Weaning is pretty exciting and horrifying at the same time. There is always the fear of what will happen and a lot of what-ifs. Though confidence gradually settles in and one maneuvers through the process. It's an amazing but blind experience that all parents have to learn. The challenge is always deciding on homemade baby food recipes or processed store-bought foods.
Homemade or processed
Homemade
Both processed and homemade foods are fine without discrimination, but the nutritional aspects may differ. It's a tough choice when selecting what's best for your baby. But, coming to think of it, homemade foods are quite delicious. They give you a chance to explore different ingredients and cook based on your liking fully. I am sure there is the fun part of consuming warm homemade food.
It is a great way to know exactly what you are feeding your toddler, and it will be healthier and cheaper than store-bought. Homemade food provides a variety of nutrient-dense food for your toddler, expanding their taste experience. With homemade baby food, there is always a choice of moderation in terms of quantities you want to use. You can cook different whole meals and store plenty of baby food, thus allowing you to have better planning and preparation.
Processed
Processed foods also play a significant role in a baby's life. The foods have balanced nutritional contents and are preserved to fit longer periods. However, they hold a few limitations, like the choice of ingredients one would wish for their child to have.
It’s also difficult to eliminate a particular component if it’s allergic to your baby. The fresh and warm feature can never be compared to daily homemade dishes. However, parents can alternate between the foods by having a schedule on what to cook and purchase.
Is homemade baby food healthier?
Yes, homemade baby food is much healthier since you can control the ingredients' quality and the types of things included in the food.
Simple safer way to store (some) homemade baby food.
The best way to store homemade baby food is to freeze them. Just take regular ice cube trays and cover the food in plastic wrap. Freezing is a convenient way to have healthy meals whenever you need a meal for the baby.
Equipment needed to make homemade baby food recipes easy.
You don’t require fancy utensils to make homemade baby food. Here are some helpful tools to use when making homemade baby food.
- Good blender
Blender will assist in blending fruits and vegetables to make a thick soup-like meal. This allows your child to easily swallow and enjoy the experience. Also, you can use it for other things like making soup and pancakes.
- A sieve
A sieve is quite common, and it will come in handy when pressing soft fruits and vegetables through the mesh to strain them into a thin uniformity.
- Food grinder
A food grinder can grind cooked soft meat, fruits, and vegetables. This gives you the privilege to feed your baby meat and veggies.
- Spoon, fork, or potato masher
A spoon, fork, or potato masher can mash soft foods like avocados and bananas. You don't need to implement expensive materials during the weaning stage.
- Steamer basket
Steaming fruits or vegetables in bulk is the key to making baby food easy and quick at home.
Steps for making simple homemade baby food recipes for parents
Simple homemade baby food recipes can be made in different creative ways, like:
- Boiling,
- steaming
- Roasting
Steaming retains the most nutrients than the other procedures. Here are some steps to follow when preparing homemade baby food recipes.
- Wash your hands and the ingredients.
When preparing homemade food recipes, the first thing to do is wash your hands and all equipment thoroughly before cooking. Wash and peel the ingredients you are planning to cook for your child.
- Chop them
Use fresh ingredients and cut them into small-sized cubes, put them in a pot with enough water, and cover them to keep them free from germs.
- Cook
Suppose you are using the steaming method. Ensure the food cooks until they are easy to mash. If you need to boil, just put the ingredients in a pot with water and cover the pot with a lid. Bring to a boil for some minutes until they are ready to be mashed.
- Blend
Blending will depend on the type of food or fruits you have prepared for your child. Please put it in the blender, add some water or milk to quicken the reaction, and the food will be ready for the child.
- Freeze the remaining food.
If the baby is fed to satisfaction, put the remaining food into a freezer for safe storage.
Foods to start with when making simple homemade baby food recipe
Babies are naturally inclined to enjoy sweet tastes. Exposing the baby to low-sugar foods early is beneficial for developing their tastes. First, the food should be rich in iron and other important contents. Here is the list of foods to start with when making homemade baby food recipes.
They include;
- Avocados, bananas and mango
- Pumpkin and potatoes
- Carrots and spinach
- Green beans
- sweet potatoes
- yogurt
Foods to avoid when preparing homemade baby food
As long as your baby is not old enough, it is very important to avoid some foods as they can present a choking hazard.
They are as follows.
- Popcorns
- Pieces of meat or cheese
- Hard raw fruits
- Raw vegetables
- Nuts
- Honey
Benefits of simple baby food recipes for parents
Although purchased or processed baby food can be a convenient option for some parents, making your food for the baby offers some benefits;
- It avoids allergies to preservatives and processing components of store-bought baby food.
- You will have control over the amount of salt to put in the baby food
- It helps in introducing your toddler to the family's unique foods, flavors, and eating habits from all family members.
- The parent or guardian enjoys the actual process of preparing baby food.
- Being more eco-friendly as one can reuse your baby food storage containers.
Conclusion
A homemade food option requires some effort, especially during preparation. However, with a positive aspect, parents can enjoy the process and start off the baby with a healthy and nutritious footing.