Fresh First Foods for Baby
Going Homemade
Early No-cook Foods:
First Purees:
Peel, core and dice. Cook in saucepan (add 1 tbsp of water per apple, pears need no added water) over low heat for 4 to 6 minutes (or until tender). Blend to a puree (add water only if necessary). Serve alone or in fortified infant cereal.
Peel and dice. Steam for about 12 to 15 minutes (or until tender). Blend to a puree (add water or breastmilk/formula if necessary). Serve alone or in fortified infant cereal. Some Tasty Blends:
Some Heartier Toddler Ideas* :
*add chicken, fish (flounder or haddock are good first fish) or beef to any desired |
In my son’s first year-and-a-half, I used my steamer and blender probably more than any other time in my life. I can still remember the aromatic smell of sweet potatoes steaming on the stovetop, and me, with little bits of apple in my hair and on the floor, whirling around the kitchen with a baby in a sling. It was often messy, and it certainly might have been easier to buy jars, but I truly loved making baby food for my son.
Tools You Need for Making Baby Food
Contrary to popular belief, homemade baby food need not be expensive or overwhelming. To make the first solids for your precious little one, you really can go quite simple.
Some tools you’ll need:
- A steamer: one that sits in a pot is just fine.
- A blender, food processor or a food mill—immersion blenders are the best for simple purees and minimal clean-up, while food processors or food mills (kind of like mashers/graters) are good for later, chunkier meals.
- Some extra jars or a few unused ice cube trays to freeze them in.
- Freezer space.
You may even find that most of this stuff you already have. The only thing to consider when using older kitchen items is what they are made of. Like all baby-feeding devices (bottles, bowls and cups) try to purchase items that do not contain BPA, PVC and Phthalates, which are known carcinogens. Most packages now indicate if they are BPA-, PVC- or Phthalate-free but older plastics do not.
When to Start Solid Foods for Babies
Six months of age has long been considered the norm to start solids, but some families chose to start sooner or later. An interest in food is one of the first cues. Some babies may even take your food right out of your hand. Other signs include: sitting up on his or her own, the loss of the tongue-thrust reflex (swallowing rather than pushing food out of mouth), having doubled his or her birth weight, and the ability to self-regulate (ending nursing or bottle sessions on their own). Sometimes not seeming satisfied anymore from breast milk or formula alone can be a sign; however it can also just be a growth spurt. Always consult with your pediatrician if you are unsure when is time to start solids.
How to Start Feeding Baby
When you and your baby decide to venture into solid foods, gradually offer one nutrient-rich food every few days; making sure baby has mastered each one before trying a new one. Usually wait three to four days between foods, and make sure not to mix two foods until baby has mastered each one, at least in this early phase.
There is no one magic food that you definitely have to try first. Iron-fortified infant cereals and simple pureed fruits and vegetables (avocados, bananas, sweet potatoes, pears, apples) are generally where parents start, but the American Academy of Pediatrics states that there is little evidence on whether specific fruits, veggies or meats are better first foods. In fact, for some babies, meat may even be a good early food. There are, however, definitely foods to avoid in the early days (cow’s milk/dairy, nuts, wheat, eggs, shellfish and certain berries and citrus fruits), so always consult with your pediatrician if you want assistance developing a feeding plan unique to your baby and his or her needs. As your baby grows beyond the initial stage (at roughly 8 to 10 months old), you can start mixing more foods and experimenting with fresh ground herbs and spices for added flavor. Cinnamon, mint, sage, thyme and rosemary are some great early spices.
Why Fresh/Homemade Baby Food?
Honestly, it is easier to just buy those ubiquitous glass jars. But there are reasons that your own homemade baby food, or frozen baby food from a local market, can be better.
Homemade and frozen baby food …
- Has more nutritional density per ounce than jarred food, which loses much of its value due to heating at very high temperatures during the canning process.
- Is fresher than jarred food, as it is often made of fruits and veggies that were picked in the current season versus sometime in the past year.
- Tastes better than jarred food and does not require added salts or sugars for improved taste (especially when integrating a few fresh herbs and spices).
- Is made with love and care, by you or other mothers, not by commercial manufacturers.
- Is actually cheaper than jars when made in bulk, especially if you can organize homemade baby food cooking parties with other moms.
The Bottom Line
Whatever you decide to feed your baby, it’s important to remember that eating patterns and food preferences are established very early in life. Between the ages of 6 to 13 months, your little one will likely be fairly adventurous in trying new foods. They can learn to eat most foods you try, although it may take as many as six to 10 tastings, according to Dr. Alan Greene’s Feeding Baby Green. That may seem like a lot, but if you wait until they are 2 years old, research shows it could take up to 90 tries to get them to try a new food. So while homemade food doesn’t guarantee you wont end up with a finicky toddler who only likes hot dogs, it may give you a better shot at having a well-balanced and adventurous little foodie throughout childhood.
