Anyone make their own baby food?

KCMomma · #1 October 21st, 2009, 11:27 AM

I've been tossing around the idea of making my own baby food. Does anyone else make theirs? Did you use a specific book? Or website? How time consuming is it? Just wanted some thoughts or feedback on this!! Thanks!!

Boo · #2 October 21st, 2009, 11:41 AM

I made some and then got a crap load for free from my parents so I didn't make it for long.

I made sweet potatoes for him, peas, carrots and mashed potatoes. I didn't follow a cookbook, just cooked 'em and pureed them with a blender. He hated the peas, but everything else was fine.

ChristinaR · #3 October 21st, 2009, 11:56 AM

I registered for this and got it at my shower. I can't wait to start using it. My mother made all ours growing up. I think it's the healthiest thing you can do for them not to mention the money you'll be saving. Here's a link to what I have.

Fresh Baby So Easy Baby Food Kit - Fresh Baby LLC - Babies "R" Us

I was looking over it the other day. It doesn't seem very hard to do.

Forgot to mention this website too

Healthy Homemade Baby Food Recipes, Make your baby homemade baby food with our easy baby food recipes, solid food tips, baby nutrition & more!

They have alot of recipes and ideas on there.

LindsLuvsSi · #4 October 21st, 2009, 12:55 PM

I make Zane's half the time.
I would just steam the fruit/veggies in a pot of water, then peel them and slice them and put them in the food processor. I then put it in an ice cube tray to freeze it in and then I pop it out into freezer bags and then microwave them in baby food jars that I saved from organic baby food I bought.

I make:
avocado, bananas, peaches, squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, blueberries, plums, carrots, pears.
Going to make Zucchini, mashed potatoes and applesauce tonight.

When I was first making his food at 6 months I would put breastmilk in it and a lil bit of water to make it more runny and not so chunky, he didn't like the thicker texture. Now I don't have to use as much BM or water since he likes the thicker.

KCMomma · #5 October 21st, 2009, 01:13 PM

Thanks guys so much!! I will definitely check out those sites. I also just ordered Super Baby Foods book...it looks like there is a ton of good info in it so we will see!!

MomtoCTSK · #6 October 21st, 2009, 04:56 PM

I lurk more than I reply in here but I made all of my son's food when he was eating purees and it was pretty easy. If you have them time to set a couple hours once a week and make it than it really isn't much more than steaming and pureeing them, and I bought all the fancy containers and it was much easier to put it in an ice cube tray and freeze it like Lindsey suggested. There are a lot of websites that tell you what food they can eat depending on their age and when to eat, also they tell you what spices you can use too so the food is not so bland. It saved a lot of money also. GL hope this helps.

courtneytcu98 · #7 October 21st, 2009, 07:58 PM

I *think* I answered this in your FB message, but let me know. . . I loved making E's food.

~Andrea~ · #8 October 21st, 2009, 09:32 PM

I was just starting to look into this myself! Thanks for posting this.

samspain · #9 October 22nd, 2009, 02:50 AM

Welcome to wholesomebabyfoods.com - Search Results for "wholesomebabyfoods.com" EDIT: just realised that this is the same as Christina posted, but its good!!

I make all Ana�s, its cheap and easy and fast, I�ve made her

sweet potatoes
pumpkin
squash
peas
green beans
avocado
chicken
brocoli/cauliflower
onion
carrot
courgette
peaches
plums
apples
banana
mango
papaya

and more, I just bake everything in the oven peeled and cored and cut) then puree it and freeze in ice cube trays. Now I dont have to use BM or juice to thin them as she likes to chew.

downunderchick · #10 October 22nd, 2009, 04:54 AM

im so excited to make bellas baby food, is that sad of me? lol

KCMomma · #11 October 22nd, 2009, 07:09 AM

Courtney...yes you most definitely answered me!! Thanks!!! And thanks for all the ideas and thoughts. I'm excited to learn more and get started. I'm still pretty down on myself for stopping bf/pumping and I think this will help fill that void for me and give me peace of mind knowing I'm giving her the most healthy option!

Christine-MA · #12 October 22nd, 2009, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emcooper

im so excited to make bellas baby food, is that sad of me? lol

I was just going to post that I'm excited about it too!

I could look this up I'm sure, but how long are the frozen cubes good for in the freezer? I ask because if I pla to start solids at 6 months, maybe I can start making some at 5 months? Just a thought. I don't even know how much they eat at that stage so I dont know how quickly you'd go through the food? The ice cube trays are 1oz, right?

MommaLee · #13 October 22nd, 2009, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christine-MA

I was just going to post that I'm excited about it too!

Just a thought. I don't even know how much they eat at that stage so I dont know how quickly you'd go through the food? The ice cube trays are 1oz, right?

I'm right there with ya'll and I've gotta ways to go, but I plan on making food. The ice cube trays are 1oz....as for the servings....I think a small babyfood jar is around 2.5 ounces. That is all I can answer since I'm not there yet....but I'm thankful for the ideas you ladies have posted

stlgirl · #14 October 22nd, 2009, 08:20 AM

I also registered for the Fresh Baby So Easy Kit (along with the extra trays), so hopefully that will work well for us once baby is here and getting older. I'm excited to make my own food for him/her! It is just so much healthier and more economical.

samspain · #15 October 25th, 2009, 03:10 PM

I read on the website that anything with dairy can freeze for 4 weeks, and fruit and veggies are good for up to 4 months. Just be careful not to heat and refreeze things, like using thawed BM to make a puree thinner, then refreezing �t as cubes of food.
Avocado and banana dont freeze well, but Avocado is OK mixed with other things and frozen. (sweet potato etc).

Ana now eats 2-3 cubes at a time, so about 5 a day (6.5 months).

Now is a good time to freeze leftover pumpkin from all those lanterns!!

KCMomma · #16 October 25th, 2009, 06:29 PM

Good idea about the pumpkin Sam!!

Another question...do you guys use a food processor or a blender? And when you store them in ice cube trays do you just put wrap over them or how do you keep it from getting freezer burn? I've heard they make ice cube trays with lids, but not sure where to get them.

courtneytcu98 · #17 October 25th, 2009, 07:00 PM

I use a food processor, but I'm sure a blender would work just as well. As for the ice cubes. . . I freeze my food initially in the ice cube tray and cover it with Press 'n Seal wrap. When it is completely solid, I pop the cubes out and put them in a labeled ziploc. Once the cubes are firmly frozen, they don't stick together. HTH, Gwen.

Mrs.Paradise · #18 October 26th, 2009, 03:10 AM

wow thats GREAT info!!! I will have to come back to this when I get preggers!!!

karenwalter · #19 October 26th, 2009, 09:57 AM

Babies R Us sells the ice cube trays with the lids. I registered for 2 of these since I think it's such a great idea to just make your own baby food. Thanks for the websites too, they will be such a huge help!