Making your own baby food is simple and provides nutritious food for your infant.
Apples are a great first food for your infant because they are mild, easy to digest, and full of nutrients. Homemade applesauce is very simple to make and can be stored in your freezer so that it is always on hand when you need it. Because apples are naturally sweet, you do not need to add any additional sweeteners, leaving the apples in their purest form.
Simple Baked Apples
Baking Dish
Aluminum Foil
Apples, peeled and sliced into wedges
A small amount of water
Preparation
Carefully peel the apples as the peels will be difficult for your baby to digest when he is first starting solid foods. Slice the apple into wedges and layer them in a single layer in the bottom of a baking dish. Add a small amount of water to the bottom of the baking dish and cover the whole thing with foil. Bake the apples at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, or until they are soft enough that you can easily pierce them with a fork.
For Babies Ages 6-8 Months
Remove the baked apples from the baking dish and place them in a blender or food processor. Process the apples until they have reached a smooth texture. Reserve the cooking water and use it to thin out the apple mixture until it is thin enough for your baby to eat easily.
For Babies Ages 9-12 Months
Remove the baked apples from the baking dish and place them in a bowl. Use a mashed potato masher to mash the apples until there are no large pieces.
Storage
Store your homemade baby applesauce in the fridge for 2-3 days or use an ice cube tray to freeze small cubes of applesauce. Once the cubes of applesauce are frozen, remove them from the ice cube tray and store them in a freezer bag in the freezer for several months. Thaw frozen applesauce cubes in the fridge overnight or under running warm water. Never thaw baby food in the microwave because it can thaw unevenly and create hot spots.
Alternative
If you want to provide your baby with healthy, natural baby food but do not want to make it yourself, you can purchase all-natural, sugar free applesauce from the store. There is no need to purchase baby applesauce. Any sugar free applesauce can be given to your baby as a nutritious first food. Check the ingredients to be sure that there are no added ingredients before purchasing applesauce for your infant. Applesauce should contain only apples, water, and possibly ascorbic acid, a preservative derived from vitamin C.
Adding Applesauce to Cereals
Add some variety to your infant’s cereal by mixing in some of your homemade applesauce. Applesauce can be mixed in with rice cereal, oatmeal, barley cereal, and mixed cereal to create a new taste experience.
