Homemade Baby Food Made Easy

Katie Moore has written and submitted this article. Katie is an active blogger who discusses the topics of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things Mommy. She enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people! To connect with Katie contact her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26

When I was a new mother, I wanted the very best for my little one. I used cloth diapers and I did everything that I could to make sure that my baby was free from exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. However, when my daughter grew old enough to eat solid foods, I wondered how to give her the highest quality baby food. I did a bit of research, and I found that even those baby foods that are labeled as "natural" or "organic" may contain undesirable ingredients.

I wanted to know exactly what my daughter would be consuming, so I decided that the best way to ensure that she got the highest-quality baby food is to make it myself! It didn't take me long to learn to prepare baby food, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how simple and inexpensive it really can be. Before you make any changes to your diet during your pregnancy, make sure to double check with your doctor. My doctor was great and was able to give me advice on birthing styles, cord blood banking options, swaddling and more!

Making Baby Food Cereals

I found that baby food cereals are quick and easy to create from items that I already have in my pantry. To make baby food cereals, you just grind up plain, organic cereals like oats, barley or rice in food processor. This allows the grains to turn into a powder. Then, mix ¼ a cup of cereal powder with one cup of water in a saucepan. Whisk it until smooth, and simmer it until you have the right consistency. You can add fruit purees to flavor your baby's cereal.

Making Baby Food Fruits

Baby food fruits are simple to make. Some fruits, like peaches or bananas, are easily mashed in the food processor without any need for precooking. However, other fruits, like apples or pears, need to be softened by cooking. Wash, peel and dice the fruits and put them in a small saucepan with just enough water to cover them. Boil the fruit until it is very tender, and then, you need to only puree it in the blender. Dried fruits, like apricots or prunes need extra water to soften them. Just soak the dried fruit in warm water until they are plump. Next, cook and puree them. Feel free to taste everything along the way- it’s pretty delicious!

Making Baby Food Vegetables

I wanted my daughter to acquire a taste for nutritious vegetables early in life. Therefore, giving him plenty of green and yellow vegetables is important. Green beans, peas, sweet potatoes, zucchini, summer squash and carrots are all prepared in the same way. You will need a steamer basket that fits into your saucepan and a tightly fitting lid for your pot. Clean these vegetables thoroughly and, for carrots and sweet potatoes, peel and dice them. Cut the green beans, zucchini and squash into uniform pieces. Place the veggies in the steamer basket, and cook them over boiling water until they are very tender. Use a blender to get the smoothest puree of these veggies, adding a bit of the water in which they were cooked to make a smooth puree. For winter squash, split the squash in half and remove the seeds. Then, place it in a baking pan and bake at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. Scoop out the baked squash, and puree it well, adding extra water if needed.

Now that I know how to make baby food at home, I spend just a few hours each weekend preparing the entire family’s food. I freeze single-serving portions in ice cube trays and store them in zip-top freezer bags.

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