Baby Food, Homemade Baby Food, Homemade Baby Food Recipe

Homemade Baby Food Fruit Recipe

0 Comments 19 March 2011

Homemade baby food can be made using a wide variety of fruit.

The more common fruits used to make baby food are apples,bananas, pears, peaches, apricots, mango, papaya, plums, avocados and blueberries. You can use fresh, frozen or canned fruits.

We recommend using fresh fruit whenever possible. Canned and frozen fruits have lost much of their nutritional value during processing. If you must use canned or frozen fruits, make sure they do not have sugar added.

Homemade Baby Food Fruit Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup of fresh, frozen or canned fruit
4-5 tablespoons of water (avoid fruit juice – it has extra sugar)

Preparation:

Wash, peel, core and slice the fresh fruit (or use frozen or canned fruit).

Place fruit (fresh or frozen) into a pot of boiling water and cook covered on low heat until tender. If using canned fruit, there is no need to cook the fruit as this has already been done.

Remove from heat and drain the fruit saving the liquid to use when you puree them.

Using a blender or food processor, puree the cooked fruit (or canned fruit) with a small amount of the cooking liquid you had saved. Puree to a texture that is suitable for your baby. Add more cooking liquid if you think the fruit needs more moisture.

The “Beaba” Babycook Baby Food Maker will do ALL of this work for you!

Let cool and serve.

Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge or frozen.

Tips on feeding fruit to your baby:

• Try one fruit at a time, offering it later in the day.
• Start with a small amount the first day and gradually increase according to your baby’s appetite.
• Use soft, ripe fresh fruit, unsweetened or canned fruit in its own juice (not in syrup).
• Store-bought “baby desserts” are high in sugar and your baby does not need extra sugar.
• Ripe, soft fruits like bananas, mangoes, papayas, avocados and canned fruit (no sugar added) do not need to be cooked.
• Bananas and avocados do not store well because they turn brown.

Baby Food, Homemade Baby Food, Homemade Baby Food Recipe

Homemade Baby Food Vegetable Recipe

0 Comments 06 March 2011

Homemade baby food can be made using a wide variety of vegetables.

The more common vegetables used to make baby food are sweet potatoes, potatoes, squash, peas, green and yellow beans, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. You can use fresh, frozen or canned vegetables. Make sure to rinse the canned vegetables first to remove some of the salt.

We recommend using fresh vegetables whenever possible. Canned and frozen vegetables have lost much of their nutritional value during processing.

Homemade Baby Food Vegetable Recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup (250 ml) of fresh,  frozen or canned vegetables
1 cup (125 ml) of water

Preparation:

Wash, peel and slice fresh vegetables or use frozen or canned vegetables (they do not have to be thawed before cooking).

Put vegetables into a pot of boiling water or vegetable steamer, cover and cook until soft. If using a microwave, put vegetables in a microwave safe bowl with water and heat on high until soft.

Remove from heat and drain the vegetables saving the liquid to use when you puree them.

Using a blender or food processor, puree the cooked vegetables with a small amount of the cooking liquid you had saved. Puree to a texture that is suitable for your baby. Add more cooking liquid if you think the vegetables need more moisture.

The “Beaba” Babycook Baby Food Maker will do ALL of this work for you!

Let cool and serve.

Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge for three days or frozen.

Baby Food, Homemade Baby Food

Making Food for Your Baby

0 Comments 17 January 2011

Starting your baby on solids foods is an exciting part of parenthood. With a good start, you can help your baby develop a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

Solid foods should be introduced at around six months of age to help your baby develop eating skills and experience new flavors and textures. This can help your baby enjoy a variety of foods later in life!

At around six months of age, your baby needs an additional source of iron. Examples of iron-containing foods are: meat and poultry, iron-fortified infant cereals, cooked egg yolk, de-boned fish, and well-cooked legumes (dried peas, beans, and lentils).

Although jarred baby food can be convenient, it can be costly, and it is easy to make your own baby food. You can cook and puree almost any food for your baby!

Once made, you can freeze your homemade baby food in an ice-cube tray or as dollops on a cookie sheet. Purees of vegetables and fruit will keep for six to eight months in a chest-freezer.

Frozen purees of cooked meat and poultry will keep for ten weeks.

Soft, pureed, or mashed vegetables and fruit can be offered at around six months of age. Making your own baby food doesn’t have to be complicated. You can start by simply mashing a soft fruit like a banana or avocado.

For the first year of life, breast milk will continue to be the main source of nutrients for your baby. To be sure your baby tolerates a new food well, introduce new foods one at a time. Wait at least two days before offering another new food. It is important that you watch for the cues your baby gives about how much food to provide and how fast or slow he or she wants to eat. Start by providing a teaspoon of solid food, and increase the amount with time, following your baby’s lead. Always be patient when offering new foods and never force your baby to finish the food being offered. It often takes 10 to 15 experiences before babies learn to like certain foods.

Meal time with babies is fun, so take the time to enjoy it!