Top 5 Organic Foods for Your Baby

These fruits are a novelty for kids to eat. They're shaped funny and have crystal-looking, bright magenta seeds and a shimmering scarlet pulp. Pomegranate juice has more overall antioxidant capacity than green tea or red grapes, according to recent studies. It's also a good source of fiber and potassium.

These fruits are the size of a large orange, and the skin is dark reddish-magenta. The seeds and the pulp are the edible parts. The problem with eating whole pomegranates is that it's a hassle to pry the seeds out of the white, non-edible membrane of the fruit.

The pomegranate tree was introduced to California in 1769 by Spanish settlers, and most commercially produced pomegranates in the U.S. are grown in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Fresh poms are available between September and December.

When selecting pomegranates, choose the heaviest ones, since the seeds represent a little more than half the fruit's weight. Make sure the skin is shiny and free of cracks. Poms can store in the refrigerator for two months, and in dark, cool places for about one month. But seeds refrigerate for only three days.

However, the seeds can be frozen for six months in an airtight container. Unfortunately, upon thawing, the seeds won't be edible, but they can be used for extracting juice. Freezing actually makes it easier to extract juice from the seeds. The juice can be frozen for six months.

One medium pomegranate yields about one-half cup of juice. If you're not up to picking out all the seeds to home-make juice, check your local whole foods market or health food store. Pom juice is sold in pure form, and also as a blend with other juices.

1. Comparison shop. Look around. Many conventional stores are now selling organic foods-not just produce, but in the frozen foods aisles. Prices are sometimes very competitive to compete with nearby whole foods stores.

2.Cook more. Organic frozen dinners usually cost a lot more than conventional frozen dinners.You may want to consider buying the organic components of these dinners, and preparing everything yourself-at far less the cost.

3. Stock up/buy in bulk. Always hunt for sales and buy a lot at once. Also, some organic food items are sold in bulk, such as grains, nuts, lentils and rice.

4. Coupons. Some whole foods stores give out coupons for large purchases.

Top 5 organic foods for your baby

Avocados. The fat in avocados is the healthy kind. They also offer fiber, potassium, vitamin E, and B vitamins, along with many more essential nutrients.

Blueberries. This is a no-brainer because wild blueberries are one of the most potent antioxidant foods known. They're also a good source of fiber.

Broccoli. Lightly steam broccoli, a rich source of calcium and vitamin C.

Chicken and beef. Certified organic meats offer protein that babies need.

Orange foods. Bright orange foods have very high antioxidant capacity. Chop of carrots or orange slices for your baby. Sweet potatoes are another valuable orange food.