Baby Food 101
If you want an honest opinion when it comes to food, ask your kid. From your eldest to your newborn, what you make matters. What you put in your body and what you put in your baby’s body are also important. Food prep isn’t rocket science, right? So how can you make gourmet meals for your baby? Keep reading to find out.
Where do I start?
Fresh food starts with fresh ingredients. If you are going to create homemade baby food, don’t start with canned or preserved foods. I strongly recommend starting slow. Really soft foods are ideal. If your child is just beginning the solid food transition, start him off with really ripe or easily mashable foods like bananas or potatoes. Watch your child’s reaction—facial expressions really let you know whether you should stop while you’re ahead or keep on whipping up the good stuff. Also, remember to check those diapers! Not only do you want to know what’s going into your baby, it’s important to know how it’s coming out. The best produce is usually found in the fresh food section of your local grocery store or at your local farmers market. Those are the places to get the freshest picks.
How do I do it?
You have to tackle baby food like any other meal preparation. The moment you look on it as a chore is exactly the moment it becomes a chore. A great tip when deciding what to prep for your baby is to prep whatever you’re eating. If you’re making chicken and vegetables, make the baby a mashed version of just that. Don’t overcomplicate this. When making foods like this, food processors help a great deal. Separate the baby’s portion before adding seasoning or spices. Remember to cook your food thoroughly and separate food from bones or tough skin and stems. Make sure you take the proper steps in cleaning your food before you cook or prepare it. Don’t be afraid to thin foods out with things like breastmilk, formula or water. Last but not least, make sure the food is heated appropriately; you don’t want to burn your little muffin.
How do I keep it?
Eat it, freeze it or toss it! Babies are precious, and so is their food. Some parents use Mason jars, some use ice trays, and others use Tupperware. I recommend only making what you want to feed your child immediately. If you really do want to make it ahead and save it, just freeze it. Baby food, depending on the item, will keep up to two months in the freezer. The trick to freezing food, however, is having airtight containers and freezing only freshly made food. A feeding spoon all too efficiently carries bacteria from your baby’s mouth to the dish of food and back again. You don’t want to attempt saving what’s been contaminated. Don’t let penny-pinching hurt your baby’s health—you’ll be saving already by making your own baby food.
Go ahead and give homemade baby cuisine a genuine try. You may find the transition is a breeze for you and your baby. And if it doesn’t work out well, Gerber is still one of the hottest selling baby food brands on the planet. You will not be judged, I promise—and trust me when I say I understand.
Jessica Samuel lives in Kansas City and is a freelance writer and photographer.
As always, please consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns.