I have written before about how I love to cook and eat great food. Over the last few months I have forayed into something new in the kitchen — making baby food. Even before Owen started eating food, I thought a lot about my own food philosophy and how I hope to cultivate a happy, healthy relationship with food for him. This blog post on the topic turned controversial, though in rereading it I’m not entirely sure why, because I still stand by what I wrote. I guarantee that, down the road, there will be days when Owen will refuse “the healthy stuff”, but the bottom line is that if you don’t feed kids crap, they won’t eat crap. Period. And at least for now, I’m still in charge of what goes in his mouth! Although we won’t always be perfect, I think it’s still worth doing my very best to strive for a diet of mostly natural, whole foods and whole grains, with limited added sweeteners and processing. I’m not crazy about everything being organic (though when he moves into meat and dairy, I might be more inclined to stick to organic and hormone-free), rather, my focus is on eating pure, whole foods without additives.
In an effort to introduce him to the BEST flavors and textures out there, and to be sure that there’s nothing but food in his food, I make my own baby food. (Side note: Please do not leave me lots of nasty comments and emails about how I am judging people who do not make their own baby food. I am not. I’m talking about ME, not YOU). I was prepared for it to be a chore; a chore I was willing to do, but a chore nonetheless. But it’s not! It’s so easy and… I daresay… fun!
There are lots of cookbooks out there about cooking for your child. At this point we’re doing all purees, and haven’t added anything like spices, so there’s really no cookbook needed. However, I have found the So Easy Baby Food line of products to be incredibly helpful. My sister (a mother of two who also makes most of her baby food) sent me the So Easy Baby Food book and two of the lidded ice cube trays for freezing.
Essentially the steps to making your own baby food are to:
- Chop up the veggies (frozen or fresh) into small chunks
- Steam/bake/boil until they are mushy (I like steaming to keep as many nutrients as possible in the food and not in the cooking liquid)
- Puree (I like to use a food processor for big batches and tough stuff, like peas, or an immersion blender for smaller batches or easy-to-puree things like sweet potatoes)
- Pour into the trays and freeze
- Pop them out and move them to a labeled ziploc and use the trays for the next batch of food
Since Owen started eating solids at 4 months he has had: avocado, peas, green beans, sweet potato, butternut squash, spinach, apples, bananas, prunes, white beans and yogurt. All of those have been homemade except the prunes (that seems like WAY too much work!). And rice and oats (from a box). One time we tried jarred carrots, but he didn’t seem to love them, and once I tasted them I knew why. Yuck! No more carrots for us until he can eat them (steamed) as a finger food, I think. Also, the white beans may not have been the smartest choice. He was ok for a few days and then had crazy amount of gas/burps. I can’t be SURE it was from the beans, but I think we’re going to put the beans on hold for another month or two.
I never really subscribed to the “eat one and only one food for several days at a time” philosophy. I started with one food, and then built from there, adding only one food at a time so I could easily figure out the cause if he had a reaction to the new food, but instead of separating foods I continually mix them together. I figure this gives him a little different flavor with every bite and every concoction we put together. He seems to dig it! Today I sent him off to daycare with a bowl of apples, bananas and oats, and a bowl of sweet potato, green beans and rice. Not a bad day of eats. When he comes home he’ll get one more bowl, probably something like spinach and yogurt or something like that.
I’m always looking for new things to add to his repertoire. What other foods have your babies tried?
What a timely post! Isis is having one of our FREE online e-learning webinars this very morning on this exact topic: Feeding your infant and toddler WHOLE FOODS during the introduction to solids and transition to table foods. You can register now at http://isismaternity.web3.hubspot.com/isis-parenting-baby-food-basics-webinar-registration–copy/ and it’s free!
Our feeding and nutrition specialist, Joanna, is leading this webinar. She’s an advocate of “real food” for children, a Dr Greene confidante and disciple, who does our phone-based Parenting Consults on nutrition and feeding questions for parents with babies 6 – 36 months. See http://www.isisparenting.com/classes/type/Parenting_Consult for more info on that option. Hope you can “attend” the webinar.
I am really interested in homemade baby food as well . . . glad to hear you’ve made it work with basically just an ice cube tray and not needing the whole machine they sell. I can’t handle another kitchen appliance taking up space!
It’s fantastic that you are making your own baby food. I’m going to give it a try, but it will coincide with the start of daycare and my husband returning to work, so I’m not sure if we’ll be making our own or just buying organic while he’s eating purees. People really should just do what works for them. There isn’t one solution for everyone. And I have to agree that what you eat is what you will continue to eat. I was the most diverse of my siblings growing up, diet wise, but we had a lot of processed food and a LOT of take out after my parents divorced. I still gravitate toward easy to make processed foods and have to work hard at cooking better dishes and incorporating more natural whole foods into our diet. But I’m doing my darndest because I want my kids to be healthier and have a healthier relationship with food than I did/do.
Well, we’ve gone the Baby Led Weaning route. Up until now Amber’s FAV FOOD EVER is a toss up between bread with hummus or chana massala (chickpea curry). Yeah. That girl likes her some FLAVOUR!
I think it’s wonderful that you’re doing everything you can to make sure he gets real whole food. I’m doing the same with Cameron. Except there are a few things I’ve bought jarred that I wanted him to have that I couldn’t see me making myself (especially in the winter) such as organic berry combos, mangos and peaches and basically whatever I can’t really buy in season and organic. Our organic selections in our grocery stores are getting better, but still not what it is in the U.S. so I have to go to the markets and special stores which I’m finding really tough right now. I’m trying hard to keep it organic first and foremost. I can’t wait for the summer to arrive so we can go to the Farmer’s Markets on the weekends and make it a regular activity with him.
What about meats? I’m thinking of roasting of broiling up an organic chicken breast and pureeing it with some apples or something for him to try. When do you plan to introduce meats? I was reading through the “6-12mth” book we got with our prenatal class and I was surprised to see that they now recommend giving meats right away! We haven’t yet, but he’s only been on solids for a week and a half so far.
It’s so fun! I love it and I love making my own food too. He LOVES banana+avocado
Good to know about the beans because I was just going to do that next. Might be a good idea to mix them up with something else in smaller amounts perhaps?
Wow, holy novel…sorry!
I am making my own baby food for my baby too! I also love it. You are much more advanced than we are since we started solids at 6 months. We have done all of the foods that you have, but I was thinking about doing pears next, but I also want to do green beans. I didn’t know we could start yogurt already. Good to know! We aren’t feeding her as much in the way of solids like you are since the pediatrician told us not to cut down on her milk yet and I can’t see how she could continue to get the same amount that was getting if she eats more solids than twice per day. Is he still getting the same amount of milk?
Also, do you mix the oats/rice cereal into the solids just as is? I have only been mixing it with milk. Maybe that is why? Ahhh – so much to learn!
Good for you for doing what seems to work best for your family and your little one!!! I agree–and know that for myself, the less junk I eat, the less appealing it is to me!
Pears are easy to steam/puree and my son loves them.
Any suggestions for homemade green beans and peas? I steamed them and threw them in the food processor. I can’t seem to get them smooth enough for his taste so we may have to hold off until he tolerates more texture (he will eat jarred peas and beans)
Some things he may not get until they are in season. We tried the PlumBaby peaches, but the southern girl in me knows that peaches are a summertime treat. No need to eat them out of season.
Right now breakfast is fruit with oatmeal and dinner is a veggie. I think we are going to try turkey next. I refuse to feed jarred meat, so that one I am definitely making myself.
@Ruby, What an awesome palate your little one has!
@Angie All The Way, I’m thinking of trying meats this weekend! The thought of boiling and pureeing chicken grosses me out, but it’s worth a shot. The little guy needs protein — he’s ALWAYS hungry
We haven’t tried berries yet since I’ve heard that they are highly allergenic, and since he’s dealing with some eczema on his face right now and we’re not really sure why, I’m sticking to safe foods until the cheeks go away. Sounds delicious to me, though!
@Megan, I know, I was surprised we could start yogurt too. Our doc suggested that at our 6 month checkup to give him some protein since he eats a lot. He actually does drink the same amount of milk while still eating 3 “meals” a day, which is surprising! He’s a little guy (16 lbs at 6 1/2 months), but he sure knows how to put away the food. He drinks about 30 ounces of formula a day, in addition to three bowls of food (approximately 3-4 ounces each). I use the oats/rice as thickeners to bulk up the runnier foods like butternut squash and apples. I just pour them right in the puree once it’s heated, and if it’s too clumpy, I add a little water.
@sab, Yes, green beans and peas are REALLY hard to get smooth. Owen seems to do ok with some tiny chunks, except when he’s sick or not really hungry, then he does this scary “fake choking” thing where he gags and has made himself throw up. I GUARANTEE the chunks were not big enough to choke him, but he gets a little dramatic about chunks when he wants to. I have read online that plunging the cooked peas/beans into and ice bath before pureeing them helps the skins puree smoother, but I’m not entirely sure about that. I tend to overcook them to get them as mushy as possible before pureeing. I’ve found a blender can get them a little smoother than the food processor, but recently I’ve been using the food processor and leaving the chunks so he’ll get used to them.
Hello! Not sure if I’ve ever posted here before or not, but I’ve been a lurker for a while, after reading one of your comments on another blog. I have a little boy who is exactly 1 month younger than Owen and we’ve been doing solids since he was 4 months as well.
We’ve tried many of the foods you mention above, and I’ve also done pears and carrots with him. The pears are a huge hit – I’m actually all out right now and need to make more. He’s also a big fan of carrots. I bought a bunch of the small carrots from Whole Foods, boiled them, and then used fresh water to puree with, instead of the cooking liquid (read a few things about nitrate worries. The biggest recommendation I read was to avoid using the cooking liquid if at all possible. It ended up not being a big deal because there wasn’t much left in the end.) The carrots turned out sweet and have a really wonderful texture. They’re also *bright* orange.
I’m really loving exploring these new foods with him.
We’re planning on making our own food too! I’m only 18 weeks along, so I have a ways to go. I’m relieved that you find it easy.
A Food Mill strains the food in addition to pureeing it (unlike a food processor), so a food mill (or, straining food another way) might be better for foods with hulls, skins and stringy bits (like beans and peas) IF your baby seems sensitive and gags. It’s a sensory sensitivity that leads to the gag reflex and is common with babies under 18 months – some seem to do much better with single texture foods (like puree or dry or crisp) rather than a mixed-texture food (like wet and lumpy). The gag is a nice protective mechanism even if it seems a little dramatic. And (yuck) a lot of kids will gag and puke up a little food, and then happily eat it off the tray again. Re chicken and soft meats (like beef and lamb) I think boiling depletes nutrients and makes it a little tougher. Try poaching or baking and check frequently so you can take it out when it is “just” done rather than over-cooking it (makes it drier). And yes, because meats are pasty when pureed, they are good when mixed with a soft vegetable and/or fruit, plus the broth from cooking.
I just published a similar post on my blog! (http://esperanzasays.wordpress.com/2011/02/01/useful-tuesdays-homemade-baby-food/) You might want to try red-lentils and brown rice – my daughter loves it and it’s been a nice way to start adding texture. My daughter is not a fan of texture so far and we really have to puree things until they are super smooth. But the red lentils and rice would not puree like other things would and she’s still eating it! Yay! I just made a broccoli/cauliflower mix for her last night, we’ll see if she eats it.
Good luck keeping up with all the baby food making. I would say we give my daughter about 3/4 homemade baby food and the rest is jarred. I hope we can continue at this pace, but unlike you, I really do feel like it’s a bit of a chore. Still, the idea of feeding my child only foods that can hang out in a jar for over a year is not ideal. Plus I save so much money making it myself! I’ve been told I will not be able to keep this up for number two, and maybe I won’t, but for now it’s important to me. Plus, we use our CSA box veggies faster! Yay!
We are also looking to do this. I agree with you that you can control whether the kid will only eat McDonalds. Frankly, I do t eat fast food very often (except for that weird cheeseburger craving at 6weeks), but I want food and not crap (with the exception of crazy pregnancy cravings). My husband’s SIL makes all of her own baby food and loves it. Her son makes the funniest faces when you give him store bought baby foods lol. I’m only 16 weeks and have been doing ridiculous amounts of research since I got laid off from my job. I’ve become a total crazy when it comes to baby stuff. I think I spend more time shopping for what I want at the cheapest price than anything haha.
I think the whole make your own baby food is a great movement. Unfortunately, it can be more harmful than even canned baby foods because the exposure of produce to pesticides and other chemicals. Buying organic and local can help this – but that can be costly.
I give Everly canned food – Earth’s best. It’s organic and contains no additives. For example, on the jar of carrots it says, “Carrots, Water”.
So yes, while making baby food works for some, jarred food is just as healthy & mindful for our family!
Thank you for this post! My little one is going to start eating solids soon and I wanted to make my own so I will check out the book you mentioned. I too want to give her the best and most nutritious food I can… I figure I owe it to her to give her a good start. I am not much of a cook myself, but we try to eat healthy and want to start my little one eating healthy too.
I am so looking forward to making our own baby food. I’m glad to hear that you are having a good time with it. There’s got to be a little bit of satisfaction in knowing exactly what you are feeding your child. I’m going to have to check out that book.
I think this is AWESOME!!! Keep it up! My hubby and I are ttc so I may also do this when its my time…thanks for all the GREAT post!!! I love your site!!!
Prunes aren’t too much work! I thought they would be too, but my little guy LOVES them and I figured I’d give it a try. Bonus – I used a 16oz (I think?) container and it made A TON. I think it was $2.99 total. I love the money-saving aspect of making the food! Anyway, I just steamed them like I do with everything else, and food-processed them. I did have to use water but I added the water used for steaming so that any nutrients that leached out went back in. I drizzled some over his oatmeal cereal at lunch today and he loved it!
My dude also loves the mesh feeder. Not sure if you’ve tried that. I just put some frozen apple chunks in there to see if they’d help with his teething and
he was thrilled! That is a good way for him to get carrots, too.
I started making home-made baby food when I was 9 months pregnant (hey that is when the garden veggies were ripe). Yep that was me out there bent over in the garden picking all those beans, peas, zucchinis, squash, you name it. It was all frozen in ice-cube trays and then put in baggies and containers in the freezer. Yep, baby hates it all. Every single thing he’s tried. EVERY. THING. We’ve been doing solids for a good month and a half and he’s got the sealing his lips thing down pat. You can lead the horse to water but you can’t make him drink! TOTAL BUMMER!!
I’m totally in the buying the jars club. I make the really easy stuff (like peas and sweet potatoes) and buy the stuff like “Harvest vegetables with whole wheat pasta” because who I am kidding, I’m not even making that kind of stuff for my husband and I.
I usually let the baby try whatever I’m eating (within reason). She can’t have dairy, so that’s the main limitation. She really likes gumming on hard pretzels and cold carrots. She doesn’t really eat any of my food, she’s just exploring. I don’t really worry about spices because I don’t eat anything that spicy and if she doesn’t like the way it tastes, she just spits it out, so problem solved
I’m glad that you enjoy making baby food, I wish I could say the same! I guess I use all of my energy in running and then chasing after the crawling baby and I just don’t want to mess with the food processor after all of that
Our pediatrician said that blueberries are OK before 12 months and my oldest LOVED them so they went in a lot of recipes that I used. I also made asparagus puree and zucchini…both of which usually have a lot of water and are runnier, but bulk up nicely with some added cereal. My son used to love zucchini and oatmeal for some reason. Also, I don’t know what your pediatrican says, but ours said that the nitrates and carrot connection just isn’t a big thing to worry about after 3 months of age and that I really COULD make my own baby carrots. So, I did…and nothing bad happened ever! Might be worth discussing at your next visit.
I found your blog from doglickbabyworld and I really enjoyed this post as we’re just getting started in baby food. I knew for awhile that I wanted to make my own, so I spend the last few months building up a supply of all the basics (peas, carrots, butternut squash, acorn squash, sweet potato, apples, etc) and then I’ve bought a few things to supplement. I think there’s some great brands available to moms, but you’re right, making is so easy and cost effective!
My little girl loves prunes and they have been super easy! We just rehydrate dried prunes in warm water and then puree them in the food processor with some breast milk (you could use water, too). So easy! Sounds like you’re doing a great job!
Someone above mentioned the mesh feeder and I wanted to say that it’s great for teething as well as for introducing foods. I used frozen fruit and even ice cubes so my sons could hold it and chew it (they never could hold the recommended frozen washcloth without their hands getting too cold) and it really helped.
I’m so with you on the “if you don’t feed them crap, they don’t eat crap.” line. I tow it as well. I also think the more tastes/flavors you expose them to, the better! I love making baby food, and you’re right, it really isn’t too hard. I would suggest adding pears – they are a favorite around our place.
Also, we started making simple soups – boiling an organic chicken with some celery, brown rice, carrots, onions, garlic…then pureeing some of the solids for Wes. It is a great time saver because the rest of the family can eat the soup too – dinner for all of us in one pot! And, it is a great way to get some protein into his diet. We’ve tried quite a few soups like this, and it seems to go over quite well. I’ll also do vegetarian soups with lentils, and he has done just fine with those (like Owen, the beans seemed to make Wes gassy).
I also mix canned pumpkin in with his oats – pumpkin oats, mmm…
Have fun!
If you keep nothing but healthy things in your kitchen, then your kid has no choice but to eat healthy things. However, don’t be surprised if he still has a picky stage where he only wants to eat certain foods- healthy or otherwise.
My son is 13 months old and loves fish, yogurt, oatmeal, and chicken. Some days… that’s all he’ll eat. I take comfort knowing that those are all healthy and all prepared in a healthy way, but I want him to get as many food groups as possible. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips! Glad to know it isn’t too much of a chore! How do you defrost the cubes before sending to daycare?
The Isis Center you mentioned in your earlier post sound amazing–I wish we had something like that in the NYC or Long Island area!
Oh I’m so glad you’re having a good time with it! I can’t wait. My little on is five months old so he won’t be starting food for a bit but once he does I cannot WAIT to get in there and start having fun with baby food!
I know that you had mentioned not making carrots, and in my researching of baby food making (because I am crazy and only 16 months pregnant, but insist on being the over-researcher of all things lol) I came across this article. I thought you might find it helpful
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/nitratearticle.htm
16 weeks pregnant…16 months would be awful lol.
@Jenny, On daycare days I usually microwave the frozen cubes and add oats/rice/water/whatever to get the bowl of food to the right consistency the night before, then in the morning I just grab and run out the door.
@Cate, Ha! I was thinking the same thing about being pregnant for 16 months!