Store-bought baby food can seem far too expensive. Luckily, you can easily make it yourself! This can save money by using food that you already have. It also lets you avoid added preservatives, sugar, and salt in your baby’s meals. And no, you don’t need a fancy baby food blender or a ton of free time. Here are some tips for making cheap, easy, and healthy baby meals:
- You can roast a vegetable like sweet potato or squash for your dinner, then blend some up for the baby. You can even mash the vegetable with a fork if your baby is old enough for a chunkier food.
- You can steam carrots, broccoli, or green beans, then blend or mash them. Just place a few in a small bowl, add a bit of water, cover the bowl, and microwave it for a minute or two at a time until the vegetables are soft.
- Try mixing different fruits and vegetables in a puree. You can even make pureed meat as your baby gets older.
- To save time, you can make a large batch of baby food, then freeze it in an ice cube tray. Then you can thaw a cube or two in the microwave as needed.
Keep in mind that some foods are not safe for babies. Here are some tips for making your baby food safe and healthy:
- Most babies aren’t ready for solid foods until around six months. You can read the CDC guidelines for readiness here.
- Honey can be extremely harmful for infants under age one.
- The CDC recommends avoiding cows’ milk and unpasteurized products for children under one.
- You should be aware of common allergens, such as eggs, fish, wheat, soy, and nuts. Try one new food at a time so that you can identify an allergic reaction.
- Choose fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables over canned ones for less added salt.
- Try adding spices to your baby food to enhance the flavor instead of salt or sugar.
- You can read the CDC’s food preparation safety guidelines here.
Follow these safety guidelines, use the ingredients you have, and get creative! You can easily make food for your baby that’s both cheaper and healthier than most food at the store.
By Clare Hettich
Sources:
https://www.pampers.com/en-us/baby/feeding/article/baby-food-recipes
https://blogs.cdc.gov/publichealthmatters/2022/02/food-labels
