Baby food is one of the biggest concerns that young mothers have. It is after all, the first food that you will be feeding your child. It is recommended that you feed your baby breastmilk till they are one year old, however they start teething and eating other food aside from breastmilk from as early as 4 months old. Today, I'll be telling you about the best recipes for homemade baby food that you can make on your own.
Buying baby meals are another hassle that young mother have to deal with. You don't know which formulas to buy, you don't know whether it is safe for the baby, and you don't know the way they will react to it. Whenever you make your own homemade baby food, you are doing so with the full knowledge of your baby's body, what they are allergic to, the way they react to food, and the things that you will be using. It is safe, cheap and hassle-free, knowing the right recipes to use for your babies. Here are a few simple baby food recipes that you can make right at home!
- Sweet potato puree
Sweet potatoes are the best vegetables to start off a baby's diet with. They taste really yummy and therefore are packed with important nutrients such as beta carotene, Vitamin A, calcium, etc. they are also quite simple to prepare, so you don't have to be worried about spending too much time preparing kids food.
Ingredients:
100 grams sweet potato, diced
1 cup water
Method:
Place the diced yams in water and boil it for about 15 mins. If the potatoes haven't divided by then, mash it with the back of the ladle or a spoon. You can even blend the mixture to get the desired consistency, and when it is too thick, you'll be able to always add more water.
- Banana puree
Another great food for infants and toddler is banana mash. With this, there is no cooking involved and you may literally prepare this instant snack in a matter of seconds. Bannaas are loaded with nutrients such as potassium and calcium, which is important for the growth of your baby, and other good things like fiber and antacids which is easy on the stomach of the baby.
Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
Method:
After peeling the banana, mash it having a fork till it is the same consistency like a puree. If you want to thin it down even further for your baby, then you can do so with breastmilk or baby formula.
- Peach puree
One of the most common problems that babies face when they are small, is constipation. Because their bodies are not used to bowel movements yet, they are unable to excrete at a normal rate. Lots of doctors recommend the consumption of peaches for such problems, since it helps clear the system, and also cools down their stomach. It is also super yummy, and loaded with nutrients such as Vitamin C and Vitamin A.
Ingredients:
5-6 peaches
water (if required)
Method:
Peel the peaches, remove the core, dice them and place them in a steamer or pressure cooker. Make sure the water level is just below the container containing the fruit. If you are using a pressure cooker, fill a few inches of water and place a bowl inside using the peaches in it. Steam it till they are soft and can be punctured with a fork.
Remove them and set them in a blender and make a smooth puree. Pour the puree within an ice tray and use these peach puree cubes being an instant snack for your baby, whenever required.
- Brown rice cereal
Brown rice may appear like an extreme thing to provide your child, especially between the chronilogical age of 4 moths and 6 months, but it is, in fact, one of the safest, yummiest and healthiest alternatives for store bought baby food. Brown rice is definitely an anti-allergen, and doesn't cause any harm to your baby's growing system. Actually, it is packed with fiber and Vitamin A and C.
Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked brown rice
1 cup water
Method:
take a cup of uncooked brown rice (long grain or short grain) and put it in a food processor. Grind it to a fine powder and put it inside a cup of boiling water. Cook it till the rice has taken on a paste like texture with the water. You can wait for it for cooling down to serve it instantly, or freeze it in small containers for approximately 3 days.
- Apple puree
Apple puree is one of the most sought after baby food ever, firstly since it is extremely yummy; secondly because it is one of the best sources of nutrition for the growing baby. People also extensively use pureed apples as baby food because it is also easier to feed baby this sweet treats as they are less likely to throw an outburst about it. You can also make this really fast, and amp it up with a little cinnamon for extra flavor.
Ingredients:
2-3 apples
Water
Cinnamon to taste
Method:
Peel the apples, take out the core and chop it up into small pieces. Place it in a large container of water and bring it to a boil. Boil it for 10-15 minutes till the apples are soft. Strain the water and put the apples via a blender. You can save some of the water in case you need to dilute a puree that's too thick for your baby. You can store pureed apples in ice cube trays and use them as and when required.
- Avocado puree
Avocado puree is among the lesser known baby foods that you can make at home, even though it is extremely nutritious and the buttery and creamy texture of the substance is something that baby's seem to find appealing. Avocados contain a number of healthy fats which are great for your baby's health and well-being, and also assist in development and growth.
Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado
Method:
all you have to do is peel the avocado, scoop out the flesh and mash it up with the back of a spoon or a fork. Initially, to make the mixture smoother, you can also add baby formula or breastmilk. If a person avocado is too much for one sitting for your baby, then you can also put the rest in a container and store it within the fridge. However, if you want it to remain fresh and not get brown, make sure that you store the core along with the mash as well, in the same container.
- Mashed beets and blueberries
Beets and blueberries create a wonderful combination, especially for babies. When blended together, it might be a striking magenta colored paste that your baby will enjoy eating. It's also another wonderful all-natural recipe for your baby because it is packed with wonderful ingredients for example antioxidants and Vitamins which keeps your baby's immune system healthy and functioning properly. To this when you mix breastmilk or formula it becomes even more nutritious.
Ingredients:
2 beets
1/2 cup of fresh blueberries
water
Peel and chop the beets into small cubes and put them in a container with boiling water. Add half a mug of blueberries (you can use the frozen kind too) and let the fruits boil for 10-15 minutes, or until the beets are completely cooked through. Strain the water and put the beets and blueberries via a blender or food processor till you get a smooth, runny paste. If you want to make the puree even smoother, you'll be able to use some of the water that you simply used to boil the fruits.
Making homemade baby meals are not as difficult as you believe it is. It is infinitely cheaper and hassle-free and is also much, much safer for the baby. Even though store bought baby food is pretty safe, it is always good to know what you are feeding your baby, so when it is all natural ingredients then there is nothing you have to worry about.
By now, you should have gotten used to making baby food. You have to boil, strain and puree the components till you get a paste that you can give to your baby. If you don't have the time for peeling, chopping, cutting, boiling and also the whole process, then you can mash up fruits like avocados, mangoes, bananas, peaches, pears and other soft fruits for an instant snack.
Once your child starts growing older then you can test out other snacks such as chicken, turkey, zucchini and other more complex foods. Either way, you will know that you will be giving your baby the very best form of nutrition, which is also easy around the wallet for you.