How to Make Starter Baby Food

Consider taking the time to prepare homemade starter baby food. Select a variety of in season fruits and vegetables for baby. Making homemade baby food is an economical and nutritious way to feed a baby. You can feel good about the foods offered to baby because you know the exact ingredients in baby's first foods.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Bowl
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Fork
• Food processor
• Ripe fruits or vegetables
• Microwave
• Water
• Freezable storage containers with lids

1. Gather food preparation tools and set up a work space on a kitchen counter. Include ripe fruits and vegetables in the recipe such as avocados, bananas, pumpkin, winter squash or sweet potatoes.
2. Peel, remove seeds and cut one fruit or vegetable into one bowl at a time. Steam hard vegetables in the microwave until they are tender.
3. Add approximately 2 tablespoons of water acting as a thinner to each serving of fruit or vegetable. Mash with a fork or puree in a food processor until the consistency is smooth.
4. Spoon feed baby just one fruit or vegetable for at least three consecutive days. Serve mix fruits and vegetables only once all ingredients have been served on their own.
5. Discard partially eaten servings. Store extra serving in a freezable storage container with a lid. Keep in refrigerator or freezer and label with the date.

Tips & Warnings

• Also use baby formula, breast milk or water from steamed vegetables as a thinner instead of water.
• Make sure to label and date food prepared for storage in the freezer.