Homemade Baby Food Made Easy

Written by Lauren Girdler
Reviewed by Gloria Tsang, RD
Published in October 2008

(HealthCastle.com) Most people rely on buying jarred baby food from the store, but did you know you can make your own baby food at home? Not only is it fast and easy to make your own baby food, you can also ensure that your child is getting a very nutritious meal.

Annabel Karmel, author of First Meals Food Diary has a variety of suggestions to help you make your own baby food. There are several different methods to preparing your own baby food, but they all result in the same thing: a healthy meal for your baby.

Cooked Baby Food

There are many healthy vegetables that you can make into nutritious baby food. First, select the fruits or vegetables that you would like to use:

• Carrots
• Parsnips
• Peas
• Squash
• Potatoes and sweet potatoes
• Apples
• Pears
  

Once you have selected your fruits or vegetables, it's time to cook. You can either boil your chosen ingredients, or microwave them until they are soft. Drain off any excess liquid, then purée or mash the now-soft fruits or vegetables into a paste. To add extra nutritional value to the food, try adding breast milk as well. Place in individual containers and store.

Uncooked Baby Food

These baby foods are even easier to prepare because they involve no cooking. First, select a fruit or vegetable that is naturally soft:

• Avocado
• Banana
• Papaya

Now, simply mash or purée the food. Once again, you can add breast milk to increase the nutritional value. You might also consider adding plain yogurt to mix with the fruit ingredients if you like. Place the food into separate containers and store.