Easy baby food recipes put you in control of what your child is consuming.
Making your baby’s first foods is a simple and easy way to ensure she gets the nutrients she needs during her first year and beyond.
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As a new mom, I was determined to make everything at home, and avoid processed foods as long as possible. I don’t have anything against store-bought baby food, but figured that if I had the time and resources to give my baby homemade food, I would be giving my baby the very best.
So I did what I always do when I am preparing to take on a new task: RESEARCH.
Most pediatricians recommend that parents wait until babies are 4-6 months old before introducing solid foods. My son was just shy of his 6-month birthday when he had his first spoonfuls.
In 2017, the American Academy of Pediatricians recommended babies start solid foods with single grain cereals, typically rice cereal, before introducing other foods.
Nowadays, the recommendation has expanded to include fruits and vegetables. Parents are advised to skip cereal all together if they feel so inclined.
I started my daughter on solids around her 5-month birthday, and she has shown no signs of slowing down.
Homemade Baby Food vs. Store-Bought Baby Food
When you make your baby’s first foods at home, you know exactly what is going into your little one’s body. The same fresh produce you purchase for your family can be pureed into your little one’s first feasts. You can also control the seasonings and flavors to fit cultural preferences. You don’t have to worry about additives and fillers. Making your own baby food allows you to truly introduce one-ingredient foods to your little one, to help identify allergies.
Homemade baby food requires meal planning and prepping, as well as freezer space to store frozen meal cubes until you are ready to serve them. Homemade baby food is not shelf-stable and depending on your method of storage, may not be easy to transport.
What You Need to Make Baby Food
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Homemade baby food does not require a fancy set-up or expensive tools. Most baby registry guides feature baby blenders, advertising ways to puree with ease. But if you take a closer look at those products, you will see that they are really just… blenders. I own a Magic Bullet and a NutriBullet – two products can work magic on baby food. For the best purees, make sure you cut fruits, veggies or even meat into 1-inch pieces before blending. You control how smooth or chunky your puree is, depending on what stage of solids your little one is on. The different sized blending cups can also be used for storage in the refrigerator up to 7 days.
I keep my tools as simple as possible, then follow a few simple steps to make a month worth of food perfect for little tummies.
Storing Baby Food
Storage can be as simple or as complicated as your time and resources allow. The easiest way for me to make weeks worth of perfect portions was to make and freeze huge batches at a time. My trick? Ice cube trays.
Once frozen solid, I transfer the cubes to a large freezer bag and label it so I know exactly what I have and how long it has been in the freezer.
If I am not looking to freeze my homemade baby food, I store them in glass containers, which are also easy to transport.
Easy Recipes
Look out for food allergies and trust your gut. If you notice skin changes or that your child is not acting normal after trying a new food, contact your pediatrician.
Your child may have a food allergy, and it is always better to be safe than sorry.