Baby Land

If someone had told me a year ago that I would even be considering making my own baby food, I would have had them committed. I'm certainly no health nut - until I was pregnant, I counted mashed potatoes or macaroni as vegetables. I haven't seen the inside of a gym for quite some time and I can pack away a box of Krispy Kremes - hot and now, please! But here I am, shopping in the organic produce section and learning all about how winter squash makes an excellent puree and freezes well... It's like I don't even recognize myself!

I decided making some of my own baby food would be a fun venture - something special I could do for my daughter. As a working mom, the task seemed daunting... But over the past few months, I've done a lot of reading about baby food - how to select the best produce, how to steam or bake to soften, how to thin out or thicken up the puree based on the stage your baby is at. It all sounds so simple, healthy and cost-effective, so I am planning to give it a try!

A good friend of mine pointed me in the direction of a fantastic site filled with information and how-tos on making your own baby food - www.WholesomeBabyFood.com. It provides recipes, sample menus, tips on which recipes freeze well and which ones should be served fresh, advice on how to freeze and thaw... everything you need to know to get started. I printed out a stack of articles explaining everything in step by step detail, including what I would need to get started:

Fresh (or frozen) vegetables/fruits: On my last visit to the grocery store, I purchased an organic winter squash and a pack of organic carrots to use for my first experimentation. Other recommendations from the website include apples, green beans, peas and peaches. Organic are terrific if you can spring for the extra cost. If not, regular produce works fine provided it is washed and cooked well.

A food mill or food processor: I opted to order a manual food mill from www.OneStepAhead.com, a terrific source for all sorts of baby necessities. They also offer an electric version. A regular food processor works fine as well.

Steamer: Some vegetables and fruits work best steamed, others are best baked. For tips on which foods work best with which methods, visit the Wholesome Foods website. You can get a simple steamer at any store that sells kitchen wares - it's a great investment for adult foods, too. 

Breast milk/formula/water: The key to making a puree suitable for baby is texture - making sure it is thin enough for your baby's stage. To smooth out the texture of pureed foods, add breast milk, formula or water. If adding water, the preferred option is to use any water left over from preparing (steaming or baking) the vegetables/fruits. 

Containers for freezing: I ordered food storage containers from www.OneStepAhead.com. Other options include using an ice cube tray, pouring food in, freezing, popping out and storing in zip lock bags.

I am hoping to find time this weekend to give baby food making a try! Wish me luck...

Did you make your own baby food? Do you have tips or recipes to share? Add them here or log on to www.SpartanburgMoms.com to share!