Homemade Baby Food

Have you ever looked at the ingredients of baby food?  Many are filled with fillers and ingredients that I couldn't even begin to pronounce.  The price of each jar would add up fast.  That's why I decided I was going to make homemade baby food when I was pregnant.  Now that I'm actually doing it, it's so easy.  I also get a since of satisfaction that I know what I'm feeding baby D.

To make your own baby food, you don't need to buy any of the marketed baby food makers.  You can use what you already have in your kitchen such as a steamer, blender, food processor, etc.  The only apparatus we purchased were containers to freeze the food once made and be able to take on the go or to daycare.  We love these containers by oxo:

These containers hold up well and are easy to clean.  It also comes in a nice stackable container so that you can stack many on top of one another.  They come in 2 oz and 4 oz sizes.  I like the 4 oz size as it will grow with baby D.  I like to make a few weeks worth of food at one time so baby D normally has his own shelf in our freezer with these containers stacked up. 

To actually make the baby purees, all you need to do (depending on the food) is mash, steam, boil, or bake.  I like using Wholesome Baby Food for recipes.  This website has detailed info on how to make each food and recipes on adding seasonings or combining different foods together.  The website also has a nice printable list on which foods to feed your baby depending on baby's age.  To actually puree, we have a Ninja chopper which works really well.

Making homemade baby food has also made me try new foods.  I never had mangoes before until I was cutting one up to make for baby D.  It's quite delicious!