Post by ogeezer on May 31, 2007 6:40:46 GMT -6
My eldest son 'n his wife are proud parents, and tho he's a Captain in the USMC, they don't earn a lot of money from the military. So to take the bite out of food costs for the newborn, the daughter-in-law (a Southern belle) makes baby food at home. This thread addresses the knowledge of that experience.
Homemade baby food is not only delicious and economical, it is simple to prepare as well. Being able to control the ingredients, choosing organic produce and meats, and combining favorite foods are some of the hidden benefits to making baby food at home.
While there are entire books on the subject, the process is relatively easy. Vegetables should be steamed, fruits should be simmered, and meat should be poached. The food is then blended in a food mill or food processor and refrigerated or frozen. Baby food can be made in batches small enough to last a few days and stored in the refrigerator or larger batches can be made and frozen for two months.
Choosing when to start your baby on solid foods is a very personal decision. Consult your baby’s doctor for tips on when to start and what foods to start with. Many doctors recommend starting baby on rice cereal. It is also advised to introduce one food at a time, over the course of a week. This will alert you to any food allergies your baby may have. Pureed apples and sweet potatoes are good choices once the baby is used to cereal.
The age and size of the baby will determine the type of food and its consistency. Young babies require fine purees with no lumps or strings. You will have to add breast milk, formula, or boiled water to loosen the puree enough for new eaters. Some parents use soy or rice milk in baby food. As the baby grows, the food can become thicker and with tiny chunks. The small chunks will encourage baby to gum, and eventually chew, the food. Your little one will soon learn to eat small dices of fruits and vegetables along with Mom and Dad.
UNCOMMON BABY FOOD
There are a few foods that need no preparation other than mashing with a fork or blending in a food mill: banana, avocado, and papaya.
If you dry home-grown fruits or vegetables, those can also be made into baby food. The dried food should be ground into a fine powder, or a coarse powder if you have an older baby, and reconstituted with breast milk or formula. A good example of dried food that reconstitutes well is dried apple rings. Also, potato flakes or chips, pears, green beans, peas and squash make excellent baby food.
Another unconventional source is canned fruits or vegetables. Canned fruits should be in water, if possible. If they are in syrup, they should be drained and rinsed. Then you can puree them and serve. Canned vegetables are just as simple. Use some of the water the vegetables are packed in to blend the food. Avoid canned vegetables that contain a lot of salt. Canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie, was a favorite of our kids when they were babies.
Plain yogurt is very good to serve older babies. It may need to be thinned with breast milk or formula. Cottage cheese should be blended before serving and it, too, may need to be thinned.
Homemade baby food is not only delicious and economical, it is simple to prepare as well. Being able to control the ingredients, choosing organic produce and meats, and combining favorite foods are some of the hidden benefits to making baby food at home.
While there are entire books on the subject, the process is relatively easy. Vegetables should be steamed, fruits should be simmered, and meat should be poached. The food is then blended in a food mill or food processor and refrigerated or frozen. Baby food can be made in batches small enough to last a few days and stored in the refrigerator or larger batches can be made and frozen for two months.
Choosing when to start your baby on solid foods is a very personal decision. Consult your baby’s doctor for tips on when to start and what foods to start with. Many doctors recommend starting baby on rice cereal. It is also advised to introduce one food at a time, over the course of a week. This will alert you to any food allergies your baby may have. Pureed apples and sweet potatoes are good choices once the baby is used to cereal.
The age and size of the baby will determine the type of food and its consistency. Young babies require fine purees with no lumps or strings. You will have to add breast milk, formula, or boiled water to loosen the puree enough for new eaters. Some parents use soy or rice milk in baby food. As the baby grows, the food can become thicker and with tiny chunks. The small chunks will encourage baby to gum, and eventually chew, the food. Your little one will soon learn to eat small dices of fruits and vegetables along with Mom and Dad.
UNCOMMON BABY FOOD
There are a few foods that need no preparation other than mashing with a fork or blending in a food mill: banana, avocado, and papaya.
If you dry home-grown fruits or vegetables, those can also be made into baby food. The dried food should be ground into a fine powder, or a coarse powder if you have an older baby, and reconstituted with breast milk or formula. A good example of dried food that reconstitutes well is dried apple rings. Also, potato flakes or chips, pears, green beans, peas and squash make excellent baby food.
Another unconventional source is canned fruits or vegetables. Canned fruits should be in water, if possible. If they are in syrup, they should be drained and rinsed. Then you can puree them and serve. Canned vegetables are just as simple. Use some of the water the vegetables are packed in to blend the food. Avoid canned vegetables that contain a lot of salt. Canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie, was a favorite of our kids when they were babies.
Plain yogurt is very good to serve older babies. It may need to be thinned with breast milk or formula. Cottage cheese should be blended before serving and it, too, may need to be thinned.