Homemade Baby Food – It’s Easier Than You Think!

Why Homemade Baby Food can be almost as easy as store-bought!

Trying to decide between homemade baby food and store-bought?

Commercial baby food definitely has a place – it’s hugely convenient, particularly if you’re travelling, or if you’re ill.

But many people worry about the nutritional value of commercial baby food, as well as the price (it’s a very profitable business).

So if it’s at all possible, many mums prefer to make their own homemade baby food – because then they know exactly what goes into it.

And it’s not as hard, or as time-consuming as you think.

If you can set aside just one hour, you can make enough food for your baby for the whole week ahead!

What You Will Need

For homemade baby food you’re going to need

1. Spoon and fork, a potato masher
2. A stick mixer / blender or a blender or a food processor.
3. Fresh, healthy food

That’s it!

The Easiest Foods

Some fruits couldn’t be simpler to prepare.  Take soft fruits such as bananas or avocados, and mash them up with a fork.  Serve.

Puree Foods

Some foods need to be cooked – but again, the process is very simple.

1. Cook the vegetables by either steaming, baking, microwaving or boiling.  Steaming is the best method – it retains the most nutrients.  Personally I don’t like to use a microwave, and boiling means you lose a lot of the nutrients.
2. Keep the water the food was cooked in (it will be the liquid you use to puree).
3. Place the food into a container or into the machine you’re going to use to puree it.
4. Use the machine to mash up the food.  Add the water from cooking to thin it – or you can add breast milk or formula to thin it and give it a nutritional boost (as well as provide a familiar taste).  (Note: if you are using previously frozen breast milk to thin the puree, remember it cannot be re-frozen).
5. Now, transfer the puree into ice cube trays.  Cover in plastic film if you wish, then freeze.

Each ice cube equals approximately 1 ounce / 30ml of food.

If you don’t want to freeze the food, it can be kept refrigerated for up to 48 hours, some say up to 73 hours.  See this site for more details.

When it is feeding time, simply take out the number of food cubes you need, thaw and reheat if necessary.

When baby is first transitioning to solid foods, make the puree very thin.  Then gradually increase the thickness.

Tip:  Experts say that it takes an infant between 15 to 21 instances of trying a food before a true like or dislike is established. If you are just beginning to introduce solid foods, you really will not be able to determine if your baby has a true dislike for a food until much later.

Tip:  Neither salt nor sugar are needed in homemade baby food.  If you wish you can introduce cinnamon, garlic powder, pepper etc. from 7 months – but check with your paediatrician if in doubt.

What food to use

• Winter squash is nutritious and delicious
• Pumpkin is full of vitamin A
• Sweet potatoes are yummy

Homemade Baby Food Recipes

Sweet Potato

Scrub a sweet potato or two and prick it with a fork.

Bake it in an oven preheated to 275 F or 190 C until it feels soft  – around 45 minutes.  (Do this while you’re cooking other food in the oven, so you’re not heating it up just for a potato or two).

Allow to cool slightly, split it and scrape out the flesh with a spoon.

Just mash it with a fork – easy peasy!

Butternut Squash

Preheat oven to 400 F or 200 C.

Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds

Place the squash flesh down in a baking tin and add about 1 inch / 2cm of water

Bake until it feels soft

Remove the flesh and mash it with a fork.

Easy peasy!

Carrots

Carrots are economical and full of nutrients – especially older ones – don’t buy baby carrots for baby!

Trim the ends, slice and steam, then puree

Parsnips

Babies love the sweetness of parsnips.  Just trim the ends, slice and steam, then puree

Mix’n’Match

Once you’ve introduced these various vegetables, then it’s time to mix’n’match your homemade baby food.  Some tried and trusted combinations are:

• Mashed potato and carrots
• Sweet potato and squash
• Sweet potato and carrots
• Carrots and parsnips

All of these are quick and easy to make and store.  You know exactly what’s gone into them, you know there are no additives or fillers, and you know they were prepared with love.

Homemade baby food – perfect!

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