about, especially those last few months of my pregnancy as I laid on bed rest! I had the opportunity during that time to think through my convictions, and to educate myself about nursing, diapering, and being a mom in general.

I had decided early on that I was going to breastfeed no matter what, but some people discouraged me saying that it would be too hard on me, and that I would never be able to do it. I was a little put off by the discouraging comments, but I decided to take on this challenge. I knew it was the BEST thing I could do for my babies, even if it was just for a few months. Breastfeeding was something that made so much sense to me for sooo many reasons. First of all, (and most importantly) breast milk is the best thing you can give your child; even the formula companies tell you that! There is no question about it, “The Breast is Best,” that’s how God designed it. He designed the woman’s body to carry a baby (or in my case two), and then produce the milk for him/her (or them). You don’t have to do anything, it just happens! And it is supply and demand, so the more you nurse the more milk you make, this is how I am able to nurse two babies. It is an amazing thing. I have to eat well to keep my body nourished, which is why I also take a nutritional product called Reliv (which I used as a prenatal as well). And just think, “No bottle prep!”

After having the babies, I had many looong nights trying to learn how to nurse properly as a first time mom, and the babies were learning as well. I had read all of this wonderful information about breastfeeding, but it was still SO HARD! I wanted to give up many times, but I would lay back in bed and say, “It will get easier,” and guess what? IT DID!! After two (tiring) months of nursing them separately, with the guidance of a lactation consultant, and a double Boppy pillow, I started nursing them at the same time. It made everything so much easier! Yes, it CAN be done. I had a great sense of accomplishment being able to nurse my babies, and provide for them the best nourishment I could. They will be one year old tomorrow and I have been exclusively nursing them this whole year! We started them on organic baby food at six months, and now they eat mostly what we have for dinner, as well as me nursing them.

I did some research, and according to Kathleen Huggins, registered nurse and lactation consultant, “the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) came out with a strong statement encouraging breastfeeding for at least the first year of life — and beyond.” (http://www.babycenter.com/404_i-still-breastfeed-my-18-month-old-son-my-mom-thinks-this-is_8879.bc )-11/14/09

She goes on to say:

What benefits are there to continued nursing after the first birthday? In December 1997 the AAP reported that at 12 months, a baby's immune system is about 60 percent developed. Breast milk, which even after a year is still loaded with protective antibodies, is a nutritious, healthy snack for toddlers— especially if she's a picky eater. (reference same as above)

Also, the WHO (World Health Organization) states that:

“Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond.” (http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/ )-11/14/09

As I read these recommendations I knew that nursing was not only what I wanted to do, but needed to do. You might be thinking -TWO YEARS, that is a really LONG TIME! Yes it does seem to be, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s not, and breastfeeding does so much good for your child. There is a TON of information about the benefits breastfeeding beyond a year, just Google it and check it out, you might just change your mind on two years being crazy.

Another reason I chose to nurse was money, or lack thereof. I was having two babies, and baby stuff is not cheap! Especially formula! I can only imagine how much money we would have thrown down the drain had we decide to use formula. It is something I won’t even think about!

Speaking of costs; my husband and I were also looking to cut back on the enormous expense of diapers. Holy cow are they expensive! And with us, we multiply everything by two. We started off using disposables because my babies were very little when they were born, and no cloth diaper that we had fit them yet! So for the first two months we used disposables, and I did not like it much. Every time I would throw one away I would think, “This will be another thing thrown in the ground that will always be there!” I did not even think about, or even know much about all of the awful things that were in them that my children were being exposed to! So despite the initial cost of purchasing them, we started using cloth diapers around three months, and the money we saved on not buying disposables far exceeded the cost of cloth. Granted, cloth diapers aren’t as easy, but there so much better for their little bottoms! Do we still use a disposable every once and a while? Yes. There are some times I am busy (a mom of twins, can you imagine!), and I run out of cloth diapers because we didn’t purchase enough for both babies, unless I do laundry ALL the time. With that said, the babies wear cloth about 85%of the time, and my goal is to make the next size cloth diapers we buy the last diapers we buy period. Hana has written a lot about diapers that really convicted me about how much better cloth are, and I am happy that I can do the best that I can for my babies little bottoms AND the environment.

I am just a stay at home mom, with two kids, how much can I do? A LOT! Being able to stay at home and nurture them, breastfeed them, and use cloth diapers are three things that I take pride in. Not only am I able to be at home and raise my own children, but I am giving them the best nutrition, and using cloth diapers to save their bums from chemicals I wouldn’t use myself! Is it the easiest? No way! Do I struggle? Absolutely! But, is it the best thing for my children? No question! And that is why I do what I do. Now that I am a mom, it is my job to take care of my kids the best way I know how, and breastfeeding and cloth diapering are a few ways that I am doing that.

Thank you for letting me share a little of my heart,

Danielle Gregory