Baby foods are easy to make. All you need are organic and fresh ingredients, a blender, and some creativity. Be sure your baby is ready for solids before you give these pureed foods. Typically, babies can begin pureed foods at four months. These super simple recipes are basic, so you can change them up by adding different fruits and vegetables.
Why should I make my own baby foods?
Of course, you don’t need to make your own baby food, but there are several great benefits to doing it. When you create your own baby foods, you know your baby is getting the freshest foods. You also know what ingredients are in the homemade baby foods-no preservatives and no added chemicals-just whole organic foods. You can even give your baby foods you’ve grown in your garden. Talk about fresh!
Should I avoid certain foods?
In the past, pediatricians recommended that parents avoid giving their babies certain foods due to potential allergies. But today, they suggest that you introduce these foods earlier, between 4 months to 11 months, to help your baby develop natural immunities to these foods.
These foods include the following ingredients:
- Peanuts
- Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Eggs
- Wheat
Introduce these in small amounts over the course of months. If you notice that your baby develops a rash, take a break from giving them the food. Call your doctor if your baby develops unusual symptoms that concern you.
1. Smoothly pureed carrots
Carrots are packed with vitamin A for your baby’s eye health. Choose organic carrots to guarantee fresh carrots that haven’t been grown with pesticides or other chemicals.
Ingredients:
- 3-4 carrots washed and chopped
- Water to thin
Directions:
- Put the chopped carrots into a saucepan with just a bit of water to cover them. Bring the carrots to a rolling boil.
- Lower the heat on your range and simmer for 10 minutes until the carrots are tender.
- Drain carrots, but keep the water. Put the carrots in the blender. Add some cooking water.
- Blend for two minutes until the carrots are smoothly blended, add water if needed.
Alternative cooking method:
If you want you to cook the carrots in the microwave, it’s easy. Simply put your chopped carrots in a microwave-safe bowl. Pour a bit of water over them and cover with a clear plastic wrap or a saucer that covers the bowl—microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. Be careful when you remove the lid or plastic wrap from the carrots because steam will be released. Prick the carrots with a fork to see if they’re cooked. If not, put them back in the microwave for another minute.
2. Apples pureed
Choose green, yellow, or red apples for this puree. They all bring a unique flavor so you can mix and match to see which flavor your baby prefers.
Ingredients:
- 1 or 2 organic apples, cored and washed.
- Chop apples into pieces
- Dash of cinnamon
- Water
Directions:
- Put the chopped apples into your saucepan with a bit of water to cover them. Bring the apples to a boil. Lower heat and simmer them for 4 to 6 minutes until the apples are tender.
- Put the apples, cinnamon, and some cooking water into your blender. Blend until smooth.
3. Pureed banana and apple
This recipe has yummy organic bananas and apples. You could also add plain yogurt to make it extra smooth.
Ingredients:
- 1 or 2 apples washed and cored
- One banana, chopped
- Yogurt to make even smoother
Directions:
- Put the chopped apples in the saucepan with a bit of water to cover them. Bring the apples to a boil. Lower the temperature and simmer them for 10 minutes until the apples are tender.
- Drain the apples, but keep the cooking water.
- Put the cooked apples, chopped bananas into a blender with just a bit of the cooking water. Blend until smooth.
- Add a little yogurt for an extra smooth apple banana treat.
4. Sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes have vitamin C and beta-carotene, both good for your baby’s eyesight.
Ingredients:
- Organic sweet potato washed and peeled. Cubed into small pieces.
- Cooking water for the sweet potato or yogurt.
Directions:
- Put the chopped sweet potato in a saucepan with only a little water–enough to just cover them. Bring the sweet potato to a boil.
- Lower the heat and then simmer the potatoes for about 10 minutes until the sweet potato is tender.
- Remove the chopped sweet potato, but keep the cooking water.
- Put the sweet potato pieces into a blender. Blend until smooth. Add some yogurt to make it even smoother.
5. Pears
Pears contain flavonoids which boost your baby’s immune system. Add other fruits to this if you prefer. Pears are so versatile they work well with fruit or veggie.
Ingredients:
- 1-2 organic pears, cored and washed. You will leave on the skin for both dietary fiber for gut health and extra nutrition. Chop the pears into pieces.
Directions:
- Put the chopped pears in a pan with just enough water to cover them. Bring the pears to a full boil. Lower the heat and simmer for the pears for 10 minutes or until they are tender.
- Drain the pears and keep the cooking water. Put the pears into your blender and blend until smooth. Add some yogurt or extra water to make it extra smooth.
6. Sweet potato and broccoli
Sweet potatoes are high in vitamin C. Broccoli has folate and folic acid, both good for brain development and to boost your baby’s immune system.
Ingredients:
- Two organic sweet potatoes, peeled and washed. Cube the sweet potato into chunks
- ½ cup of organic broccoli florets washed
- ½ cup of baby milk or yogurt
Directions:
- Cook your sweet potatoes and broccoli in the microwave or on the stovetop until tender.
- Drain sweet potatoes and broccoli, saving the cooking water.
- Blend the two veggies, adding water to make they’re totally smooth.
7. Oatmeal and apples
Oatmeal is a whole grain that contains B vitamins. This warm breakfast will nourish the baby. It is so scrumptious you will want to prepare a serving for yourself, as well!
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cooked oatmeal
- Organic apple, cored and washed. Cook apples in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Directions:
- Mix cooked apples and oatmeal in your blender. Blend. Add some of the cooking water to smooth it out a bit more.
- If it’s not smooth enough, add a bit of yogurt.
Can you say delicious?
8. Raspberry apple and spinach smoothie
Raspberries are one of the superfoods. They’re packed with flavonoids, vitamins, and minerals. Choose organic raspberries to avoid pesticides and other chemicals.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of water
- 1 cup of organic raspberries
- One handful of organic spinach
- 1-2 teaspoons of apple sauce
Directions:
- Steam the spinach in the microwave like this. Put the spinach and water in a microwave-safe dish. Cover the dish with a length of plastic wrap or a lid. Microwave the spinach for 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove the spinach from the microwave dish. Put it into your blender. Add the fresh raspberries and apple sauce.
- Blend until smooth. Add a little of the spinach cooking water to make the puree even smoother.
9. Berry oatmeal smoothie
This berry smoothie is delicious. Because it uses berries, your baby will get an extra dose of vitamin C and immune fighting antioxidants. These recipes use blueberries, but you can use raspberries or strawberries.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup of cooked oatmeal
- Dash of cinnamon
- ½ cup fresh blueberries
- 2-3 tablespoons of apple or white grape juice (add more if needed)
Directions:
- Blend the ingredients until they’re a smoother consistency. Add more juice if necessary.
10. Pears and rice puree
This delicious recipe is sure to be a hit with our baby. You can switch out the pears for apples, pineapples or bananas. You might adjust the amount of water, depending upon the fruit you choose.
Ingredients:
- Organic baby rice, uncooked
- 3 to 4 organic pears, peeled, cored, and washed. Chop the pears into small pieces.
Directions:
- Cook the pears with water in a saucepan on top of your stove. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 6 to 8 minutes until the pears are tender.
- Drain the pears, keeping the cooking water. Put the pears into a blender and blend until pureed. Add the dried baby rice and a little cooking water or baby milk or yogurt to make smooth.
Final Thoughts: Safely Storing Homemade Baby Foods
When you make homemade baby food, it may not get eaten all at once. That is okay because you store the leftover baby food in the fridge or freeze. Put the homemade baby food into an airtight container and put it in the fridge for three days or less. Or put the homemade baby food in an ice cube tray stored inside a plastic bag or with a snap-on lid.
Freeze the covered ice cube tray for up to 3 months. When you need some baby food, you simply snap out one of the little frozen cubes of food. Melt the serving in a bowl in the microwave for 10 to 20 seconds. Let it cool before you give it to your baby.
Even the pickiest baby will love these delicious organic recipes. They’re very basic, but you can be creative and add the flavors you know your baby loves. Who knows, you may join your baby eating these delicious homemade baby foods.
