Make Your Own Baby Food
Homemade First Foods
I was 22-year-old mom when I walked into the grocery store to buy my infant son baby food for the first time. Not really knowing what to look for, I picked some jars of food, put them in my cart and started on my way.
When I got home, I put my son in his high chair, excited to mark this important milestone…solid food! As I opened the jar of baby food, I thought to myself, “This is not the color of real peas. I wonder how it tastes.”
I took a bite, and made a face that made my baby laugh. As a new young mom I thought babies must taste differently than adults do. I then spooned a small amount into my son’s mouth for the first time. He made the same face that I just had moments before. Maybe a baby’s taste buds are not that different from our own?
I then opened all the jars of baby food that I had just purchased. The colors of the vegetables were wrong and the taste was horrible. The fruit was pretty tasty, but then I looked at the label and saw that they added sugar to the baby food. No wonder it tasted good. I knew that I could make tastier, healthier food for my little guy than the jar-food stuff I bought.
Armed with fresh produce and a food processor, I set on my way to making my own baby food. I started out simple, making peas, green beans and carrots. Then, as I got more creative and comfortable, I began making double and triple blends of baby food.
I was pretty pleased with myself. My son was eating healthy, tasty food, and had a wider variety of flavors than could be found at the grocery store.
Nine years later, I am now the proud mother of four boys (taste testers) ages nine, seven, and four-year-old twins. They are all fantastic eaters and are not fickle about vegetables or textures.
Here are answers to some questions that a new mom needs to know about baby food.
When will my baby be ready to start on solid food (baby food)?
Babies are usually ready to start solid food as early as four months. If they are sitting up by themselves and/or do not seem to be satisfied anymore with just breast milk or formula, they are probably ready for solid food. Discuss this with your pediatrician. Together you will decide the right time for your baby to start solid food.
Why make my food instead of buying the jar brands at the store?
First, homemade is much tastier. Second, you pick your own ingredients. You determine quality and freshness of your food, not some factory supervisor. Finally, studies suggest that homemade baby food has more nutritional content than the jar brands because of the extremely high temperatures associated with their canning procedure.
What do I need to make my own baby food?
Time, patience, and love. It would also help to have a vegetable steamer, a blender or food processor, and containers or ice cube trays to hold and freeze the food (I used the small 4oz GLAD containers for my baby food).
How do I make my own baby food?
First, you wash and peel your fruits or veggies. Steam them in your vegetable steamer until they are soft. Next, blend them in your food processor or blender. You may need to add water or breast milk to thin out the puree. Then, pour your puree into the veggie trays or GLAD containers and freeze.
Making your own baby food is time-consuming and messy, but is also a rewarding experience with a fantastic outcome. If you do not have the time or desire to make your own baby food but want homemade baby food, there is another option. There are small commercial companies around the country that can make your homemade baby food for you. Find out if you have a company near you.
However you decide to feed your little one(s), don’t get discouraged if they do not like something. Keep offering it to them and they may change their mind. I believe that the more new flavors and textures that we offer, the better eaters they become.
Happy Blending!