Stroll today's grocery aisle and you'll see organic labels, kosher guarantees, exotic mixes (how about some mango and kiwi with that applesauce?), and supplements that promise to boost your baby's brain.
All that innovation adds up. Check your grocery receipt, and you'll see why. The price of one jar of applesauce can outweigh one pound's worth of actual apples a few steps over in the produce section.
So as the global recession continues to pinch parents' pennies, more families are looking to make their own baby food. After all, your great-great grandmother somehow survived without 4-ounce jars of pureed pineapple glazed ham. You and your baby can do just fine, too.
Making your own baby food can save $245 or more in your baby's first year alone. Homemade baby food also is safer, fresher and healthier. Plus, it's easier than you think. Many of the techniques here will take you less than 30 minutes, yet provides you with a freezer full of mushy goodness. All that, and your kitchen will stay cleaner than ole' applesauce face in the high chair over there.
So here's a primer for the first-timer, offering the tools you need, the easiest techniques, some important tips, and a couple of terrific recipes to get you started. Bon appetit!
TOOLS YOU'LL NEED
- Fork
- Blender or food processor
- Ice cube trays
- Food mill (optional)
- Juicer (optional)
- Dehydrator (optional)
TECHNIQUES TO TRY
I. Easy Mashables
Advantage: Raw foods -- not cooked or processed -- deliver your baby all of the inherent nutrients.
Step 1: Select a food that doesn't need to be cooked, such as a banana.
Step 2: Mash with your fork.
Step 3: Add breast milk or formula, if needed, for a smoother texture.
Advice: Good first foods for mashing include banana, avocado and watermelon. For older eaters, try papaya, pears, peaches, nectarines, apricots, figs, and persimmons.
II. Simple Ice-Cube Purees
Advantage: A half hour or less of prep gives you a freezer full of convenient, healthful purees that beat the grocery-aisle competition.
Step 1: Wash, prep and chop a pound or two worth of a fresh or frozen fruit or vegetables.
Step 2: Place in a microwave-safe dish with a bit of water. Cover with plastic wrap. Cook for 10 minutes or less, until food can easily be pierced with a fork.
Step 3: Puree in a blender or food processor, adding water as necessary to get a smooth consistency.
Step 4: Spoon puree into ice-cube trays. Freeze 8-10 hours or overnight. Then pop out the food cubes into labeled freezer bags.
Step 5: To prepare, thaw in the refrigerator or defrost in a microwave-safe dish. Warm in a microwave, if desired; stir well and check for hidden hot spots.
Advice: Easy first-food purees include peas, sweet potatoes and apples. Pay attention to cooking times; start with a few minutes and build from there so as to not overcook. A saucepan with a steamer basket on the stovetop works, too. But the microwave is faster. The key is to use as little water as needed to help retain a food's nutrients.
III. Sharing the Family Dinner
Advantage: The convenience of feeding baby without breaking open a jar, defrosting a puree - or even getting up out of your chair!
Step 1: Place a small amount of the family casserole into the cup of a food mill.
Step 2: Grind, then serve!
Advice: Feel free to mix foods together, like a vegetable with a meat. Be sure that your child is old enough to digest the foods he or she is being served.
TIPS AND TRICKS
- Rice cereal doesn't have to be the first taste of "solid" food your baby gets, despite common perception. Rice cereal often is recommended because it is the least likely to cause an allergic reaction. But most babies are also fine with sweet potatoes, peas and other first foods.
- First foods that are commonly safe for your baby's developing digestive system include: apple, banana, pear, acorn and butternut squash, peas, sweet potato, rice, barley, and oat.
- By as early as eight months, your baby can also expand to chicken, tofu, turkey, lean beef, and beans, among a host of vegetables, fruits, and grains.
- Steer clear of dairy, berries, citrus, and nuts until your child is over 1 years old.
- Certain foods can help with common baby complaints. Diarrhea? Try bananas or potatoes. Teething? Pull out a frozen, cooked veggie stick or a thick slice of dehydrated apple.
- Mix it up! Don't let fear stop you from introducing your baby to more complex flavors. When your baby hits 8 to10 months of age, try adding in some cinnamon, ginger, oregano, or garlic. Who knows? It might make it easier when those finicky toddler years arrive.
TERRIFIC RECIPES TO TRY
I. Sweet Potato Puree
Age to introduce: 6 months
Wash, peel, and chop 2 large or 3 medium sweet potatoes. Place sweet potatoes and 2 tablespoons water into a microwave-safe dish. Cover with plastic wrap. Cook 8-10 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes. Place sweet potatoes and cooking liquid in a blender or food processor, along with about 1/2 cup water. Puree. Add more water, if needed. Alternatively, prick sweet potatoes with a fork and bake in an oven until done. Scoop out meat and puree with water to form a smooth puree. Set aside a portion to serve baby. Spoon the rest into ice cube trays and freeze. Variation: When serving baby, add a serving of pureed apples or mashed bananas.
II. Carrot-Banana Smoothie
Age to introduce: 8 months
In a blender, puree freshly chopped carrots and chunks of frozen banana with fresh carrot juice or water. Variation: Replace banana with frozen mango chunks.
III. Pea Pancakes
Age to introduce: 10 months, or finger-food age
Puree approx. 1/2 cup cooked peas with a small amount of water in a food processor. Mix in with your favorite pancake mix and prepare as directed. Freeze leftover pancakes. Variation: Pureed carrots, broccoli, and other vegetables also work.
IV. Fruit Leather
Age to introduce: over 1 year old
Wash, chop and puree chosen fruit, adding a small amount of water if needed. Add a tablespoon of lemon juice to prevent discoloration, if desired. If desired, fruit can be cooked first, as for ice-cube purees. Use a dehydrator according to the manufacturer's instructions. Or use your oven: Spread evenly on a greased cookie sheet. About 1-3/4 cups of puree should do the trick. Place tray in an oven heated 120 degrees, leaving the door slightly ajar. Dry for 6-8 hours. Flip fruit leather over and dry another 6-8 hours.
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