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Everyone loves a delicious, nutritious homemade meal, especially when the secret ingredient is love! Babies over 4 months can eat nutrient-packed organic purees that are made at home with a parent’s love. Here are some tips and recipe ideas to get you started on your homemade baby food journey.
Organic baby food need not come in a jar from the grocery store. All you need to prepare the most delicious purees for baby are wholesome organic ingredients, a peeler, a steamer, a blender or food processor, storage trays, and freezer bags.
There are many homemeade baby food recipes online. Be creative with the fresh ingredients you have at home. Purees can be frozen in ice cube trays and later placed in freezer bags for easy access in the future.
Making baby food is not only easy, it saves a lot of money. When you make your own baby food, according to BabyFoode, you could save up to 98 percent of the cost. On average, a baby will eat 2,500 ounces of puree in 6 months, and if your baby is eating store-bought organic purees, this could cost $900. Making your own baby food is also eco-friendly and the purees are free of additives.
If your baby is sitting up and eyeing you inquisitively as you eat, it may be time for your little one to taste “real food.” If your baby is interested in tasting food, he will let you know.
When introducing purees, start with a teaspoon at a time and slowly increase the quantity. Keep in mind that purees are not a substitute for breast milk or formula, which is the baby’s primary sustenance for the first year. However, when using nutrient-dense vegetables, fruits, proteins and spices, you are packing in more punch for baby’s growth and development. Remember to peel all of the fruits and vegetables before you steam them.
As well as expanding their palate, babies use food to learn about the world. As each food has a distinct taste, aroma and color, babies can use all their senses to explore at mealtime. The best part is watching your baby make faces as she savors a taste for the first time.
There are three stages of purees, each one is designed for a separate age group:
Stage One
The first stage, for babies from 4 to 6- months-old, introduces your baby to one fruit or vegetable at a time. Breast milk or formula is added to give it more of a liquid consistency and ensure food is smooth and easy to swallow.
There are many simple and delicious recipe suggestions on Babyfoode for introductory organic purees. Offer baby carrots pureed with nutmeg, a broccoli puree with olive oil, pureed apple and cinnamon, and mango puree with vanilla.
Babyfoode also has a recipe for homemade healthy, organic baby cereal. This is made by combining cooked steel cut oats, quinoa, and brown rice. Puree these with organic probiotics to assist baby’s gut health.
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Stage Two
When your baby is over 6-months-old, she enters Stage Two. The organic puree can now be a bit thicker and you can combine different fruits or vegetables together. As your baby can now eat any food except for honey, you can continue introducing pureed vegetables like asparagus and kale, and proteins such as chicken, beef, and yogurt.
How about making mango kale puree with ginger? Or try out Thai chicken from Babyfoode made with red curry paste drizzled over organic chicken, carrot and mango that is baked and then pureed. A carrot, corn, and pumpkin puree is a winner. And for a sweet and tart sensation, offer baby apple, raspberry, and vanilla bean puree.
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Stage Three
Once your baby is 9-months-old, Stage Three begins, with purees being even lumpier. You can use a masher instead of the food processor or blender. Place a variety of purees on the high chair tray and let your child start to feed himself.
This simple dish celebrates the wonderful colours of wholesome, natural foods. Get the recipe --->>https://t.co/5MgXn2WStJ #quinoa #vegetarian #babyfood pic.twitter.com/nuwtkiaOmE
— Homemade Baby Food (@Recipes4Baby) June 22, 2020
Introducing all of these taste experiences at a younger age, according to a Cambridge study, will positively impact your child’s appreciation for food later. Try introducing babies to purees using all the colors of the food rainbow. Later in life, they will have the taste and appreciation for a variety of healthy, nutritious foods.
