The secret of good baby food recipes is simplicity. Include a variety of foods so that your baby can get used to as many different tastes as possible. This will also ensure baby has the maximum range of nutrition. Do remember though that some of the foods us adults enjoy will not be good for baby because there are certain foods that are unsafe for babies to eat.
For example, salt is not something that you want to give to a baby. In large doses this can lead to many health problems. Another food to avoid feeding to your baby is honey. Honey can cause botulism in infants less than one year old. Never give a baby peanut butter or any other nuts. Peanuts can cause severe allergies which can be fatal and nuts may choke a small child.
You don’t need much equipment to make your own baby food. Plastic storage bags and a marker, ice cube trays and a food processor are all you’ll need to get started.
When creating your recipes you will want to keep the food as natural as possible and will also want to use the freshest food available. When buying fruits and vegetables, look for those that are currently in season. Generally this produce is purchased and sold in large volume, ensuring that you get the freshest, and cheapest, product available. Growing your own vegetables is also a great option.
With most fruits and vegetables you will simply need to peel, seed and purée in order to achieve an appropriate consistency for your baby. Some fruits and vegetables contain less moisture however and you may need to add some extra water. When preparing squash, bananas or sweet potatoes, you could add a small amount of breat milk or formula to reach the correct consistency for baby.
When preparing meat or meat dishes, simply blend baby’s portion before serving to the rest of the family. Remember not to add extra salt, and if possible eliminate it completely - (you can always add for your own use later). You’ll usually need to add a small amount of water or milk to baby’s portion to sufficiently moisten it. It is a wise move to prepare more than the child will need for this one meal, and freeze the rest for convenience.
Pour the left over meal into the ice cube trays, and wait until it is frozen. Once frozen you may place these cubes into plastic storage bags or containers, and mark with indelible marker. You want to be sure to add the item description as well as the date it was prepared.
Homemade baby food is a fantastic choice for you and your baby. It need not take too much time and will save you money plus ensure that your baby is getting a healthy tasty meal. Just remember to keep your baby food recipes as simple and natural as possible.