Hello Friends and Followers of BB! Today I have a fabulous and fun post from Bridget Sandorford. I am so excited to try these tips in a few months with my own baby, and hope all those moms out there reading get the chance too as well! Thanks Bridget for your amazing post! We hope to hear from you again!!!
How to Make Easy and
Inexpensive Baby Foods
When you have a baby, you
only want to feed him or her the best. Many commercially made foods are loaded
with unhealthy oils, sugars, and harmful chemicals. Yet they are so much more
convenient than making your own food, and they are often cheaper.
How do you give your
children the best foods without breaking your budget? Here are a few simple
tips for how to make easy and inexpensive baby foods to give your children the
best:
Make Simple Purees
If you have a good blender
or food processor, that's all you need to make your own baby food. Throw
steamed veggies or fruits in the blender or food processor and puree them. You
don't even have to add water. However, if you want to thin out the mix, you can
add as much water as you like.
Early baby foods are simple
purees, so you only need to add one ingredient. A single sweet potato or bunch
of green beans can provide meals for a week for your young baby. You can't get
much cheaper than that!
Experiment with
Two-Ingredient Blends
Once your baby has tried a
number of fruits and vegetables -- and you are sure there are no food allergies
to them -- you can start experimenting with two-ingredient blends. Consider
pairing a fruit with a vegetable: The veggie will provide some excellent
vitamins and nutrients, and the fruit will add a sweet flavor (as well as some
additional vitamins and nutrients). You really can't go wrong with any flavor
match, so have fun finding what your baby responds to best.
Add Some Spices
After your baby has had some
time to get used to basic fruits and vegetables, start experimenting with
spices. No, we don't mean that you should add cayenne to her peas, but adding a
few dashes of cinnamon to her bananas would make a nice treat. Try adding sweet
spices like cinnamon and nutmeg to fruits, or add some savory spices like basil
or oregano to veggies.
Just be mindful of food
allergies and be sure to try one spice at a time to check for any reactions.
Introduce Bulkier Items
Around 6 to 8 months, your
baby is likely ready to try bulkier and more hearty foods. You can start to add
steamed or boiled meats, grains and dairy. You would just add these foods to
fruits and veggies and blend them all up in your blender or food processor,
making a smooth puree or leaving behind a few lumps.
Grains and dairy are common
allergens, so use care when introducing these foods. Of course, if you try to
include eggs in your blends, they should be fully cooked.
Serve Finger Foods
More parents are following
what is known as baby-led weaning. Instead of creating purees, you just wait
until your baby is ready to eat finger foods. These include soft, steamed
fruits and veggies, such as carrots and peas. You can also serve foods that are
naturally soft like bananas or avocado. You can usually start serving these
foods around six months.
Creating healthy baby foods
does not have to be complicated or expensive. These tips can help you make
nutritious foods from basic produce that you already have in your kitchen.
You'll give your baby delicious foods that will also provide the nutrients he
needs.
What are some of your
favorite baby food recipes that are healthy and inexpensive? Share your picks
in the comments!
About the Author:
Bridget Sandorford is a
freelance food and culinary writer, where recently she’s been researching pastry school in NJ. In her spare time, she enjoys biking, painting and working on her
first cookbook.
