Homemade Baby Food for Every Budget

The other day I unexpectedly ran out of baby food, and had to think on the fly. There was a can of pumpkin puree in the cabinet, so I combined it with some formula, baby cereal, and cinnamon … my little one loved it! That’s when I came up with this new idea for making purees. What’s the big secret to it? Using canned, bottled, and frozen items! I know – genius right?!

It sounds so simple, but the majority of the labor involved in DIYing baby food is the cooking process. Several friends of mine have confided that they don’t feel like the best moms because they can’t take the time to make their little one’s food. Well, now they can feel like supermom again because this is so quick and easy.

When it’s time to go to the grocery store, just pick out some of your favorite organic items that are pre-made. I love to use canned beans and fruit, frozen steamable veggies, and bottled juices with fruits and vegetables. As soon as I get home, I choose a few of my items and quickly run them through the magic bullet with a little water as necessary.
Everything goes right into separate 8oz. tupperware containers, and when it’s time to eat I mix up whatever I think my little guy will like for that meal.

To build each puree, just combine the items you have on hand to make something tasty!

These are a few of my little one’s favorite meals …

Breakfast: yogurt, blueberries, and multi-grain cereal.
Lunch: chicken, green juice, rice, and basil.
Dinner: chickpeas, carrots, multi-grain cereal, and curry powder.
Snack: sweet potato, yogurt and cinnamon.

There are so many benefits to this method of baby food making, but here are a few of my favorites: the lack of time required, the infinite number of combinations that can be made, and the affordability of it! Those pouches at the store are organic and easy and wonderful, but expensive. I’ve been able to make my little chunker’s meals for about $5 each week.

I hope all of this makes sense because it has done wonders for me and my schedule! A few tips to help you be successful in your baby food making venture:

– Rinse any canned foods (that aren’t already pureed) well. This helps get any excess sodium off the food as much as possible.
– Buy organic when possible … even when shopping the canned and frozen sections!
– Puree the items without add-ins. Use a tiny bit of water as necessary to reach a good consistency.
– When mixing together your baby’s meals, use cereal and pre-made formula to thicken or thin the mixture.
– Check out Baby FoodE for tips and tricks on baby food … she has some wonderful recipes and a lot of knowledge!

*As with anything baby related, please use caution when adding new foods into their diet, and please check with your doctor if you have any concerns. The above “recipes” are just some things that work for me and my family.

Please let me know if you have any questions, or if there is anything I can help clarify!

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