Baby Dishes

We met some friends on Saturday and ended up going out for dinner.  I was totally unprepared for a meal out with Baby because since she's started solids, we haven't eaten out.  I brought no food, spoon, bib or water!  So, yesterday I got on a roll and went to buy her some eating supplies:  two baby food freezer trays, an insulated lunch bag, a couple more spoons, a divided plate, four little bowls and (I couldn't resist!) the cutest Hello Kitty water bottle with snack compartment in the bottom.  Of course before she started eating solids and throwing things from her high chair, I swore I'd never buy plastic dishes!  When I got home my mommy instinct started to kick in again and I was worried about the plastic so I searched for BPA info on the internet.  What I found was that the dishes I bought weren't even regular plastic, but melamine, which has its own set of issues.  I won't go into them here, but there are just too many unanswered questions about the safety of melamine and plastics (even BPA-free plastics), so I'll be returning them afterall!

What I did find is that there are inexpensive alternatives such as "plastic" dishes made of corn or rice husks.  I'm very interested in these and I want to find out more.  They seem better because they're not made of petroleum, but who knows what chemicals are used to make the dishes.  If anyone knows more about this, please let me know!  If money weren't a object I would probably buy beautiful urushi lacquer dishes for my girl, but I want to be practical.  I'd love to hear what plastic alternative you've found!