How To Make Your Own Baby Food.
Making your own baby food is not the rocket science many folks think it is. As a matter of fact it is quite simple.
To get started, all you need is baby sized storage containers for storing extra portions in the refrigerator / freezer and a tool to blend or puree the food. The tool can be
* a food processor or blender : you probably already have one of these at home.
* a hand blender.
* a hand turned food mill- this works best when baby has moved onto thicker textured foods / foods that are chunky because you can not get a smooth texture with it.
* an all-in-one baby food maker- this is a device that first steam-cooks and then purees fruit, vegetables, and meat for your baby. Some models also defrost and reheat previously prepared foods. ( I got one of these but ended up using my blender because it just wasn't getting the job done ).
* a fork: this is great for mashing up soft fruits like bananas and avocados and also cooked foods like potatoes and beans.
When you've gotten a tool for pureeing and you're all set to make the food, choose the freshest fruits and vegetables, and try to use what you buy in a day or two. When fresh isn't available, frozen is a fine option.
Some fruits to start with include apples, bananas, mangoes, pears, plums, and watermelon. Vegetables to try include avocados, carrots, peas, potatoes, green peppers, sweet potatoes, and zucchini
Don't limit yourself to these, though. Try other things, be adventurous.
Thoroughly wash and cook vegetables – and fruits like apples and pears that need to be softened – before pureeing or grinding. Bake, boil, or steam the produce until it's soft. If you boil the food, use as little liquid as possible and add some of the leftover liquid when pureeing or mashing the food
Peel and pit the produce if necessary and strain out any seeds. Some fruits and vegetables don't require any liquid – simply mash, add a seasoning or two, and serve. For others, you may want to add a little liquid (breast milk, formula, or water) as you puree or grind to get the consistency you want. As your baby adapts to solid foods, you can add less liquid.
Grains like brown rice or wheat and meat and poultry can also be pureed or ground in a food mill. Just make sure you coook them very well first. For older babies, whole grains make fabulous finger food and meat can be cut up into small manageable pieces for them.
After you've made the food and you're ready to serve baby, serve the food no warmer than body temperature.
Only dish out the amount of food you think your baby will eat at that feeding. You'll need to throw out what's left over because your baby's saliva will get into the mixture and make it easy for bacteria to grow in the food.
Don't sweeten your baby's food. Babies don't need any extra sugar. And never use honey or corn syrup , which can cause botulism – a potentially fatal form of food poisoning – in babies.
Use seasonings. Despite the tradition of feeding babies bland food , they can tolerate and enjoy different flavors.
If this all sound like a lot of work, which it isn't, simply just puree for baby what you've made for the entire family to eat, but please no peppers!.
To learn more, join this group on facebook " homegrown baby & you "