Making your own fresh baby food is a great way to ensure that your child is getting all of the nutrients they need, and it can also be a fun way to experiment in the kitchen. While first-time parents might be intimidated by the idea of being their baby’s personal chef, making homemade baby food is actually easier than it may sound. Here are some tips to get started.
Invest in a good blender.
A good blender is essential when it comes to making baby food. Single-serve blenders are the easiest to clean, but there’s no reason to invest in new appliances if you already have a blender that works well. A good blender and some fruits and veggies are all you need to jumpstart your DIY baby food journey. So grab some fresh ingredients and start making some mean purees! If you have a food processor, that will work too.
Stock up on healthy fresh or frozen ingredients.
Making your own baby food is a great opportunity to have full control over the nutrients your baby takes in. Fruits and veggies like bananas, squash, sweet potatoes and avocados make for a healthy pureed snack. For protein-heavy meals, sauté some ground turkey or beef in a pan, and throw it in a blender with some water. Tofu is also a great vegetarian and vegan-friendly option that can be easily blended. And don’t sweat if you don’t want to do a separate grocery shop for your baby. You can create pureed, baby-safe versions of whatever you’re eating, and enjoy the meal together!
Know what NOT to serve your baby.
Three big no-nos when it comes to baby food are salt, sugar and honey. According to the NHS, too much salt can be harmful to your baby’s kidneys, and sugar can cause tooth decay. Honey can also cause infant botulism, according to Stanford Children’s Hospital. If you’re feeding your kids fresh fruits and vegetables, make sure to wash them extremely well and be extra careful to remove all seeds and stems.
Meal prep to the max.
Instead of making a new batch every day, put individual portions of your DIY baby food in an ice cube tray, and throw it in the freezer. Ice cube trays tend to be the perfect portion sizes for infants. Once the food is frozen, remove it from the tray and put the portions in freezer bags where they can be stored for months at a time in the freezer.
Customize the food, and keep things interesting.
Even if you land on a recipe that your baby loves, don’t be afraid to adjust and change things up. If your baby is feeling sick, you can add in vegetables higher in vitamin C. Or you can shake it up by making purees with different levels of thickness to give your baby different textures. It’s good for babies to try a wide range of foods, so feel free to throw some different flavors in there and expand your baby’s palate!
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