What is the easiest way to make your own baby food?

Question

My husband and I are working parents and we're beginning to discuss which foods to start our 5 month old. He is already on rice cereal. I would love to make my own baby food, but I don't have a lot of time to spare. I'd like to know what the easiest methods are for making our own baby foods. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

really doesn't take long. i spent two hours one day making baby food, and had enough for 3 weeks! freeze it in ice cube trays (one cube equals a meal when you're first starting) and once it's frozen put it in ziploc bags. you generally boil, steam, or bake fruits and veggies, then puree in a blender. simple as that!!!

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com for ideas, tips, recipes, storage, what ages to introduce what foods, and everything else you need to know about making baby food! enjoy!!!!!

Answer 2

I think after rice cereal, you begin veggies. At this age you can use a blender, because the foods need to be pureed and have no chunks in them until they are older (8-10 months old). Steam the veggies, blend and freeze, add water to thin, if needed. Same with fruits, like apples, bananas, pears, etc. When it's time to introduce meals, blend whatever you eat and feed to baby or freeze for later use.

Answer 3

I boiled everything individually (no spices) and used a food processor (add the liquid left over from boiling to thin the consistancy). I used to set aside one day a month to boil everything for the month....

I froze each item in indiviual servings (an ice cube tray is a perfect portion size).

For example for dinner I would thaw one veggie, one starch, and one protien and with a puree fresh fruit they had a well ballanced meal....

Answer 4

Like the first person said, just mash up your own meals.

"When the baby is starting to take solids at about six months of age, there is little difference what he starts with or the order foods are introduced. It is prudent to avoid highly spiced or highly allergenic foods at first (e.g. egg white, strawberries), but if the baby reaches for the potato on your plate, make sure it is not too hot, and let him have the potato. There is no need to go in any specific order, and there is no need for the baby to eat only one food for a certain period of time. Some exclusively breastfed babies dislike infant cereal when it is introduced at about six months of age. There is no need for concern and no need to persist if the baby doesn’t want the cereal. There is nothing magic or necessary about infant cereal. Offer your baby the foods that he is interested in. Allow the baby to enjoy food and do not worry exactly how much he actually takes at first. Much of it may end up in his hair and on the floor anyhow. There is no need either that foods be pureed if the baby is six months of age or older. Simple mashing with a fork is all that is necessary at first. You also do not have to be exceedingly careful about how much the baby takes. Why limit the baby to one teaspoon if he wants more? You do not need to waste your money on commercial baby foods."

http://www.drjacknewman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127&Itemid=170

Rice cereal is just processed and fortified wallpaper paste, a leftover from the 'start solids at six weeks' era, still around thanks to baby food marketing. Like Dr Newman says, give him the potato!

Answer 5

I own a blender and "mash" everything in there. Her morning fruit puree (just peel the fruit, add a tiny bit of water to get the belnder going and that's it). I also give my daughter soup, because my Dr recommended it when she was 5 months old, she has it for lunch. You take 1 protein (meat or chicken), one vegetable (one serving of spinachs, peas or carrots) and one carbohydrate (1 small potatoe or a serving of rice), put them together, let them boil for 30 mins, don't add salt nor another condiment. Let it cool a bit, then blend it and there you have a well balance healthy meal.

Answer 6

I did all mine homemade cos for me it was fun, I also had a great food processor and it was easier to portion it up myself and always have some on hand. I made big freezer bags at a time and it was easier to mix up new foods together and just pop em in the microwave. The only time I bought premade was when we went on vacation.

Answer 7

I found a baby food mill to be very useful. You can choose the veggies or meat from your meals, put them into the mill and mash them up. Remember to skip the salt in your meals, it's better for baby and healthier for you too.
If you're looking into making bigger batches of baby food, you can steam, puree in a blender and freeze in ice-cube trays.

Answer 8

Puree, steam or roast your veggies and meats then just puree then, you can alter the consistency has the baby gets older. For fruits just puree them and you can add in a vitamin packet or soy milk. Put together a list of what you need and then just spend an hour a week and do them all at once. You can freeze whatever you don't need immediately.

Answer 9

You can roast a bunch of veggies all together and then puree them individually or mix some up. Once the purees are ready, you can freeze them in ice cube trays. Once frozen place them in freezer bags. When you want to feed your baby, just pop one cube out of the freezer, and it is the perfect size for baby! Instead of roasting you could also steam, but I wouldn't boil because it takes too many vitamins out of the veggies :o)

Answer 10

buy fresh fruits and vegetables from the store, cook them and then put then in a food processor, let them cool and feed to baby.