Preparing homemade baby food puree is a great idea for the health
of your baby, and it is very simple to do. It is not time-consuming and
is very gratifying. Hopefully after reading this article you will be
inspired and even excited to pull out your blender or food processor and
puree healthy, organic food for your baby.
The reasons to make
your own baby foods are simple. You want your baby to have the freshest,
most nutritious food available, and you want to be aware of the
ingredients it contains. You know that it is best to feed your baby
pure, whole foods.
One important rule is that salt and sugar are
never needed when making baby food. These extra flavorings are not good
for babies, so making food for baby yourself is also a great way to
limit his intake of unnecessary ingredients.
One of the easiest
ways to make baby food is to take a ripe banana or soft avocado
(preferably organic, but if that is not possible, the next best thing is
to buy your fruits and vegetables at a local farmer's market). Mash the
banana or avocado with a fork. You can add a little water, formula or
breast milk if it's too thick.
Another simple homemade baby food
is pureed vegetables. Cube and steam a sweet potato, (sweet potatoes are
a great favorite with babies!) and then blend it up with a little water
and olive oil (to smooth out the consistency). Mashed potatoes and
butternut squash are great to use, as are fresh pears, apples, peas, and
carrots.
For the older baby a little organic chicken and rice
pureed together with chicken stock and a little extra virgin olive oil
will work well. Pureeing vegetables and fruits for baby is very simple.
Cooking and Pureeing:
Start
by chopping the vegetable or fruit and cooking it either by steaming,
baking, or boiling. Steaming holds most of the nutrients in the food.
Steaming, baking or boiling will also allow for a greater quantity of
food to be made at one time.
Set aside the liquid that the
vegetables or fruits were cooked in. This can be added to thin the
puree. Adding this liquid also helps to preserve any nutrients that may
have boiled into the water during cooking. Again, a little breast milk
or formula can be used as thinning liquid if needed.
Take the cooked vegetable or fruit and place it in the blender or food processor.
Set your machine to puree and begin to mash the vegetables or fruits.
As
you are pureeing or blending, add the saved liquids or a little water.
Pureeing without adding any liquids is also an option, but the food may
be thicker than desired. Many parents prefer to thin the foods before
they serve them to their babies. This makes it easier for baby to eat.
Microwaving
is not recommended, although sometimes considered a short cut.
Microwaving food robs it of many of the very nutrients we are trying to
preserve by making our own baby food.
Freezing:
Once
you have a nice liquid baby food puree you will then transfer the puree
into ice-cube trays for freezing/storage. Fill each cube with the
puree, as though you were filling the tray with water to make ice cubes.
Cover
the tray with plastic wrap or, if you have covered ice trays those can
be used as well. Place the trays in the freezer. Each cube makes
approximately 1 ounce of food.
After the cubes of pureed food have
set and are frozen, take the trays out of the freezer and transfer the
cubes into freezer bags. Be sure to label the bag with the date of
preparation as well as the type of food. The baby food cubes should be
used within a month of freezing.
When it is time to feed baby, take out the number of food cubes needed and thaw and then reheat.
It
is recommended that fresh pureed homemade baby food be stored no longer
than 48 - 72 hours in the refrigerator, thus limiting the growth of
bacteria. This rule applies for all types of baby food, whether it be
vegetable, fruit or meat.
Remember, always consult with your
pediatrician regarding introducing solid foods to your baby. It is also
recommended that you discuss any foods that may pose allergy risks for
your baby.
Offering our babies and children healthy food to eat, a clean
environment and organic options is very important. You can find
healthful information and highly rated baby products at http://www.carouselbabyshop.com.
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