Whether the baby has been eating solid food for a few months, or is just about to try it for the first time, making baby food at home can save money, introduce the baby to foods closer to those he’ll be eating long term, and can be a great experience for parents. Learning how to make baby food is easy and something even the most novice cook can accomplish.
Why Feeding Baby Food is Important
For the first of year of a baby’s life, she gets all the nutrition she needs from breast milk or formula. Feeding her solid foods before this time is merely to get her used to the taste and texture of the foods she’ll be eating in the future and help prepare her senses and digestive system for this time. This is why making baby food is so much better than jarred food; the food that she’ll be eating after a year is not one flavor of bland mashed food. It has many different tastes and textures, and therefore, after enough single foods have been tried, what she’s eating should be as close to what her family eats each day as possible.
First Food for Baby
Always check with the pediatrician before beginning solid foods to see what is recommended. Some babies will begin with boxed rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. Babies who need to stay away from grains, or parents who wish to feed their baby whole foods, can begin with something easy to make, and to eat, like avocado.
When making foods that require no cooking, like avocado or banana, simply mash them with a fork and a little water until they reach the desired consistency; a slightly runny paste. Once the baby has begun accepting and swallowing solid foods, different foods can be introduced one at a time and the cooking begins.
How to Get Started When Making Baby Food
Making baby food, especially in the first months as the baby is still learning to accept single foods, is simple. All that is needed is a steamer basket and a food processor, as well as the foods being tried.
Peel and slice the various fruits and vegetables being sampled and steam until soft. Add in some water, and puree in the food processor until the desired consistency. Be sure if steaming carrots to add fresh water, rather than the water in the pan to avoid a bitter taste. Once the baby has a solid base of various foods that have been tested, begin simply taking unseasoned ingredients from the family meal and putting them into the food processor.
For extra health benefits, flax seed, steel cut oats, cooked egg yolks and other ingredients can be added. The idea is to introduce as many tastes and textures to the baby as possible so that when they pass their first birthday, and need to begin getting their nutrition from solid food, they can pass this test with flying colors.
Baby Food Storage
For busy parents who would like to make up large batches of baby food ahead of time to feed their baby over the course of a week or more, try freezing the baby food in ice cube trays. Once the food has frozen solid, simply pop it out and place in a large freezer storage bag until needed. To feed baby on the go, simply toss a cube or two into a small, lidded container. The food will thaw out and be ready for eating within a few hours. At home the cubes can be quickly thawed in a microwave or on a stove top.
Remember when making baby food to stay away from nuts, honey and egg whites until after the first birthday. Take things slowly and introduce new foods one at a time to pinpoint potential allergies and intolerances. Always check with the pediatrician before beginning solid food, and if an allergic reaction is suspected.
Have fun and remember to enjoy the experience of introducing the baby to new foods, tastes and textures. In no time at all he’ll be eating with the rest of the family and enjoying it, too.
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