Save Money and Make Nutritious DIY Baby Food

Due to tough economic times and food quality concerns, many parents have decided to take the ladle into their own hands. They realize that it’s simple to cook baby foods at home, and it is also better for the infant. It is a win-win situation, since the child gets nutritious food and the parents can save money.

To make any baby food, the most important appliance is a baby food mill or a very good blender, since infant food has to be in puree form. You can transfer the pureed mix into ice cube trays and freeze it. Once the cubes are ready, they can be transferred into freezer bags for better conservation.

Fruits and Vegetables

When it comes to baby food, you can start with fruits and vegetables that would be easy on your baby’s tummy. Select fresh produce that is in season. Don’t feed your infant corn, since it’s not easy to digest. Corn is also known to cause allergies in some infants. Stay away from foods that can cause allergic reactions.  You may also need to avoid vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli as they too can cause digestive problems. Try to use fruits and vegetables within two days of purchase so that they remain fresh. Frozen vegetables can also be used to make baby food.

Carrots, spinach, squash, beets and some other vegetables contain nitrates. High levels of nitrates can be dangerous for your baby. So keep a good balance in  the amount you use of these vegetables that contain nitrates.

Another consideration is the water you use. Get the water in your home tested and if possible, use bottled water for baby food preparation. Once cooked, don’t store baby foods for too long. Otherwise, the amount of nitrates that the food contains can actually go up. If you plan to store the food, freeze it.

Preparation

To prepare baby food, wash the fruits/vegetables and peel the skin. In case of fruits and vegetables that are hard (apple or squash), cook the fruit/vegetable before pureeing it. You can bake, boil or steam the food. Once this is done and the hard food gets soft, add breast milk/water and puree the food until the desired consistency is reached. If your baby is just starting on solids, don’t feed him/her chunky foods. Over time, you can make the food a little chunkier. Decide on the amount of food that would be needed for about two days, and then freeze the rest in ice cube trays. If you want to introduce meats in your baby’s diet, cook it well and use the same procedure.

With these preliminary steps, you’ll be well on your way to feeding your baby food that is healthy, fresh and wholesome.