6 Tips for Making Your Own Baby Food

When I had my first baby I felt like an amateur at just about everything but this was normal. It was also normal for me to wonder what to feed my baby and what was or was not healthy. Many parents are concerned about what to feed baby and about the quality of food. With recalls and companies cutting corners, this is a legitimate concern. Learning how to make your own baby food can help to relieve some of this worry.

The following 6 tips make homemade baby food possible and allow you, the parent to control the ingredients. When you make your own baby food you are preparing fresh fruits and vegetable the same way you do for yourself and this helps to avoid the picky eater hurdle some parents face.

1. Equipment. Go shopping and make sure you have all the pots and pans for cooking the baby food and a food processor or food mill. Babycook Baby Food Maker is a great product choice but it is on the higher end.A blender won’t process the food to the right consistency, a food processor or mill is the best option. Purchase one that fits your budget, register for one or perhaps check the newspaper, Freecycle or Craigslist for a used one.

2. Start a List. What do you want your organic baby to be introduced to first? Green beans, squash or maybe mango? You can still buy the baby cereals from the store or go to the next level and grind up your own grains (cook first for pureeing them).
3. Scrub. Get ready to wash and scrub the dirt and pesticides (if you don’t buy organic) from the skin. Keep everything to prepare the baby food clean. Keep bacteria from avoiding the baby’s food. Always wash hands and clean surfaces with hot soap and water.
4. Cook thoroughly. To help prevent any type of illness cook everything first. Even fruits! Apples, peaches and pears will puree better when soft. Remove all the skin and seeds before cooking.
   
5. Liquid. You do not need to add liquid to most homemade baby food. The natural juices are usually plenty but if you find that you need a thinner consistency, try adding organic formula or breast milk.  Making homemade baby food can be a process of trial and error.
6. Seasoning. It is unnecessary to add sugar or salt to your homemade baby food. Adding some cinnamon or other mild spices might add some flavor and pizazz but remember, baby might not like the spice.
   

There are so many foods to choose from. Even if you don’t like a particular food, give baby a chance to try it. The pediatrician can give you a list of foods to avoid when baby is new to solid foods to help you avoid any possible allergies or other health concerns. Babies are little people so keep in mind they can also become gassy or get heartburn, the same as you. Broccoli and cauliflower might be foods you stay away from until your child is older.

Preserve you baby food by freezing it. Storing it in the refrigerator is a good idea for short periods of time. Freezing in safe containers and thawing as needed is safer for baby. With practice and consistency you can easily make two months or more of baby food at a time. The Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food Kit is a great solution for many parents because of the helpful DVD, freezing containers and DIY instructions that take the guess work out of the process.