In a message dated 97-11-21 00:09:25 EST, you write:

<< When my son was starting solids (25 years ago), it was quite popular to =
 grind up whatever the family meal was, so he got used to what we were =
 eating, rather than the contrived tastes of food in jars.  Has this gone =
 out of fashion?  If it has, I want to start mentioning that when people =
 ask about solids. >>

I think that the popular perception that babies are *supposed* to be eating
from pre-packaged jars (after all, doesn't the label say "Baby Food"?) leaves
many moms not even thinking that there are other ways of making food suitable
for a baby.  When I've mentioned using a food grinder to make table foods
suitable for babies, moms have frequently responded with "WOW -- you can do
that??" -- as if a fresh vegetable would actually be detrimental to a child!

It's amazing how pervasive marketing is.  As if anything that doesn't come
out of a jar is somehow not as good.......<shaking head>  I'd bet it's
connected to the formula-feeding mentality.  After all, the baby's food has
*always* come out of packages --why switch now?

Diane
LLLLeader in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.....where breastfeeding is *finally*
catching on, but oh-so-slowly.......