How to Blend Your Own Baby Foods
Blending your own baby food is an economical way to ensure you are providing your baby with wholesome foods. You can easily prepare your baby's food for the week or month in about an hour. Pick fruits and vegetables from the garden or buy them from a local farmer's market or grocery store. By preparing the foods that the rest of the family is eating, your baby's pallet will become accustomed to the same flavors.
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Things You'll Need
- Food grinder or blender
- Ice cube trays or small storage containers
- Freezer bags
Instructions
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Select a food grinder. Options include a manual food mill, which comes with interchangeable blades for different textures, an all-in-one baby food maker which steams and purees, a manual baby food grinder which is best for very soft textures or a regular kitchen blender (either a hand-held or countertop model). Choose the device based on how often and how much food you wish to prepare for your baby.
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Cook the food until it reaches a soft texture by steaming, boiling, baking or microwaving. Foods might include apples, pears, carrots, sweet potatoes, meat, squash or peas. Steaming is the best option to preserve nutrients.
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Transfer the cooked food to the blender or grinder. Include a small amount of the liquid used in steaming or boiling the food, setting aside the rest to use later to thin the puree as needed.
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Blend the food chunks until they reach a desired consistency. Babies who have just been introduced to solids will need smoother purees, while older babies can be introduced to larger chunks. Add saved liquid as needed. Formula or breast milk can also be used to thin the puree. If desired, puree food without the liquid, adding it later when it is time to feed the baby.
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Pour the puree into ice cube trays or small storage containers. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and place in the freezer. Once the puree is frozen, transfer from the ice cube tray to freezer bags.
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Remove the desired portion from the freezer to thaw by placing in the fridge overnight, on the counter for a few hours or in the microwave for a minute. Mix with breast milk or formula to reach desired consistency.
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Tips & Warnings
Each cube of puree is 1 ounce. Freezing the purees in small containers or ice cube trays allows you to easily access portions for one meal at a time without having to thaw large quantities. Clearly label the puree with the name of the food and the date prepared. Purees can remain in the freezer for up to one month.
If using a microwave to reheat baby food, stir well and allow to sit for several minutes before serving to the baby.
References
Resources
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