Moms who make their own babyfood - questions from a soon-to-be beginner

My almost 4-month old will be starting solids pretty soon (he's a hungry one) and I don't want to be caught unprepared. So, I have a few questions regarding books, supplies, methods, etc.

1. What are some good books you can recommend for making baby food? And just feeding baby in general? (I am not creative in the kitchen but am great at following recipes)

2. What products do you suggest I have on hand to make the food? e.g. special blender, baby food maker, what types of storage containers so I can freeze what I make, etc.

3. Any other tips you think would be helpful?

I am really committed to doing this and don't want to be uninformed and unprepared (I was for BF and the stress almost drove me crazy)

TIA!

Re: Moms who make their own babyfood - questions from a soon-to-be beginner

1. What are some good books you can recommend for making baby food? And just feeding baby in general? (I am not creative in the kitchen but am great at following recipes) No books use this website instead. www.wholesomebabyfood.com

2. What products do you suggest I have on hand to make the food? e.g. special blender, baby food maker, what types of storage containers so I can freeze what I make, etc.
I already own a mini prep from cuisineart, so I used that. Works great. I bought to ice cube trays. Put food in trays and put cubes in freezer bag.

3. Any other tips you think would be helpful?
I get most of DS food from Trader Joes. The cheapes organic food I have found and a large selection of frozen fruits and veggies. Always steam or bake the food. This method contains the most nutrients.

Re: Moms who make their own babyfood - questions from a soon-to-be beginner

Yes, a small regular mini-food processor is all you need: don;t be sucked into any super duper especially for baby food contraptions with a big price!

Totally agree about Trader Joe's-they have a great selection of organic fruit and veggies at a very reasonable price.

I used a book by Anabel Karmel-I think it was called First Meals. Got it at B& N or Amazon. I mostly used it for inspiration-after a while you don't need recipes, you just improvise. However, I still use some of her ideas, like potato, leek and cheese soup-delicious!

Re: Moms who make their own babyfood - questions from a soon-to-be beginner

I have the Beabo and love it. However I know that most of the books/websites don't require the food be steamed but you can actually cook it on the stove top or in the oven.


In the beginning I didn't use websites or books because they can only have one food at a time. I steamed everything except bananas and avacados (they can be mashed as needed) and then just pureed, the thick fruits and veggies I added some formula to to make them smoother.

I bought baby storage containers which are 2ozs each from onestepahead.com. I love them because they have screw on tops and were just easier for me to transport and store.

My DD has had almost every kind of fruit and veggie and at 7-8 months I started combining foods to make it a variety. For apple sauce and pear sauce I added cinnamin to them to give them a little flavor and the not so yummy veggies i have added garlic.

For the veggies I buy a lot of frozen ones and make them but I also get fresh when I know I have the time to make it right then. Trader Joes has great selections of fruits and veggies.

The first thing I started with was sweet potatoes and then I did a fruit and I just went back and forth between fruit and veggie until she was having solids twice a day and then did a fruit in teh am and a veggie at night.
Good luck. I really enjoy making my DD her food.

Re: Moms who make their own babyfood - questions from a soon-to-be beginner

Re: Moms who make their own babyfood - questions from a soon-to-be beginner

I have the Beaba. It does it all and is sooo easy. I don't know if I would have been able to do it without it. Plus, it's totally goof proof and my dh loves using it. SOO he helps me!! Always a bonus.

I freeze everything in ice cube trays and then pop the cubes into ziploc baggies.

But, I did buy some of thesefood storage I didn't use them for freezing because they are bulky and take up room and are $$. I tend to make big batches and I found that I would have need a ton. But, I do pop a cube or two in there and defrost them and bring them with me when I am on the go. I think there is a company that makes one with a screw on lid that might make it more secure.

Once he started eating larger quantities I got these
Food containers- these ones can pop open in the diaper bag sometimes.. but, I still use them
Love these

but, this is my favorite. I just pop all the days food in it and off I go!

I get food from all over.
I get some frozen organic stuff from stop and shop.. peas, corn etc.

Then I get organic veggies and fruit from Trader joes, fairway and stop and shop. Sometimes I use non-organic when money is tight. I also get better meat at Fairway and TraderJoes. Meat tends to go a long way. I get the antiobiotic and hormone free stuff.

Message edited 1/28/2010 5:37:18 PM.

Re: Moms who make their own babyfood - questions from a soon-to-be beginner

I also like Annabel Karmel's books. I took some out from my library first to see which I liked then my mom got my favorites for me for Christmas. We're still introducing so I've yet to really prepare "recipes" but cannot wait!

I use my full size cuisinart and make big batches for freezing. My mom got me the beabo and also her mini chop cuisinart but I found them to be too small and returned them. The "tools" I use are all things I already had... basic pot with steamer basket (the kind that opens like a flower to fit any size pot), cuisinart, screen strainer/sieve (for potatoes & peas), plastic ice cube trays, zip loc freezer bags.

What I've made for DS so far (I get organic when I can)...

sweet potato (baked in oven, scooped out and mashed through sieve, thinned with water or BM, 2 or 3 for batch)
peas (steamed and pureed, thinned with water, whole frozen bag for batch)
zuccini (steamed, skin on, pureed, 3 or 4 for batch)
carrots (steamed, pureed, thinned with water, 5-7 for batch)
butternut squash (cut in half, baked in oven, scooped and pureed, thinned with water, 1 medium size for batch)
apple (peeled, steamed, pureed, thinned with water, 3-4 for batch)
mixed pear (three kinds of pear, peeled, steamed, pureed, thinned with water, 3-4 for batch)
banana (mashed raw with fork, 1-2 inches at a time)
mango (mashed raw with fork)

I have saved baby food jars from relatives so when I make a batch of something, I'll fill a jar or two for the fridge (good for 3 days). The rest goes in ice cube trays, about a tablespoon per cube. When frozen, I pop them out into freezer bag with name and date (lasts 3 months in freezer).

As DS eats, I restock the fridge. Two frozen cubes fit in a jar and will thaw by the next day.

In the beginning, I tried to warm up his food on the stove or in a bowl of hot water (we have an instant hot tap) but DS likes it cold/room temp from the fridge.

Good luck! It's simple, fun and rewarding!

Re: Moms who make their own babyfood - questions from a soon-to-be beginner

i'm starting on saturday! i cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i have my beaba and a book called the idiot's guide to baby and toddler meals! i am liking what i've read of it.

and i've also taken out SEVERAL annabel karmel books from my library...

Re: Moms who make their own babyfood - questions from a soon-to-be beginner

I have Annabel Karmel's "First Meals and More" and the Idiot's Guide...to be honest, I don't do ALL his food at home, but when I buy jarred I buy organic.
I just use the food processor, I didn't see the need to buy something to blend the food. I did buy those little containers that have a pop top and tray (I think it was $10 for two trays w/16 containers).
So far I've made apples, pears, carrots, broccoli and asparagus. Everything is steamed and then pureed until it is completely smooth. I don't add water or breastmilk to anything, just puree it. I've also made him mashed banana and avocado, but that I just do fresh and with a fork.

Re: Moms who make their own babyfood - questions from a soon-to-be beginner

I also have the Beaba babycooker!!! Love it!!! I make most of her food. Mostly her fruit.

I will be starting to maker her meats soon too!!

On line site that above poster's post are the best and give you alot of information. You really don't need a special cookbook.