Make Your Own Baby Food

We love our little ones and always want what is best for them. We tend to give them the best of everything, even at the expense of us as moms just getting whats left over. Food is no different, we want to give them the best nutrients to help them grow and be as healthy as possible.

I’m the first to admit that I at times buy baby food as well and there is nothing wrong with that. However, when I can, I like to make it for my little ones. For my son, who was my first, I seemed to have a lot more time and made him all sorts of food combinations and always was on top of it. With my daughter, number two, I seem to not have as much time…hmm…I wonder why?
A lot of moms are intimidated to make their own baby food, and that’s ok. I’m here to tell you that it really is pretty simple. If I can do it, so can you. Use these simple steps and tips…you’ll be a baby food making pro in no time.

Step 1: Figure out what foods are best for your baby for their current age.

It is important to consider your baby’s age when making food. If they are new to solids, start out with the basics; apple, sweet potato, pear, banana, avocado, zucchini, etc. Once they have mastered the basics, you can look to mix fruits and veggies as well as add more complex foods and even some herbs or spices.

Step 2: Have a way to process the food.

There are many food processors out there, but I always had great luck with the Magic Baby Bullet. It has worked with me through both kids and comes with so many attachments, accessories and even recipes for each age or stage of your little one’s journey. Oh, and I love the storage containers that come with it. I still use them for my son’s lunches to pack little snacks, not to mention my little ladies baby food.

Step 3: Go shopping.

Now that you have the gear, you’ll need to head out to the store to buy the food. I like buying enough to make a few weeks to a month of food at once. If you buy 4-5 apples, 3-4 sweet potatoes, a few different squash types (1-2 of each type), 3 pears and so on. It should be enough to feed your little one for a few weeks. The featured picture of this article is what I used to make a few weeks of food for my little lady just recently. I also did a bag of frozen peas, not pictured.

Step 4: Wash and prep your food.

This step is just like it says. Wash your fruits and veggies well then peel the skins off of them. Your apples and pears will then go into a pot of boiling water to soften them. While those are boiling you can steam the sweet potatoes and peas to also soften them. I sometimes just boil the sweet potatoes too, all in an effort to save time. With your acorn and butternut squashes, you can put them in the oven (cut in half, faced down) at 350 degrees just enough to soften them. Usually 20-30 minutes.

Step5: Process the food.

Once all of your fruits and veggies are softened, you can put them in the Magic Baby Bullet to puree.  You’ll need to add a little water in order to get the consistency you desire. Depending on what stage your little one is at, you’ll need more or less. I like to rinse the processor in-between foods so they aren’t mixed, although it really doesn’t matter as it is all good food for your little one.

Step 6: Store the food.

Most baby foods can be stored in the refrigerator up to 7 days, but if you know you won’t be able to use it all in that amount of time, you should freeze it. There are so many baby storage containers to buy. I have used many of them as well. Right now I just stick to the ones provided in the Magic Baby Bullet starter kit and then regular ice cube trays. Once you freeze the food in the trays, you can simply put into Ziploc freezer bags and label them accordingly.
That is it – you are done and now you can relax for the next few weeks. You may be wondering why I didn’t mention the bananas or the avocado. This is because these are foods I keep on had to feed on demand. They are simple foods to pull out while at home. You can either cut into chunks or mash-up depending on your baby’s need and current stage.
In the long run, making your own baby food will save you time and money. Of course, by all means, buy baby food as needed. Just be sure to read the labels. I am a fan of the Beech-Nut brand as it is great ingredients at a reasonable price. I hope you find this 6 step process easy to follow. Let me know how it goes for you after trying and if you have any questions or some favorite recipe you want to share.
 
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