F.F.
Salve L.! I made both of my boys homemade baby foods. I also heard about the nitrate levels, my husbands uncle is an environmental scientist and lives abroad so I prodded him for information. The deal with the nitrates is this, if you see white on the carrot that is the increase in nitrate levels. If you get the foods fresh and puree and store (follow any book you like) you will be fine. It is when it is left in the fridge for up to a week prior to puree process you want to avoid. I fed both of my boys all of the vegetables you are discussing. As far as organic goes, that is great, I used what I grew and from the Farmers Markets and frankly not always organic as my Uncle -In law brought o my attention that the organic pesticides have not been studied long enough to determine long term effects on human consumption as well as the fact that the machinery used to produce organic products lets off more damaging emissions to the Earths atmosphere. I know it is not at all related to your question but when it comes from an environmental scientist nominated twice for a Nobel Peace Prize I found it noteworthy. I guess my point is this, pick the foods you think look, feel and smell the best, the greatest part of your child's diet right now is the breast milk! I am Sicilian so we live on a Mediterranean diet and lifestyle so I am all about the veg,fruit,bean,fish etc exposure! I have a 3 1/2 and a 2 year old, both boys and they eat Sicilian Pesto, olive oil with garlic, carrots, salmon, cannelini with pureed tomato,etc...all home cooked...I am a firm believer that they eat this well due to the home cooked baby foods! Bravo-ciao-F.