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Hi Ladies,
Ds is 6 months and we've been slowly introducing solids for awhile now, but his repertoire still isn't very big. Winners are cereals of all kinds, pears, bananas and apples. I have tried carrots, squash, and cauliflower with potatoes, but he spits them all back out and makes fantastic gagging faces while doing so.
I have tasted the veggies and I also spit them out! No wonder he doesn't like them because they're disgusting! It's standard in Germany to start with veggies - particularly carrots or squash - but the flavors are SO strong and ds didn't like them (he's a formula baby and used to bland all the time...)
Now I'm thinking that I'd like to try just making my own baby food. I've read reviews for a few books on Amazon but wanted to ask for advice here as well. Does anyone out there do this? Any recommendations? I don't have a food processor - would I have to invest in one? Also, are there cookbooks that you can recommend? Is there any advantage to buying premade baby food besides the convenience?
Thanks in advance for all comments!!
Answer:
My son is 14 months old and I decided to try the make baby food thing. I didn't with my oldest, but I would recommend it now. It's so easy! If you google homemade baby food, you can find some tips on what works best. They recommend not using canned food, but fresh. I also would buy frozen (dr said there is nothing wrong with this). Do you have a blender? That is what I used. I'd chop the food and place it in the blender. You can add a little water or formula while it's blending to get it the your desired consitiancy (that's probably the hardest part). If it gets to thin, add a little ceral mix. Then, place the mixture into ice cube trays and cover with plastic wrap and place in the freezer. After they are frozen, place 4 cubes in a ziplock, then I would place the same bags all together in a larger ziplock and lable the food and date. Each day, you can then thaw out the food that you want for the next day. Buying the baby food at the store is convienent, but you can place the food you make in a little container too. Good Luck!
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I made all my boys baby food homemade (except the rice cereal of course, which neither liked and we used as little as possible). I always found it easiest to alternate introducing fruits and vegetables. A trick that worked with my younger son was to mix his veggies with a little bit of apple or pear - just to sweeten it up a little. Once he was a little older and used to the taste, I could start giving him the straight vegetables.
Newmommie gave some great advice about how to make babyfood. I used both my food processor and blender and did the ice cube tray method as well. Some of the more involved recipes can be a little more time consuming but it was worth it!
I used Annabel Karmel's The Healthy Baby Meal Planner almost exclusively (it has some great recipes that my kids loved) but I also have Ruth Yaron's Super Baby Food that I use as a reference (it also has recipes for homemade cleaning products that I use).
Good luck and have fun!
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I LOVED "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron. Making your own baby food really isn't hard at all, just takes a little time. As long as you have a blender, you shouldn't need a food processor. I also used the ice cube tray freezer method.
First food I introduced to DD 1 was rice ceral (at 6 months), then to Twin A) bananas, and Twin B) avocado (for medical reasons, they started solids at different times).
I also used to mix some veggies in with plain yogurt. I think they usually recommend starting with single food items, then as you introduce more foods, you can do some of the blended recipes. Good luck!
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I made some of my own babyfood as well. I didn't make any recipes--I just did my own blends of fruits, veggies, and meats. The ice cube thing is great. I also reused the glass baby food jars and froze some in there once DS ate more.
Good Luck!
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OH! I have been wanting to do this for a while now... Aiden is nine months tomorrow... and he eats everything... we have never had a problem with him eating... we also started him on veggies first. I just felt more comfortable starting him on veggies... less sweet...
I would suggest it... we have been meaning too.. plus, you can use the food processor for everything.
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I also made baby food for my kids, but never used ice cube trays. A cookies sheet lined with wax paper, drop food onto paper in little servings, and freeze. When solid, peel off and put in ziplock bags. Since the food is frozen in its own little lump, they don't stick together in the bag as long as you don't keep them out of the freezer for long. Then you can take out as much as you need.
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Originally Posted by Artie
I LOVED "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron. !
I was coming to write this! I 1/2 heartedly made my own food for my 1st born. I really liked this book- I still refer to it at times.
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I just started on solids with my litte lady and am making my own! It is very easy and I also use the ice cube trays and when it is frozen I pop them out and put them in freezer bags. Super simple ! I am going to have to get the "Super Baby Food" book.
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I made all of my own baby food too. I used my smoothie maker to blend the food then used the spigot to dispense the food into small containers.