Feeding babies

Disclaimer 1: I do not have kids. Thus, I am "sticking my nose where it does not belong." I will do that sometimes.

Disclaimer 2: I am not addressing those who would like to breastfeed but cannot/unable to due to health concerns, or those who have adopted an infant and do not have access to/afford using a milk bank.

Disclaimer 3: I know that formula is not poison.

If you've read about my toiletry kits for the homeless, you know that I like sign up to receive coupons and free samples. I signed up for baby coupons and samples, too, which can be given to expecting friends or used to buy diapers for a women's center. Today, I received a free one day supply of baby formula.

The top ingredient is corn syrup. That's sugar for those new to reading food labels. A sugar not without some very recent controversy, I might add.

Then, we have palm olein, coconut oil, soy oil, and high oleic oil. Oil, oil, oil, oil. And not the best kind of oil, either. The "lipids" featured on the front are just these cheap, poor quality fats! (Lipids and ingredients starting with "ol" or "ole" are fats.)

Plus some assorted vitamins and minerals. I guess that makes it...better?

I have no idea where the idea that breastfeeding is wrong, embarrassing, or otherwise icky came from. I've never complained to a manager that a woman one table over was feeding her baby, or gave a dirty look to a woman breastfeeding on the train. I would not want her changing a diaper in a restaurant or in such close quarters, but that is more of a hygiene issue. Isn't is unhealthy to insist mother feed in bathrooms? I occasionally see a mom breastfeed in a restaurant's bathroom, and *that* makes me feel uncomfortable. I am tempted to slather her baby with anti-bacterial hand gel!

I have pictured the formula next to dog treats. I prefer to bake my own dog treats as commercial treats are packed with salt, sugar, preservatives, and artificial colors and flavors. Jack and Coco were gifted these and enjoying them sparingly - just as a person should enjoy junk food. If you have dogs, glance at the ingredient label, too. These are primarily flour, corn syrup, sugar crystalline, fructose, salt, dried cheese product, vegetable oil, artificial smoke flavor, artificial apple flavor, artificial peanut butter flavor, and artificial colorings. At least the baby formula left out the artificial smoke flavor.

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Tip/trick/lesson of the day: Don't toss your glass jars. Wash and save them and use to store anything from leftover food to dried beans to crafts supplies. The label peels off easily if you fill the jar with very hot water; the heat softens the glue, and the label will peel right off! If the jar previously contained a strong-flavored food like garlicky pickles, you will want to wash the jar twice. No need to buy Tupperware when you can shop in your recycle bin!

I ate a lot of olives so my ribbons, yoyos, and crocheted bits could neatly take up residence on my crafts table.