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Liza Huber and her four children
Liza Huber on Healthy Meals and Happy Kids
Start with Homemade, Organic Baby Food by Gerry Strauss
F
or many actresses, landing a role on the hit show Passions would be a career highlight. For Liza Huber, daughter of soap opera icon Susan Lucci, a successful acting career was one step en route to her calling as a mother, public speaker and entrepre- neur. Her inspiration was to launch Sage Spoonfuls (
SageSpoonfuls.com) to make it easier for parents to make homemade, organic food for their little ones. It’s all about enabling parents to provide a legacy of health, all wrapped up in love.
How did becoming a parent boost your relationship with
organic foods and health? I was raised on a diet of mostly fresh, homemade, food and knew it was something I wanted for my own chil- dren. At that point, I knew the basics; that it was healthier and tasted better than store-bought baby food. The more I learned, the more I became fascinated by how switching to an organic diet positively affects our health.
Why is it vital to introduce organic food during a young- ster’s early development? America’s food supply is loaded with more chemicals and GMOs [genetically modified organisms] than ever before. I believe, as many others do, that the rapid rise of food allergies in children is a direct result. Many chemical pesti- cides and artificial flavors and colors are known to contain carcinogens, suspect- ed hormone disruptors and neurotoxins. It is widely believed that even small doses of these common pesticides can have lasting negative effects on a child’s health. I believe that teaching our kids about the importance of fresh, organic food and the potential dangers of a con- ventionally processed diet helps set the stage for a lifetime of healthy choices.
How do homemade organics and packaged organics differ? Store-bought baby food, organic or not, is processed to have a long shelf life of up to two years. So much of the nutrient content is lost during processing that most manufacturers artificially add it back in, but aren’t obligated to inform consumers. The added nutrients are synthetic and aren’t absorbed by the body the same way as naturally occurring nutrients. The taste, color and aroma of com-
mercial baby food isn’t as appealing. By feeding your baby a steady tasty diet of fresh, homemade, organic baby food, you greatly reduce the risk they’ll grow into a picky eater. Plus, making your own baby food is three to five times less expensive than what is store-bought. Homemade food has a far smaller impact on the environment compared with commercial manufacturing, trans- portation and packaging. By the time a baby turns 1, they will have eaten from nearly 700 jars or pouches of store- bought baby food that generally end up in landfills, because little is recycled.
Which favorite foods do you love to make for your babies and why? I focus on whole foods. Great first foods include bananas, apples, but- ternut squash, pears, avocados, peas and sweet potatoes. Once a baby has
38 Long Island Edition
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