Homemade Baby Food Recipes Anyone Can Make

It’s important to know how to make homemade baby food. You must think about the foods you will be feeding your baby once you begin giving them anything solid. Pre made or organically pre made baby food can be a healthy option. However, those who want to know exactly what goes into their baby’s mouth should consider homemade food. It’s easier than you think!

The taste, nutrients and vitamins are minimized in jarred food. To kill the bacteria for prolonged storage times, it is cooked at exceptionally high temperatures. This process destroys the vitamin content. By roasting different vegetables and pureeing them in a food processor, you gain the utmost important things you lose in pre made food. It opens your eyes to what you’re actually feeding your baby—giving you healthier and happier results for your child.

Elimination of Additives: Homemade baby food is wholesome and pure with the option to add only what you want to add to the food. Most healthcare professionals encourage you to prepare your own food because it eliminates unnecessary chemicals such as herbicides, fungicides and pesticides. Purchasing certified organic produce (fresh or frozen) eliminates these chemicals along with other unnecessary ingredients such as salt, butter and sugar. Although these chemicals are approved by the FDA, they can be avoided, therefore developing an all-natural diet for your child.

Nutritional Benefits: There is rapid growth within the first three years of your child’s development. They need to consume a diet that is nutritious and healthy. The nutrient content in processed baby foods is diluted. Consequently, the vitamins lost are then added artificially. Cooking homemade baby food can be done quickly and the greatest benefit is saving these much needed nutrients for your growing child.

Quality, Freshness: Have you ever tried feeding your baby a particular jar of baby food and you get that disgusting look on their face? Guess what…it’s because it is horrible! The produce section of any grocery store offers a plethora of fruits and vegetables that can be used to offer your baby a variety of mealtime possibilities. They are not only cost-effective but they taste great! This will help your child in the future come to be more open to trying new and diverse types of food and flavors as well.

Cost-effective: The difference between the cost of jarred, processed baby food and fresh, nutritious produce are huge! Parents could spend at least $350 plus during the first year of an infant’s life, consuming anywhere between 550 to 650 jars. If you elect to make your own homemade baby food, that cost goes down to a whopping $50 plus a year. Generally, these items can be purchased on sale or due to seasonal demands, become cheaper at special times of the year. Investing in ice cube trays and a blender will save you tons!

Enhanced Variety: Your baby’s food doesn’t have to be limited to what manufacturers may consider the utmost popular foods. Due to a large variety of fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables at your local grocery store, you can create a tremendous menu of unique foods that you come to find your baby enjoys. By challenging these daily personal menus with assorted herbs and flavors, baby’s mealtime becomes a more pleasurable experience.

Additional Information:

• 
  Convenience – Baby food that comes prepackaged are ready to serve. Well… so can homemade meals. By using ice cube trays for freezing, you allow more accessibility to your items and create pre-made, small portions that are ready to go! After it freezes, pop them out and store them in airtight containers or plastic bags, label and throw them in your freezer!
• Storage – Most jarred foods are non-perishable until they are opened, giving it only a few days before it must be thrown away. The benefit is that it maximizes the storage capacity for longer periods of time. The disadvantage is that the lack of nutrition. By switching to homemade baby food, It really only becomes a dispute between cabinet space or freezer space.
• Time – Choosing between different types of jarred food may seem less time consuming. You will discover that all that will be needed is approximately 30 minutes here or there during the week to prepare your frozen goods. With the help of simple recipes and food processors, you can quicken the time spent on preparation. After a while, you will get the hang of it! All you need is a little extra time to sauté and store! (See recipes below for quick ideas)
• Preparation – We can agree that popping a jar of food in the microwave is easy. Provided, we can also agree that nuking a frozen, pre-made cube of food is just as trouble-free. By taking the same 10 seconds to heat your child’s food, you waste no extra time preparing the meal to be served. OR you can thaw the food in a small bowl over some steaming water while attending to other chores.

Healthy Homemade Baby Food Recipes

There are many tasty foods for baby’s to first try when solid food is introduced to them. These foods should be runny, thin and low on the scale for allergies. Tiny tummies need easier to digest foods such as sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, winter or butternut squash and apples. They are all creamy and deliciously healthy options that are filled with important nutrients, fats and minerals. Here are a few simple recipes:

Bananas – Research shows that bananas are great for digestion and also coat the tummy. The sweetness of the banana is also a great appeal.

1. Peel the ripened banana. There is no need to cook it.
2. You can also puree it, but mashing the banana using a regular fork works just as well.
3. It helps to microwave for 15-20 seconds for extra softness.
4. Use water or formula to thin out if needed.

Avocados – Along with essential nutrients and fats, avocados are also well-received by baby’s due to their smooth and creamy texture. It allows for easy digestion, as well.

1. Peel and remove the pit. There is no need to cook it.
2. Due to the very soft consistency, you can mash it using a regular fork and eliminates the need of a food processor.
3. Use water or formula to thin out if needed.

Sweet Potatoes – This vegetable contains plenty of calcium, magnesium and potassium for your baby. Vitamins A, C, and Folate are essential to healthy growth.

1. Wash and pierce skin using a regular fork. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap so no air can escape.
2. Place sweet potato in microwave for 6 – 8 minutes or until tender.
3. Let cool and then mash with fork until smooth.
4. Use water or formula to thin out if needed.

Apples/Applesauce – The natural sweetness of apples is extremely tasty! This fruit is one of the most commonly used baby foods among early eaters.

1. Core, peel and cut the apple into chunks or slices.
2. Fill a pan with just enough water to slightly cover the apples.
3. Steam or boil until they are tender.
4. Using a regular fork, mash firmly until you reached a smooth consistency.
5. Use the boiled water to thin the puree out if needed.

Winter/Butternut Squash – Winter squash can be stored for long periods of time and is also high in protein, folate and calcium.

1. Cut the squash in half and then scoop the seeds out with a spoon.
2. Place the squash in a baking pan face down with an inch of water.
3. Bake at 400 degrees for about 40-45 minutes.
4. Let squash cool and then scoop out the “meat” of the squash in a bowl.
5. Using a regular fork, mash squash until smooth.
6. Use water of formula to thin out if needed.

All in all, mealtime does not have to be an overabundance of typical flavorless, gooey food. You can make homemade baby food a world of exciting flavors while keeping your baby full of nourishing vitamins and minerals. Toss these expensive, unhealthy selections out the window and take the time to develop meals you truly want for your child. Keep them happy and keep them healthy!  Baby subscription boxes are another great way to receive new and parent approved baby products your baby will love.