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Trash To Treasure

How about a boatload of baby food jars?

16 years ago

One of my co-workers knows that I am into crafts and she brought me a bag of baby food jars. She said there will be more if I need them. What do you do with baby food jars?

I know they're good for storing small things like buttons and screws, and I remeber the kids making snow globes. I also thought of tea light candle holders. But I would like to hear your creative ideas.

Debbie in Florida

Comments (13)

sistersunnie
16 years ago
mini terrariums? Drawing a blank....a perpetual state for me these days...
fiddlekate
16 years ago
I did a quick search and came up with the web site below. The appealing one on the list to me was "Hot Chocolate in a Jar" gifts. Would be great to give to a child's teachers at holiday time! Have fun!

Here is a link that might be useful: Baby Food Crafts
Related Discussions
Food in Jars blog
Q
Comments (9)
We have had previous discussions about that blog that the search will pull up. I don't really recall what the consensu was about it but like most personal blogs, any recipes have to be individually evaluated. Or you can always just stick with tested and approved recipes. For example, NCHFP has several similar recipes to the Cucumber Pepper Relish one. I don't see anything wrong with the Cuke/Pepper Relish one although I don't see why the vinegar has to be divided and the solid ingredients drained. But it is still an undiluted vinegar brine so safety isn't an issue. Can only be done in 1/2 pint jars. The pickles recipe is also available at NCHFP although with slightly different proportions. It meets the minimum requirement for acidification so would be considered safe as long as you understand it is the MINIMUM and that pH rises during shelf storage. I don't agree with the note that the same processing could be done if you use halves or spears rather than slices. But it can only be done in pints and whole, halfs, and spears would be hard to do in pints so I'd stick with slices. Can I ask what it is that appeals to you about these particular recipes? Dave
...See More
Baby's First Foods
Q
Comments (24)
The Wholesome Baby Food site that girlsingardens linked has good information as well as recipes. They have information on which foods are best to start with and why some foods should be started later. Also a balanced explanation about why there is concern about starting solids to early and what to look for to see if your baby is ready. Based on that, our granddaughter started solids at 5 months - she was able to sit up, seemed interested and was pretty quickly able to indicate when she didn't want more. Some foods are more likely to cause allergic reactions when introduced to early so it is better to wait on them. We have been careful about that because we have a little bit of family history of allergic reactions. Some other foods aren't usual suspects for allergies but are hard to digest so they should also wait until the baby is a bit older - most of the protein foods including beans are there. The other foods you mentioned are all in the list that is okay to introduce under 8 months but refried beans are probably a bit early. Are you doing a 4-day wait between introducing new foods? That is so you can tell if a food causes a problem and back off. We have been doing the 4-day wait. She is 8 months now and so far hasn't reacted badly to anything though there are a few foods that she doesn't care for - avocado went over like a lead balloon. I've been making most of the baby food. It is pretty easy. We do use baby food cereal - she isn't very interested in eating it straight, but it is handy to have some around to use as a thickener when the mashed apples, pears or zucchini come out a bit to liquid. One nice aspect of making the food is that we can adjust texture - now that she is 8-months, she seems to prefer feeding herself small chunks instead of being spoon fed. As far as the obesity thing - it is probably most important to offer healthy foods and not push food when the child doesn't want it. I really doubt that starting at 5 months vs 6 months is going to be the the difference. Doc may be able to predict likely adult size by looking at you and your husband, but I don't think they can predict by looking at the baby. Our son who was in husky cloths as a boy got skinny in his teens and stayed that way - the one that was skinny went the other way (not fat but he has to watch his weight a bit). Here is a link that might be useful: Wholesome baby food site
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pantry pests - ISO airtight food storage jars
Q
Comments (22)
Thank you all for the ideas. We are going to start freezing flour and similar dry goods for a few days before putting in the pantry in well sealed containers. I would just store them in the freezer if I could, but we are always short on freezer space thanks to Costco. Speaking of which, I plan to buy a Costco size bag of bay leaves and use them generously around our stored food. We do watch out for phthalates, pvc and bpa in plastics (I'll add styrenes to the list). That is part of why glass containers appeal to me, as well as the aesthetics. Of course, glass containers are tricky with a 2 year old in the house! We are going to run around to Ikea and The Container Store and wherever else I can think of to look at the available options. Maybe we will do a few really pretty glass jars with frequently used items like lentils and rice on the counters, and do a mix of glass and plastic containers in the pantry. I love the pantry pictures that show all the dry foods lined up in matching glass jars, but I should probably get over that fantasy. We have started checking the spices (which were in a different location), and there is no evidence of pests so far. We are bad about collecting spices. I'll buy something like juniper berries or cumin for a particular recipe, and then not want it again for a long time. We probably have 40 jars of various dried herbs and spices and another dozen of seasoning salts and seasoning blends (most of which we were given and don't use because we like to mix our own seasonings).
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Commercial baby food and the health of today's children
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Comments (9)
In some cases the baby food on the shelf is a reflection of the store manager. What's on the shelf is what he/she ordered. If it was not ordered, it won't be on the shelf. At times, the mix may be from pressure from the baby food company. One way to pressure the store is to offer "packages" of a recommended mix. Another way is to tell the store manager, "Soon, we will not be supplying that particular food. It is loosing popularity." There has been sad cases of malnutrition in 3rd world countries partly from lack of communications and at other times when a mother strapped for money may water down the product to stetch the supply. Malnutrition is reduced in locations where mothers are informed about what constitutes good nutrition and the need for a balanced diet. In most cases, they find they can make their own "baby food" and it can be well balanced in fats, protein, starch, and carbohydrates. A vitamin supplement finishes the mix. Also, when you make your own from scratch, it is easier to control the salt content.
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thrift_shop_romantic
16 years ago
You know, just when I see a thread title where I think, "Surely there isn't information on what to do with that," I'm proven wrong.

In this case, it's good to be proven wrong. :-) There are some amazingly creative thinkers in this world!

-Jenn
anjabee
16 years ago
I didn't look at fiddlekate's link so don't know if these are some of the same ideas.

www.makingfriends.com/readers_babyfoodjars.htm

These 2 show how to make a lighted Christmas tree. I think they look pretty cool:

http://www.make-stuff.com/kids/babyfood_centerpiece.html

www.kidsdomain.com/craft/tree1.html

I've also seen them used with twinkle lights, poke the lights thru a slit in the lid, to hang outside around your patio.

And I believe on the Crafts forum someone has a homemade $1 store lotion recipe that everyone raves over. You could mix some of that up and put it in the little jars, print out a cute label and give as gifts.

~Anj
Dandyliondeb
Original Author
16 years ago
I played around with the baby food jars and came up with my own idea. Then I checked out the web sites everyone suggested and saw so many great ideas. I especially liked the one to make room fresheners. I guess I'll have to ask Jillian to save more jars!

Check the link below and scroll down to see what I did with the jars.

Debbie in Florida

Here is a link that might be useful: Projects, Crafts & Hobbies
anjabee
16 years ago
Good idea Debbie. Glad you found something to do with them. ~Anj
kattydid
16 years ago
http://www.makingfriends.com/readers_babyfoodjars.htm How about this link
bizzymrs
16 years ago
I was just wondering if the baby food jars would be good to make those "wickless" candles for those candle warmers...Any ideas?
junkyardgirl
16 years ago
I used to make pincushions out of the tops, and fill them with pins and needles for my sewing friends.

I also used to mold baker's clay on the top, paint, and wrap with some pretty lacey ribbon, and put loose flavored tea inside. The front had a pretty label on it with the name of the teas.
nanajoanne
16 years ago
I will often clean them out, glue ribbon or other decoration around the top rim of the bottle. At times i will put candle wax and wix (either standard wax or gel) and give them as presents. You can adorn the lid with small ornaments depending on the time of year (christmas, valentines etc) With some i will decorate with pink or blue ribbon for a baby shower and put items that i think would be needed into them (cotton balls, etc) if i know the babies name ahead of time i will decopage their name on it.

I also use baby bottles for various items in a first aide kit that i have for our family as well as our dogs. I have a disaster pack with wooden matches in them as well as batteries, bandages, etc that will be needed.
flowergirl1211
16 years ago
Hi, How about for storing seeds in? Buttons, anything collective that is small.

Linda
parker806
16 years ago
they are great for all kind of craft supplies. i do beading and making jewelry myself and would use them for the beads and findings that i use. you could also use them for screws, nails etc and store in garage or shed. just nail or screw lid to rafters etc and screw the jars into the lids to close. hope this helps
thorn-kiss
16 years ago
Maybe it's the time of year, but I keep thinking to put lights in them. Also I saw this thing on HGTV craft show where they made bugs out of lightbulbs and copper wire wings/antennae with beads. Really cute bugs with big bulb butts. lol

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