Infant Homemade Baby Food - Northbrook, IL

I just started making homemade baby food myself for my 6 month old twins. I researched a lot of baby food cookbooks and finally decided on "Blender Baby Food" (amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Blender-Baby-Food-Recipes-Homemade/...)

I like this because it separates the food you can prepare by age and gives tips on meal plans, etc.

Regarding freezing, both this cookbook and advice I've heard from other parents is using frozen food is okay and you can freeze most foods (in an ice cube tray or I use plastic baby food containers) and thaw in the refrigerator. There are a few foods you can't freeze, like bananas, and the Blender Baby Food cookbook lets you know which you can/cannot.

The only thing you have to watch out for is this cookbook lists recipes with strawberries, tomatoes, etc. in it and some pediatricians recommend waiting until babies are a year old before trying out these typically allergic foods. I just asked my pediatrician, made a short list, and avoid those recipes.

Also if you haven't already, definitely get a baby food processor. I love mine "KidCo BabySteps Electric Baby Food Mill" - and a steamer or at least a strainer you can put over a pot to steam food.

Hope this helps!

Yes, it is okay to use frozen then refreeze. I use organic Cascadian farm veggies and fruit. I also buy fresh organic and freeze in ice cube trays. Here is an awesome website with recipes: www.wholesomebabyfood.com

I used frozen veggies all the time & refroze. It was easier, as you could make just so much that way! Also, you could buy them & not have to rush home & make it all, as fresh veggies only last so long. Frozen veggies are packed & frozen @ the peak of freshness.

If something can't be refrozen, like frozen fruit, it will say it on the package.

Don't be nervous, you have made a very wise choice already!!!

Yes, it is okay to use frozen veggies. I make all my own baby food. Try www.wholesomebabyfood.com. Its a wonderful resource!

Timbercreek Organics has a great Baby Food Making Box! It comes with a great variety of fresh organics. I am not sure how much that box is but, I get the standard fruit and veggie delivered every other week and it cost $30.85 taxed and delivered. I get enought fruit and veggies for our family of 4.. I think it is about 40 lbs. They will deliver within a 90 mile radious of Chicago. Fresh is so much better than frozen IMO. : ) I made our baby food too. Might I also suggest not freezing in plastic. If you can freeze in glass. Here is the website for TCF: www.tcforganics.net Order by calling Rita at ###-###-#### and tell her A. S. sent you.

that should be fine. There are a few items that are better bought rather than self prepared as the baby food manufacturers check for nitrate levels whereas store bought fresh food is not tested and even the ones you buy at the farmer's market may have high levels. They are carrots, beets, turnips and spinach (p216 American Academy of Pediatrics book Caring for your Baby and young child). Earth's best is a good organic brand that you can get these items from.

Hi Andrea!

I have been making baby food for my 9 month old twins since they started eating solids, and I love it! It's cheaper and better for them.

A couple things that helped me are:

1. Baby food cookbook. I'm using "The Healthy Baby Meal Planner" By: Annabel Karmel

2. wholesomebabyfood.com has great information about what foods to give babies at each stage and foods that should be avoided. I think they have recipes, too

3. I like the silicone icecube trays because the food comes out of them easier.

4. A food mill. I didn't think I'd need one because I have a food processor, but for things like peas, it holds the skins so that the baby food is smooth.

Good Luck!
A. P

P.S.
You can use frozen fruits and veggies and then refreeze them after they're pureed

I make all of my own baby food too. I tend to use fresh because I've heard it's very important to use organic and it's harder to find frozen organic. Although, I have read that you can you use frozen and refreeze once it's been cooked. But I did want to mention the Beaba Baby Cook. They just started selling them in the U.S. this year. I got it about 5 months ago when my daughter started on solids and it's so amazing. I made food for my other two children without this product but the Beaba makes it so much easier. Everything is cooked and grinded in one small appliance. It's a little pricey but it's already paid for itself cause jars are so expensive. Anyway, just thought I would mention it. It's sold at William Sonoma.

Frozen veggies are fine to use...I suggest that you use plain veggies with no salt, sauces etc...

Sweet potatoes are a wonderful food and easy to prepare. Just bake in the skin (be sure to put in a pan or on a cookie sheet...they drip a lot!) and after it cools, slice a portion off. Smash and feed to the babe! So easy and full of vitamins and minerals. You probably know bananas are terrific! Just unpeel a little and scoop out with a spoon. Feed directly to your baby. Great food, full of potassium, keeps the poop tight and kids love it!

BTW, I made all my three kids' food. I think I bought maybe 5 jars of pre-made.

I recommend www.wholesomebabyfood.com - it was very helpful for me and answered most of my questions.

Avocados were both my baby's first food and they still love it. It has a lot of nutrition and the fat is great for baby brains. It's easy to scrape and smoosh so you don't need anything but a knife to cut it open and a spoon to feed it.

By the way, the more you cook something the more nutrition you lose from it. So twice cooked veggies are not as nutritious as lightly steamed and mashed would be.

I did that! My Joshua was allergic to the preservatives that were in baby foods, and he wouldn't eat them. So I put a small blender for milk shakes into whatever we ate and he ate it. No need to make extra foods.
As for frozen it should be fine, just not meats. Meat can't be refrozen unless it is cooked.

I have read 3 books and all have said it was okay to refreeze frozen veggies, just not meat. In fact many frozen veggies have more nutrition as they are more fresh than "fresh" vegetables. Unless you get your produce from local grower, frozen is actually more fresh. I made my babyfood for my dtr and never had any adverse reactions. As all the other mothers suggest: steam don't microwave.

J.

Making your own baby food is very easy - do not stress. I used frozen veggies, cooked them according to the package and then pureed and re-froze into cubes. It worked great. You can do veggies and fruit with no problems. There is a book out there called So Easy Baby Food (www.freshbaby.com) - it really helped.

You can use frozen vegetables, cook and then refreeze. I loved the book by Annabel Karmel that offers excellent suggestions.

It is NOT OK to use frozen veggies and refreeze!!!

In almost all foods there are pathogens. Some die off, some remain dormant, most don't bother you. However, when you unfreeze then refreeze, you are increasing the likelihood of pathogens. You should NEVER do this! 99% of the time, you will probably be OK. But you don't want to take this risk.

I used the book Super Baby Foods. It is fantastic and talks a bit about Kitchen Safety as well.

Yes, it is ok to use frozen veggies and then refreeze them. I did that all the time when my son was a baby. A great website for homemade baby food is wholesomebabyfood.com. I was on that site at least twice a week when I was making my boys food. They have a list of all the "forbidden foods" and a ton of recipes for different stages.

You'll love making your own baby food...it is so easy! I've used both frozen and fresh foods and then refreezed them into cubes! It's nice to find organic foods frozen now too! Good Luck!

why make baby food? why not just feed them off your plate, or give them what everyone else is having in smaller bites?

Frozen fruits and veggies are often healthier than fresh. With that said, make sure you look up the dirty dozen fruit and veggie list to buy organic. Google it and you'll find it. While not every fruit and veggie has to be bought organic, potatoes, spinach, apples, pears, peaches, etc should. I used the Magic Bullet from Bed, Bath and Beyond to puree the food. It is the only thing you'll need. Good luck, it makes you feel good when you make your own food!

HI Andrea! I made babyfood for both of my daughters. I know so many people think it is a really big deal but honestly it does not take that much time and I felt so great about it.

I always used frozen veggies/fruits. Actually, many times they are better than the fresh because they are flash frozen as soon as they are picked and the fresh stuff is handled so much before it gets to the store and them to your house :)

And yes, you can re-freeze them once you puree and pour into ice cube trays.

Honestly, you cannot mess it up. If you think the texture is too thick you can always add a little water - that may be needed with something like sweet potatoes.

One other tip ... Cook them on the stove top instead of the microwave (even the frozen) and then use the water you cooked them with to add, if needed - that way you get as much of the good stuff as possible

Good luck!

I use some frozen veggies (i.e. organic butternut squash because it is out of season) to make my daughter's food, and refreeze the food in ice cube trays. I have been doing this for a couple of monthes and have had no adverse reactions. The 2 of the books that I am using say that it is OK.

I would recommend steaming veggies for your little one.
This is the best way to keep in all the important vitamins. Then puree in the blender and put in ice cube trays. Then store in individual baggies or a container in the freezer until you're ready to use them. Check out wholesomebabyfood.com for tips and recipes for homemade baby food.

I was a little apprehensive at first also when I decided to make homemade baby food for my twin girls now 5 years old. My mother-in-law got me this book called Super Baby Food (Ruth Yaron) and it helped me out tremendously. It told me how to cook every type of food and at what age I could give it to my girls. My pediatrition had said that I was doing everything right. And since I was making their food myself the girls were able to eat all table foods by 9 months old. I hoped I helped out!

I have made some things for my daughter. I just cook them and refreeze them in the step 2 gerber rectangular containers. I have made lots of vegetables and potatoes. I cook everything first and then blend it with the magic bullets and then pour into the containers. I have tried fruit but it still turns brown on me so I buy her fruit. So far I have not had any problems with taste/freezer burn/ or her not eating it. Everyone is going to say something different, you just have to go with it and do what works for you. My mother whom watches her, has done the same thing. She has stock piled food in her freezer. I think the containers may be slightly bulkier but you can put in the amount your child normally eats. Good Luck.

Hi Andrea-There is a wonderful book called Super Baby Food by Ruth Yarmen. You can get on Amazon.com. I used alot of her suggestions for my children.

You can re-freeze the baby food. I also fed the babes so many fresh fruits and veggies around 5.5-6 months. Bananas, sweet potatoes, avocados, etc...

T.

Detox Coach

I did it with my daughter. Believe me, making your own food is the best choice that you can make. I don't regret it for a second. She is a fantastic eater, everyone comments on it. I have friends with similar aged children (my daughter just turned 1) and their kids still won't eat solid foods, they refuse and only want jarred baby food. In my opinion, not as healthy for variety and definitely more expensive and complicated. Just jump in and try it, in no time at all you'll have the hang of it, and there are tons of new recipe's out there to try. I too recommend organic when and if you can, it never can hurt! Good luck!