Homemade Baby Food

Why it's better and how to make it

It's a general rule that the less food has been processed, the more nutritious it is. That's one reason why making homemade baby food is a great idea. Homemade baby food contains more nutrients and vitamins than commercial baby food, and fewer additives such as flour or starches, chemicals, and preservatives.

Making homemade baby food

It's been estimated that over 40% of the food eaten by American children is fast food or processed food. This style of eating establishes eating patterns that stay with children their entire lives. Making homemade baby food is a way to establish very early an appreciation in your child for real and nutritious food.

So which homemade baby foods should you make? Well, newborn babies aren't able to eat solid food, so most of the homemade baby food you'll be making will be fruit or vegetable purees.

To begin, always make sure to keep your hands and cooking equipment clean. Babies are more susceptible than adults to germs and infections. If you intend to make a lot of homemade baby food, we recommend buying a quality food grinder or food mill. Food grinders are excellent for separating the pits, seeds and skin from your fruits and vegetables.

Speaking of which: the best fruits and vegetables make the best homemade baby food. Fresh or organic produce is best for your baby. Before adding fruit or vegetables to a food grinder, briefly blanch or cook them in boiling water. Steaming also works well.

Once that's done, the food is ready to be pureed. Avoid adding even natural sweeteners to your homemade baby food. To save time, prepare several homemade baby food meals at once, and freeze or refrigerate the extra food for later. Unless frozen, cooked fruit and vegetables should be used within 3 days.

Homemade baby food tips

Add food content and date labels to freezer bags to keep track of the homemade baby food you've made. Don't leave homemade baby food sitting at room temperature for more than 2 hours.

For young babies that eat small portions, freeze your homemade baby food purees in ice cube trays. Just thaw one or two of these cubes in the refrigerator for a quick and easy meal. Homemade baby food stored in this way is good for up to a month.

When using a microwave to thaw homemade baby food, take precautions that the food is heated consistently and thoroughly. Stir heated baby food with your finger to make sure it's not too hot.

For greater efficiency, combine your homemade baby food making with your own meal preparation. Produce used to make your baby's meals can also be used to make purees, sauces, and soups for the rest of the family.

Finally, if you're wondering when it's safe to begin feeding your baby solid foods, these are some general guidelines:

Cereals at 4 to 6 months

Vegetables at 7 months

Fruits at 8 months

Meats at 10 months

Egg yolks at 10 months

Cheese and yogurt at 10 months to 1 year

More information on food grinders