I’m honored to be a partner with Similac. I’m excited share my food story and to tell you about their newest product, Similac Advance Non-GMO.
I haven’t always been health conscious. Actually, growing up, my house was always the ‘cool food house’ to my friends since my parents stocked it with amazingly delicious junk food. It was always so fun to see my friend’s faces light up when they had their first taste of things like Fruit Roll Ups or Goldfish. In a way, I seemed to feel bad that their parents made them eat healthy foods all the time, not being flexible to allow them cake except for at their birthday party.
I wouldn’t change my childhood for anything. I loved every second and have such great memories in the kitchen (and don’t think by having a variety of junk food in the house means that we didn’t have healthy foods, too) where my mom would prepare home cooking and she’d also have oodles of fruits and vegetables for us to choose from, too. I think the foods in my family’s kitchen just embodied the decade I was born in (the good old 80-90’s).
The term ‘organic’ wasn’t a thing yet since everything coming from the ground is by definition organic. It wasn’t until 2002 that the USDA created the organic seal to officially certify that foods were grown without pesticides and antibiotics and many other high standards and practices. By then, I was in high school and the general consensus was that the higher priced organic foods was a fad for the rich eccentric crowd. However, fast forward a few years and stores like Whole Foods and Earthfare started popping up locally and had readily available options for buying organic foods.
By my college years, I had befriended people who were more health conscious and together we learned about taking care of our bodies through exercise and foods. While I still didn’t purchase organic foods, I was taking the right steps towards eating healthier with less processed foods. Then, I got married and my husband and I educated ourselves more on certified organic products and decided to slowly begin budgeting for organic foods where they were most important (dirty dozen). Once we got pregnant our first child in 2011, I had a huge sense of responsibility to provide him with the healthiest upbringing possible, starting from what I ate while pregnant. Of course, this continued once he was born in 2012. He was this clean slate that we were in charge of fueling!
I continued to learn everyday about different foods and slowly made the transition to things like organic milk and yogurts, local non-antibiotic eggs and I have even dabbled in non-GMO products like canola oil and some processed snack foods. As time has progressed, my husband and I have made the decision to sacrifice some other luxuries to budget to feed our family (roughly 80%) organic foods.
We’re teaching our children the ways of healthy eating (and don’t think that organic = healthy, organic chips are still chips, carrots are healthier than chips, even if the carrots are not organic) and taking care of their bodies at an early age. Of course, I’m not going to refuse them the deliciousness world of junk, either. It’s all about moderation. We use that wiggle room of 10-20% to splurge on things like ice cream sundaes (have you ever made homemade magic shell?!?), organic fruit snacks, gummy worms (hello worms ‘n dirt!) and of course, chocolate.
I’m still learning myself on how to better feed (and bathe) my family and just recently discovered that organic and non-GMO products start in even baby formula! Similac just came out with a non-GMO version of their Similac Advance formula last week after listening to parent’s requests for it. According to Similac, “Similac Advance and Similac Advance NON-GMO have the same ingredients; they just have different sources for the ingredients.” Either way, it’s nice to have another option for parents who are concerned about GMO’s when feeding your baby.
Our 4 month old, Hayden has recently been trying out the new Similac Advance Non-GMO and has taken to it just fine. It blends well in water like the original Similac Advance and I have no complaints on my end! I now have the added reassurance that even my baby is being fed another alternative. Now, if they would make the Similac Advance Non-GMO or Organic in those little on-the-go powder singles like they do with the Similac Advance! They are perfection when traveling!
So, what do you think? Is your baby ready to try the Similac Advance Non-GMO?
You can find Similac Advance Non-GMO at Target. Here are some answers to FAQ. Thank you for giving us parents more choices!
