Baby Food

     My extras, the kids I babysit for, are 14 months and 22 months old. My own children are at this moment 15, 15, 8, and 4. I've spooned up quite a load of baby food in my time. Now of course we have many more varieties and even companies that make them than we did when my 15 year olds were eating it. I believe my choices then were Gerber, that has been around forever and ever. And the new-comer Beechnut. Now there are of course things like Earths Best Organic Baby food And Yo-Baby yogurt. Because I guess regular yogurt just isn't good for your baby, but its ok for you.
     Things like that I just don't get. Sure, under one year olds you really have to be careful with what they're eating.(milk, eggs, peanut butter)  Actually I think there are some things you shouldn't give them until after two now. (honey, maybe peanut butter belongs here?) Who can keep up as the rules are always changing. "This is good for you eat it a lot." Six months later, turns into "No, its not. It has some good things about it but don't eat too much of it." Common sense says too much of anything is bad for you. At least thats what it says to me. Maybe I'm wrong.
     With the rules always changing I always felt it so easy to feed the kids when they were little. That little jar of baby food I knew I could count on. It was made for the baby. It had all the good things the baby is supposed to have and is allowed to eat. It was safe and convenient. I had my kids on baby food for quite some time. I supplemented real food as they grew of course. But I was always afraid that they weren't getting enough of what they needed. It was harder to tell just how much real food went in their mouths and how much went on the floor, got stuck in the bib, their hair, or was thrown to the dog. The baby food jars were good safe back ups to be sure the baby was eating enough. And getting enough of the good stuff.
     My 22 month old extra still gets baby food from the jar. Sure there are times she gets a sandwich or something else sent with her for lunch. But the jars are still around. My 14 month old extra hasn't had a jar of baby food sent over with him since he turned one. It baffles me. I don't ask because it is mom and dads decision on what their child should eat. I'm just confused by it. Maybe their doctor said no more baby food. Maybe they think its easier this way. Everyone has their own opinion.
     I think it's easier to feed him baby food. I also feel he eats it better, as I did with my own kids. I worry that he's hungry a lot now because he doesn't always eat what they send. Those days I'm left scrambling in my own cabinets for something I think he'll eat and is safe for him. I'm tempted to buy some baby food myself to have on hand just incase. I'm not sure what the parents would think about that. So mommies what do you think? When should we cut off the baby food completely?