can you talk to me about making your own baby food?

whats the whole process?

does it all have to be made fresh or can you put it in the fridge for a few days? can you freeze it?
what kind of containers do you store it in?
do you supplement with store bought at all?
do you have to add anything to it or just whatever the food is?
do you just do it with fruit and veggies?
is it really worth it? saves you money?

Re: can you talk to me about making your own baby food?

I did it with a food blender (can’t remember the name) version from BRU. Got the trays it came with then bought some cubes from BBB too. I had plenty! Haha

Really very little goes very far. My only issue was they say “try something new every 3days” I couldn’t. Her supplies lasted longer. A sweet potato (a single sweet potato) depending on its size could last for days! Pears and apples were a staple. Had them a lot. Peas and carrots were big too. I didn’t do meats well (or at least she didn’t like it) so it was held off until she was older. Pastas are easy when they are past just the purree, etc.

I felt it saved me time and money. It was easy to do and easy to store. I knew where the food was coming from and how old it was. She loved it. I could NOT supplement. I tried once and she wanted nothing to do with it. Moving to ‘real’ table food was pretty easy (IMHO) because she always ate what we did.

It was one of those “best decisions” ever that I made (again in MY opinion)



ETA Too much cut and paste

Message edited 8/19/2011 4:36:26 PM.

Re: can you talk to me about making your own baby food?

Wholesomebabyfood.com has every answer to every question you can think of and more!

Message edited 8/19/2011 4:31:11 PM.

Re: can you talk to me about making your own baby food?

I use the magic bullet.
I think some things are cheaper and some are not.
I use ice cube trays to freeze. You can keep fresh for 2 days in fridge.
I have not added anything yet- just straight fruits and veggies...thinned with water if need be.

I agree wholesomebabyfood.com is the best resource!

Re: can you talk to me about making your own baby food?

I have the baby bullet, which is just the magic bullet with the word baby instead. MIL bought it for me for my shower.

So far, I think it has been really really easy to make my own food. I also think it's cheaper.

Like PPs said, you get a whole lotta serviings out of 1 thing (like a sweet potato), but I freeze and will be giving that to the babysitters to feed while I am working in the AM.

Re: can you talk to me about making your own baby food?

We bought the beaba and its amazing!!! So far we have done apples, bananas, mangos and peaches. Its super easy and fun!! The link that was mentioned above is extremely helpful! They do say that you should introduce a new food every 4 days...
I started my daughter on apples first and then took it from there.
As far as freezing, we made 4 containers at a time only- I froze 2 and kept 2 in the fridge- It only takes a few hours to defrost anyway. Bananas I made every time when i needed it . I find them to get that brown color way too fast- we are going to try sweet potato next, followed by carrots, and then peas I think. One veggie in the afternoon and one fruit at night.

Oh we also mix rice cereal and oatmeal with the fruits! She seemed to like that a little better plus she is still getting her iron! Good luck!!! I have to say though making food is a lot of fun! haha

Re: can you talk to me about making your own baby food?

I just started making my own baby food!!! It is so much fun!!!

I borrowed my friends beaba ($150 BBB) and I pureed bananas and steamed and pureed apples so far!!!! Tomorrow we will have sweet potato!!!

after I puree it I pour it into ice cube trays 1 cube = 1 oz. And I put in the freezer to start making a stash for when I go back to work.

I have also bought many other food storage trays from bru and bbb to try out. However, after the food freezes you can put them in a freezer bag and label it. I may do that too.

I purchased the brezza ($99 BRU) it got the best reviews. I haven't tried it yet though. I just bought it yesterday.

Good Luck and have fun!!

Re: can you talk to me about making your own baby food?

I used my food processor and a regular steam basket to make everything. Just steam veggies/fruits until soft, puree in food processor, thin it out as needed with water from the pot (except for carrots bc of the nitrates it lets out into the water when steamed), breastmilk, or formula, and put into storage containers. For things like avocado and bananas, you don't have to cook them, just mash them. Sweet potatoes can be roasted.

I received those fancy food containers for my shower but what I found worked best was regular ice cube trays. Each cube equals 1 ounce of food. I would freeze them in the trays then transfer to ziploc bags. To defrost, I'd just throw them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds. As DS started eating more, I'd mix and match different fruits and veggies.

I supplemented with store bought pouches once in a blue moon in the beginning but once I got the hang of making my own food, I stopped buying store bought. DS liked the homemade food so much better anyway and I liked knowing exactly what was in the food he was eating.

I only pureed fruits and veggies. I tried pureeing chicken once and it came out so grainy and disgusting I just threw it out. I couldn't imagine feeding it to DS. For meats, I just cut everything up into teeny-tiny pieces and gave it to DS that way.

I personally think it was 100% worth it. A small amount of fruits/veggies yields so many 1 oz cubes! I would buy frozen organic fruits and veggies and my whole freezer would be packed with pureed cubes.

I really enjoyed making DS's food, I actually found it to be fun! The website www.wholesomebabyfood.com was a big help as was the 'make your own baby food' thread on this board.

Re: can you talk to me about making your own baby food?

Re: can you talk to me about making your own baby food?

I will bump the thread started on here. It is WONDERFUL and had many many recipes and advice!!!!! It was a HUGE help for us!!