Anyone make their own baby food?

Re: Anyone make their own baby food?

I tried to, but I'd started Sarah on jarred for convenience and she got used to that consistancy and would refuse to eat anything I made. I've read that's a common problem when you try to move to homemade.

But it was really easy to make, I wish she'd eat it. With baby #2 I'm starting with homemade from the beginning.

Re: Anyone make their own baby food?

No, I was thinking about it but it seemed like too much of a hassle. I found a good amount of beech nut and gerber coupons so its not costing alot plus I figure soon enough he'll be passed jarred stuff.
I can't wait to let him have that self feeder mesh bag thing though but I *heard* they have to be atleast 6 months for that and I still have about 2 weeks or so....
Also like Cathy said it's real easy to bring a jar with us while we are out or when we go visit the outlaws for the holidays.

Re: Anyone make their own baby food?

I might be inclined to try it! Seems easy enough..I knew someone that did it.

Re: Anyone make their own baby food?

I did it in the very beginning when Jack was starting veggies. It was SO easy and I had enough pureed carrots, squash, sweet potato stored to feed a small army! I would microwave or boil the veggies until soft and put them in the blender. No need at all for one of those food mill things. If you have a blender that purees, that is all you need.

I would add water as needed to get to the desired consistency then freeze in individual portions in ice cube trays. 1 frozen cube is about 1 oz I think.

Right after they are frozen, I'd take them out of the ice tray and put them in freezer bags. THen just take out what I needed and nuke them.

It really is so simple and not time consuming. You may spend an hour or two one day making a bunch of batches, but it will take you through a few months.

Message edited 11/7/2005 7:20:34 PM.

Re: Anyone make their own baby food?

I did it for a little while, it wasn't a hassle at all.

I used some recipes online and the Super Baby Food Book Aidan loved it and for day traveling I froze some in the little tupperware (4oz?) containers. By the time it was time to eat it was defrosted.

I mostly made: applesauce, carrots, sweet potatoes, peaches, squash, peas.

But to be honest Aidans fruit/veg jar phase was very short. So when he started eating regular food, there was no need - I only had to buy jars for the odd time that he didn't want to eat what we were eating.

My main issue with jar food initially was ingredients, such as salt and sugar and anything I couldn't pronouce being in the food. But most baby food are not made with those things anymore - and when I could get away with the small or medium jars I bought Tender Harvest or Earth's Best.
Also stayed away from anything that says "dessert" as it has loads of sugar in it.

HTH

Re: Anyone make their own baby food?

I thought I would and I even bought Super Baby Foods, but I feel that I just don't have the time. I know that it isn't time consuming but on the few days here and there that I have some extra time I like to enjoy doing some things for me, like catching up on magazines, catching a TV show I like etc. It might seem selfish, but everyone needs to steal a few moments for themselves.

Re: Anyone make their own baby food?

I don't know how anyone finds the extra time.

Re: Anyone make their own baby food?

Once a week I would (and still do) make a big pot of chicken soup with carrots (the whole bag of mini), string beans (a large bag of frozen), onion, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes (diced in the can), chicken breast, a bay leaf and a little pepper and cook it up in a huge pot of water for a few hours boiling on low. Then I would let it cool and put it in individual storage containers in the freezer. The pot would make about 8-10 servings. Then, the day I would use it, I would take just one serving out and let it defrost and cook it with a little pastina and Parmesan cheese. That's my sons favorite till this day and its so easy.

Sauce is a great thing to make in huge quantities so you can freeze individual servings. I would actually boil my pasta then drain 95% of the water then put the frozen sauce in the cooked pasta. It would defrost for just a minute or two on low heat, then I would just wait until it melted so it would cool the pasta down making it perfect temp. to serve.

Another great cook book:Baby's first meals, by annabel