Making your own baby food not only saves you money, but it can also be a great way to introduce your child to a variety of different tastes.
You can use foods you’re already preparing for your family, such as green vegetables cooked until soft, meat or beans, pureed on their own, or mixed with other ingredients.
Ingredients
Organic baby foods are made with all-natural ingredients, free of pesticides and additives. This ensures that your little one will have healthy brain and body development while they’re still young.
Gerber is an affordable brand with a variety of organic products for babies and children, including organic cereals, pureed food in jars, and snacks. They are also known for their use of reusable packaging and sustainable agriculture.
Once Upon A Farm is another brand that’s a great choice for organic jarred baby food. They use cold-pressing technology to extract juices from fruits and vegetables, and they create nutrient-dense blends that are full of flavor and texture.
Serenity Kids offers a savory line of organic baby food that’s free of added sugar and salt. Their organic squashes (squash, butternut, pumpkin), wild-caught salmon, and beet options are delicious and high in fat and protein.
Preparation
In order to make the best organic baby food, you need to have a wide variety of wholesome, organic ingredients. You also need a food processor or blender, a steamer, storage trays and freezer bags.
Using all the aforementioned items, you can make organic purees for your baby with little effort or expense. You can start by preparing single-ingredient purees, then move on to more advanced blends and textured transition meals.
The most important thing is to prepare the food properly and to follow the directions on the package. For example, you should wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly to remove dirt or splinters that can cause stomach upset.
You should also use a high-quality blender or food processor to ensure that the puree is free of any lumps, seeds, or pits that can be harmful to your baby’s digestive system. Most purees contain citric acid or lemon juice as an antioxidant and preservative. The best purees for baby come from brands that take the time to use fresh, natural ingredients and follow safe food handling practices.
Storage
Storage is crucial for both homemade and store-bought baby food. Storing correctly can help ensure your baby is getting the most out of their meals while preventing harmful bacteria from growing.
For homemade baby food, we recommend keeping it in sealed, clean containers for up to 2 days or up to 30 days in the freezer. Be sure to label your containers so you know what’s in each one and when it was made.
We also love these adorable ice cube trays for freezing purees in! They’re BPA-free (score!) and dishwasher safe.
When you’re ready to use them, pop the cubes out and put them in a plastic freezer bag that’s labeled with the type of baby food you’ve frozen. This will make it easier to find and use frozen purees again in the future.
Recipes
Whether you’re making organic baby food for a traditional spoon-feeding routine or you’re opting to go baby-led weaning, this stage is the perfect opportunity to introduce your little one to new flavors. It’s also a great time to try new puree recipes to see which ones work for your baby.
There are a lot of organic baby foods on the market, but it’s important to find the right recipes for your baby’s age and dietary needs. Here are a few to start with:
To make organic baby food, all you need is certified organic fruits and vegetables that you can boil or steam until they’re soft. Then, simply use a fork to mash up the vegetables and blend them until they form a thick, creamy puree that your baby will love.