Making Real Food Baby Food

Is it just me, or does it seem like as soon as you get really good at one aspect of being a new mom something changes and you have to start all over?

It took us awhile, but we finally figured out the whole nursing thing. I even got comfortable with a great pumping routine when I returned to work. Then I found out it was time to start her on solid foods. What does that even mean? Those foods don’t look so “solid” to me. And what exactly is in that container of runny orange stuff?

Here was my biggest struggle with feeding my growing baby: a lot of baby food has so much extra processed junk in it! For several years we have made a genuine effort to eat more “real food” (meaning minimally processed foods) in our home. Some times have been more successful than others; the first few months of my pregnancy, when all I could eat was PB&J, Frosted Flakes, and pizza, weren’t my best real food times. But when it comes to my daughter I am much more conscientious about what goes into her little body.

My daughter’s pediatrician encouraged us to begin solid foods around four to five months. Your goal at this age is to introduce a variety of tastes and textures and get your child used to swallowing thicker consistencies. During this time baby’s nutrition is still coming from breast milk and/or formula, so don’t worry if he/she takes awhile to figure it out.

Buying prepackaged baby food is fine—just be sure to read the labels! I was amazed by what I found on some of the labels: not only additives and preservatives, but loads of salt or sugar. “Real food” baby food should have only one or two ingredients: a fruit and/or vegetable and maybe water. If you really want to know what’s in your baby’s food, make your own. It’s easier than you think and so much cheaper than buying prepackaged baby food. All you need is a steamer or pot of water, a blender or food processor, freezer containers, and labeling stickers.

real food baby food

I made several batches of baby food one afternoon using fresh and frozen produce. I tasted each of these combos, and they are pretty good even by my picky standards! Turns out if you put pears into something, it tastes pretty much like pears. And the sweet potato and apple combo tasted like baby sweet potato pie. So yummy! Here are some of Audrey’s favorite pureed foods—recipes included!

*I am not a dietitian or food expert. This information is based on my personal experiences, readings, and conversations with my daughter’s pediatrician. As always, consult your child’s doctor if you have concerns about his or her diet.

Sweet potato, apple, & cinnamon
2 sweet potatoes
¾ c. applesauce
Cook sweet potatoes either in the microwave (use potato button) or 30–40 minutes in a 400°F oven. Combine in food processor until desired consistency is reached. Add cinnamon to taste. Makes five 4-oz. servings.

Spinach, apple, & blackberry
1 c. chopped spinach
3 apples (peeled & sliced) OR ¾ c. unsweetened applesauce
½ small bag frozen blackberries
Add blackberries to steamer first. After 3 minutes, add apples and spinach. Steam for an additional 4–5 minutes until apples are tender. Combine in food processor until you reach desired consistency. Makes three 4-oz. servings. This one is pretty thin and good to mix into other foods like oatmeal.

Spinach, peas, & pears
1 c. chopped spinach
1 c. frozen peas
3 pears (peeled & sliced)
Add peas to steamer first. After 1–2 minutes, add pears and spinach. Steam for an additional 6–7 minutes. Combine in food processor until desired consistency is reached. Makes eight 4-oz. servings.

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Spinach, pears, and peas in the steamer
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Spinach, pears, and peas in the food processor

Mango, papaya, & strawberry
Frozen bag mixture (from HEB)
Steam for about 10 minutes, until tender. Combine in food processor until you reach desired consistency. Makes three 4-oz. servings. This one is also pretty thin and good to mix into other foods like oatmeal.

Spinach, carrots, & peas
1 c. chopped spinach
1 c. frozen peas
3 carrots (peeled & chopped)
Add carrots to steamer first. After about 10 minutes, add peas and steam for an additional 3 minutes. Add spinach and steam for an additional 3–5 minutes, until carrots are tender. Combine in food processor until desired consistency is reached. This one can be pretty chunky, so add 1 tsp. of water at a time if needed to smooth it out. Makes five 4-oz. servings.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

  • I used Glad Mini Round 4-oz. containers to store everything. They freeze well and can go in the dishwasher. I used small round labeling stickers on the lids, and they came off with no trouble.
  • I didn’t have a steamer insert for my cook pots, so I found a metal strainer (like this OXO one) at HEB for about $5. Just set it over a pot of boiling water. It worked great!
  • I sometimes use Zip ‘N’ Steam bags for some of the thicker veggies, like carrots. If you haven’t discovered these genius little bags yet, pick them up next time you’re at the store. You’ll never cook veggies the same way again!
  • I didn’t add water to anything except the last recipe because there was already enough water in the foods for the right texture for my seven-month-old. If your baby needs thinner purees, add water a tiny bit at a time. A little goes a long way.
  • Rinse your steamer and food processor with hot water between each recipe to make clean-up easy.

And a few more real food baby food tips I’ve discovered along the way:

  • When buying applesauce, look for “unsweetened” or “natural” to avoid necessary added sugars.
  • When buying prepackaged chopped fruits (like peaches or pears), look for those packaged in real fruit juice instead of syrup. “No sugar added” is a tricky label because it usually means they added artificial sweeteners instead of real sugar.
  • Frozen vegetables are awesome! Especially when baby gets older and can pick up small foods and chew a bit. I keep a bag of green beans, peas, and asparagus in the freezer and can microwave a quick side for her in a few minutes.
  • Frozen fruit is also great. Normally I don’t like to use frozen fruit because it turns so mushy as it thaws, but mushy is perfect for gumming babies! Give yours a few thawed, cold pieces and let him/her gnaw away.
  • Most importantly: READ LABELS! Check that frozen fruits and veggies don’t include extra sauces, salt, or preservatives. Be on the look out for hidden sugars. If you can’t pronounce it, it isn’t real food!

If you are interested in making the switch to real food for your family, check out Lisa Leake’s blog, 100 Days of Real Food. Honestly, it’s the very best real food resource I’ve found on the web.[hr]

What are some of your favorite real food baby foods? Include your favorite recipes in the comments!

Katie
Katie shares her passion for reading and learning as an elementary school librarian. She is a San Antonio transplant who loves traveling, reading, and encouraging her hubby’s new-found talents in BBQ. Her favorite time of year is a toss-up between summer for traveling and fall for college football (Roll Tide!). After six wonderful years of marriage, Katie and Jason welcomed their daughter in December of 2013! Although the journey to motherhood hasn’t been an easy one, she is thankful for the lessons in how important her faith, family, and friends truly are in life.