Ask any mother what she wants for her baby and she'll tell you the same thing – happiness and health. These same mothers will also tell you the moment junior entered their lives, their free time and extra cash dwindled to nothing while stress seemed to increase incrementally. Store bought purees often contain unseen amounts of high fructose corn syrup that increase baby's desire for them, but only add empty calories to the diet which are quickly translated into darling little fat rolls. They often contain as much water per spoonful as protein or vitamins, which can fill baby's stomach without adding nutrition.
Making baby food at home can be a quick and painless process that helps mothers achieve their goals: a baby who smiles constantly and rarely needs the doctor – while also easily improving the family bank account.
Blenderless Recipes for Baby
Sweet Potatos
This large, cheap tuber is a super vegetable. It contains vitamins C and B complex, antioxidants, beta-carotene, and fiber. It boosts the immune system, soothes the stomach, and aids in digestion. It is also a good source of iron, which is key in the brain development of children under one year.
To cook: boil three to five potatoes for an hour or until fork tender. Allow to cool and rub the skin off by hand. Mash with a fork and store.
Lentils
This little legume may be purchased on the bean aisle of most grocery stores in dried bulk for a very low price. It contains vitamins C and B, fiber, and iron. It is also high in folic acid which, like iron, stimulates brain development. This is a great food to introduce before meat because it is easy for the stomach to digest and provides a large amount of protein. Its fiber content also helps alleviate constipation.
To cook: soak in a large bowl of water overnight to allow the lentils to soften and double in size. Cover in a stock pot or dutch oven with chicken broth or stock and allow to simmer for 45 minutes. Chunks of sweet potato may be added to sweeten the flavor of this dish. Stir with a wooden spoon and store.
Bananas
This self packaged fruit is an excellent source of iron, potassium, and fiber. It is easy to digest and helps relieve the growing pains of newly exercised little muscles. Peel and mash this food when ripe with a spoon and mix with applesauce for a nutritious sweet treat.
Butternut Squash and Pumpkin
Like sweet potatoes, these two squash are naturally sweet when cooked and do not require added sugar. They are filled with antioxidants and boost the immune system. Purchase firm vegetables during appropriate seasons only as squash stocked out of season is often rotten on the inside. Cut the squash in half and place on a foil lined baking sheet in the oven at 400 F. Roast for one to two hours, or until flesh may be easily cut with a fork. Remove and cool before scooping flesh into a bowl and mashing with a fork.
Storing Homemade Baby Food
Store purees in small plastic containers or bags in the freezer. One serving is typically one-quarter to one-half a cup. Flatten bags of puree gently with fingers before freezing to cut down on defrosting time later. Most purees can live in the freezer for two months, and should be consumed within 48 hours of defrosting.
Ice cube trays may also be utilized for storing purees. Pop purees out of each individual tray once frozen and place into labeled freezer bags. Individually frozen vegetable purees may be blended later for different meal combinations.
Resources:
What to Expect, The First Year, by Heidi Eisenberg Murkoff et al., copyright 1989.
Top 100 Baby Purees, by Annabel Karmel, copyright 2005.
Anna Smith - I hold a Bachelor's of Science in English from Liberty University and have been writing professionally for online magazines for over a ...
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