Things You'll Need:
- steamer or microwave
- food processor, blender or hand blender
- ice cube trays
- freezer bags
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Step 1
First, choose your produce. At about six months, squash, peas, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas and pears are well tolerated. Carrots can also be introduced if you buy them whole and organic. In some parts of the country, carrots grown in mass quantity contain levels of nitrates too high for young babies. It's suggested that you start veggies first so that the baby does not develop a taste for the sweeter fruit first.
When those foods are all tried, between 6 and 8 months, you can introduce apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums, avocado, pumpkin and tofu.
Between 8 and 10 months you can introduce broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, mango, papaya, snow peas, white potatoes, spinach, non-organic carrots and some types of beans: black, garbanzo, pinto and white. -
Step 2
Wash, peel and chop your chosen food. Some foods don't require cooking and can simply be mashed or blended. These include avocado, papaya and bananas.
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Step 3
Using a stovetop steamer or microwave safe dish, cook the produce. Steaming is the best method for preserving the vitamin content of the food. Steaming times differ, but for most foods you'll steam for between 10 and 15 minutes.
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Step 4
Puree the cooked produce using a food processor, blender or hand immersion blender. Food must be a smooth consistency with no lumps. If necessary, push the food through a sieve to eliminate chunks.
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Step 5
Pour the pureed food into the ice cube trays. One ice cube sized chunk of food is 1/2 to 1 serving (depending on how much your baby eats in one sitting). Once the cubes are fully frozen, pop them out and put them into freezer bags. Label the bag with the date and contents. Frozen baby food is good for up to 6 months.
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Step 6
To thaw the food, place the desired number of cubes in a dish and thaw on the countertop for a few hours, or in the microwave. If thawing in the microwave, be very careful to thoroughly cool the food before giving it to baby. If the food is too thick, add a small amount of water, formula or breast milk. If it is too thin, baby cereal such as rice or oatmeal can be added (only if this cereal has been previously well tolerated by baby).
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Step 7
If baby does not finish all the food you thaw, do not save it. Bacteria transferred by the spoon from baby's mouth can contaminate it. You will unfortunately have to discard it.
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Step 8
Eventually, different items can be mixed. But, always feed only one new item for 2 to 3 days to ensure there is no reaction.
