Caroline, Chicago, IL
I did not think that I would be one of those moms who makes homemade baby food. Why? I am running my own business and involved in so many things, I just figured I would let Gerber take that task off my plate. We started out buying the Gerber Organics and Mini Whipped was happy with everything. Thank God, I did not get a picky eater!
What first inspired me to make her food myself was all of the little containers. She is eating more and more at nearly 8 months of age and I felt like every day I cracked open these little jars and plastic containers one after the other after the other. After a visit to the doctor, I learned that she can eat anything except eggs, fish and nuts and to be watchful of too much sugar and salt. I felt so elated…. but wary.
Caroline: You mean ANYTHING else I want to give her?
Doctor: As long as it isn’t a choking hazard.
Caroline: So, what about spaghetti and meatballs all blended up?
Doctor: Sounds good.
Caroline: What about mango, banana smoothies.
Doctor: Sure.
Caroline: Well, what about Kale? What if I cooked Kale?
Doctor (losing patience): Yes.
Now I have become obsessed with making baby food. And, so far, Mini Whipped likes everything except black beans and mashed potatoes. On her “love it” list: pancakes, mango, Ropa Vieja (Cuban Beef Stew), swiss chard…the list is growing daily.
You may not want to be as brazen as I am with your little one’s palate. I am such a food junkie (addict?) that I feel warm from my inside out when I make a delicious Cuban Beef Stew and my little cherub kicks her legs in delight with each bite. Below are some simpler more tame ideas to start with. Please note that I am not an expert and you should get approval from your own doctors before feeding new things to your babies.
STORAGE: Put baby food in ice cube trays, pop them out and store them plastic freezer bags and remove a few as needed.
YOGURT PARFAIT: These are great when you will be on the go. In a jar, layer plain yogurt, applesauce (no sugar added) and a sprinkle of baby food rice or oatmeal cereal. Mix it all up before feeding.
TURKEY DINNER: Saute half a package (3/4lb.) of ground turkey meat. Put it in a food processor or blender with about 1 cup of sliced, cooked carrots and 1 cup of cooked rice. Use water little by little as needed to process until thick and smooth.
CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP: I used chicken thighs to make a basic chicken soup. I removed some of the chicken, noodles and a little broth before adding any salt or spices and blended it up.
CINNAMON PEAR BANANA: Steam pears for about 3 minutes. Blend them with banana and a sprinkle of cinnamon.
FOR NON PARENTS: If you do not have children and you have read this whole post anyway, I will reward you with an idea! I just found this idea in the magazine ReadyMade and I wish I had thought of it sooner. Freeze leftover coffee in ice cube trays and use it in iced coffee drinks so they don’t get watered down. And, freeze leftover wine in cubes to pop into sauces easily.
November 21st, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Is it wrong to admit that I used leftovers for baby food bases? It seems to have worked. My son, 12 in a week or so, is 5′7″ so things seem to have worked out.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
[…] Homemade Baby Food Ideas - Whipped […]
November 23rd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Great ideas! I’ll tuck this away for March when my son is born. Happy to have aided your idea generation!
November 23rd, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Dudette, that is so clever!! I love it. I don’t have a baby but you know, one day…
November 24th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
we have a little one on the way (coming in february). How many months old is your little one? I have always heard that you start “real” food at 6 months.
November 24th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Look at you fancy pants! Making your own baby food. I knew it was just a matter of time when your curiousity got the better of you. Of course the little one has a great palate
K
November 24th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I felt right at home with this post. Fortunately my second son will eat anything and everything I put in front of him and our freezer is full of little bags with frozen cubes like yours! Avocado is another easy one b/c it mashes up with a fork.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
You go, Mom! I loved making my babies’ food back in the early 90’s. (Though then in New Jersey where we lived I had to make special outings to find organic fruits and veggies to use.) So cheap, so unwasteful, so connected to what we were eating. I asked a local day care center for used baby food jars, and was given about 2 dozen. In addition to the ice cube thing, I’d put food in these to freeze (after a run in the d/w to sterilize). They were easy to grab on the way out of the house, to warm and serve at a friend’s or cafe or wherevere I was going. And, to back up Dana at #1, my 15 year old is over 6′3″, so no growth was stunted…
November 24th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Oh, how I miss those days! I just thought of the perfect gadget I wish I had known about when I was in your shoes. Seen recently in my Wiliams-Sonoma catalog—it’s an all-in-one steamer/processor/warmer/defroster for making baby food at home. True, you can do all these things with stuff you already have, but 1 gadget makes it so handy. Plus it’s cute & small, not taking up much counter space.
In case you haven’t seen it, it’s called a Beaba Babycook. I’ve seen them online at Williams-Sonoma and Amazon. Just thought I’d pass on the 411…
November 25th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Though I don’t have any children yet, I am so encouraged by your post! I hope I am brave enough (and have the time) to do this for my child! And I hope I too don’t have a picky eater…someday…when I actually have a child that is. ; )
November 25th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I am childless and yes read through (thank you for the tips) but um…. leftover wine? Really?? Really?
I’ll definitely pass this on to my parent-friends.
December 6th, 2008 at 10:46 am
Have you seen this fabulous article?! More inspiration for you…
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/dining/01baby.html?scp=10&sq=keith%20dixon&st=cse