If you are a new mom like me, at some point you will begin to introduce your baby to solid foods. My baby is just over 6 months old, so I began this process a little over a month ago. I have enjoyed making my baby food at home. Depending on the brand, a lot of store bought baby food is not as nutritious as it seems, and they may also contain a variety of chemicals or preservatives. By making your own baby food, you can control the quality of ingredients that your baby will eat. Plus, homemade baby food costs a lot less and you create less packaging waste. It is easy to make your own baby food! Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
-Buy organic and pesticide free fruits and veggies to decrease your baby’s exposure to toxic chemicals.
-Keep it simple! An old trick is to mash or blend the food you are already cooking for yourself to give to your baby.
-Use these guidelines when deciding what foods to prepare:
0 to 4 months: Breast milk or formula only
4 to 6 months: semi-liquefied rice and grain cereals (such as oat and barley)
6 to 8 months: puréed or strained fruits and veggies
8 to 10 months: Time to get creative! It’s now appropriate to introduce small amounts of dairy, mashed fruits and veggies, small amounts of protein, small finger foods, non-citrus juice
10 to 12 months: cut fruit, bite sized cooked veggies, protein, finger foods, iron-fortified cereals, cheese and yogurt, non-citrus juice
-When introducing protein, get creative and change the variety. Try things like black beans, lentils, fish and tofu!
-Use highly nutritious veggies like squash, avocado, sweet potato, and carrots.
-Remember to make sure baby has a well balanced diet. Variety between meals ensures that your baby is getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Variety also means that your child will learn to like an array of foods (and hopefully be less picky in the future!). Try not to depend on giving your child only simple carbohydrates like processed cereal or breads, which just don’t have much nutritional value.
Check out these useful websites:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-your-baby_1400680.bc
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/
My baby’s current favorite food is blended sweet potato and peas. Do you have any suggestions for awesome homemade baby foods? What is your baby’s favorite food? Please leave a comment!
Photo by tiffanywashko at Flickr
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