Homemade Baby Food: Quick, Easy, & Cheap!

One of my favorite things to do these days is to make baby food for Raleigh. I like knowing what is in her food. Jarred baby food at the store can have a shelf life of 3 years!!! That in my mind is gross, knowing that if I bought baby food now then I can save it for my next baby. YUCK! It has so many preservatives in it, obviously if you can keep it for so long.

Homemade baby food is so inexpensive. Think about it:
At the store- 1 jar of food (2oz)= $1
Homemade- 10 jars of food(20oz)= $.88 
That is such a huge difference. Raleigh would get 8 meals instead of 1 for cheaper. It doesn't take long & it makes me feel so good when she eats it. We both love it, well she has a bit more experience in the tasting department than me, but I have tasted them too because its just water & food. She likes me mixing them up, so we make combos. I just pull 1 cube of this another of that & she's is always happy with the end result. So here's the how to:

Things you'll need:

• Baby bullet (blender works too)
• Ice cube trays (silicone molds work best)
• Steamer or pot
• Gallon size freezer bags

First, you have to choose the fruit or veggie you want your precious little one to try. Remember let them stay on one new food for 3-4 days before introducing a new one so you can see if they have any allergic reaction. The first set of foods recommended for the 4-6 month age are:

• pears
• apples
• zucchini
• rice cereal
• peas
• sweet potato
• banana
• avocado
• squash

There are a few I haven't tried on there, but I'll give you the easy & yummy tips for the ones I have done. Keep in mind you can always replace the water with milk. Also the more water/milk you add the more ounces you'll get because the puree is thinner. You'll know when it's smooth & right for your little one.

Sweet Potato
1 sweet potato= 20oz

• Peel & slice
• Steam or boil until soft
• Mix in blender with 1 cup water til smooth
• Pour into trays/molds
• Freeze then pop out when done

Banana

1 Banana= 8oz

• Peel & slice
• Mix in blender with 1/4 cup water til smooth
• Repeat 

Peas
1 cup peas= 8oz

• Steam
• Mix in blender with 1/4 cup water til smooth
• Repeat 

Pears

1 pear= 8oz

• Peel, core, & cube
• Mix in blender with 1/4 cup water til smooth
• Repeat 

Apples  (choose a sweeter kind like red delicious, with the more tart you have to add some of sugar)

1 apple= 6oz

• Peel, core, & cube
• Steam or boil til soft
• Mix in blender with 1/4 cup water til smooth
• Repeat

Rice cereal (now here's the tricky one)

1/2 brown rice= 32oz

• Ground the brown rice into a powder with the flat blade on the mixer
• Pour into pot with 4 cups water (I use less because I mix with other purees)
• Bring to boil
• Cover & cook on low for 20 minutes (stir occasionally, keep from sticking)
• Stir & mix in separate container if you want a combo
• Pour into trays/molds

After they are frozen sold the molds will pop out, if they are being stubborn then a little water will help. The ice cubes will pop out if you get a butter knife & push it down on the side of each cube. All of mine pop out by themselves. Place them in a freezer bag & you are set to go for awhile. Hope all this helps :)