Making Your Own Baby Food

Here's a secret that the baby food companies don't want you to know, making your own baby food is really easy.  Think about it, our grandparents weren't eating baby food that came in jars with pictures of chubby little babies. 

The savings also add up quickly. By making baby food I was able to save $12- 15 dollars each week, $48-60 per month, or $480-600 in the ten months or so before my son was ready for regular food. Buying produce or frozen vegetables on sale will result in the biggest savings when making baby food.  

Here is an example- the supermarket runs a sale of frozen vegetables for $1.00 per bag. Making the equivalent of a store bought plastic tub of baby food costs .17 cents. Purchasing a tub of brand name baby food costs .67 cents. Each time my son ate frozen peas or green beans I saved .57 cents. 

If you have the time, or know someone with a green thumb, home grown fruits and vegetables can result in even greater savings. 

Making baby food is simple. 

1. Start with a clean kitchen, sanitize all food preparation surfaces and make sure all pans, bowls and utensils are clean. Clean all fresh fruits and vegetables with water and a produce brush. Even organic fruits and vegetables can have bacteria on the outside. 
2. Items that smash easily like bananas and avocados can be smashed with a fork. Ripe peaches and apricots can be pushed through a mesh strainer or pureed in a food mill. Firmer fruits and vegetables can be steamed in a pan with an inch of water in the bottom of the pan. Steam foods until they are just soft enough to puree. 
3. A blender or food processor will work well for this. I have found that an immersion blender or stick blender works extremely well. Dump both the food and the water used for steaming into the apparatus of choice and puree  
4. Freeze the pureed foods in ice cube trays covered with plastic wrap. 
5. After the food is frozen, remove the cubes and store them in labeled, dated freezer bags. 
6. Food will store for 1 month in a freezer attached to a refrigerator or 3 months in a free standing deep freezer. 

Homemade baby foods taste more like the real fruit or vegetable than their store bought counterparts, which can make transitioning to regular food easier later on. You can also serve your baby a wide variety of foods.  Look at the baby food aisle for ideas for combinations after introducing the fruits and vegetables separately. As your babies horizon's expand, plant based spices such as parsley, thyme and oregano can be added to foods. Just remember to never add salt, sugar or fats to baby food.  

One of my favorite recipe sites http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/