Since my life is consumed with all things baby right now, making my own baby food is one of my go-to things to do in the kitchen nowadays. Truth be told: I just throw a bunch of things into my Vitamix and hope for the best (this is how I make most of my recipes, by the way) but I do get asked to share quite often, so here are some ideas and creations I’ve been making.
First of all, I am not a pediatrician or a baby feeding expert in any way. I’m simply sharing what I’ve done with my own children. Before you start solids with your baby, have a conversation with your pediatrician and assess whether or not your child (and you) are ready. Like 99% of baby-related topics, I feel very strongly that feeding is very individualized, so do what’s best for you and your baby.
Personally, I felt very comfortable and excited to start real food with both of my girls, so (with the okay from our pediatrician and my amazing NP sister-in-law who doubles as our on-call 24/7) I started *introducing* solids around four months with small tastes of whole foods, like mashed banana, avocado, applesauce, etc.) Without changing or supplementing her milk or bottles, I’d give her a little mashed banana here, a spoonful of applesauce if her big sister was having some, or a taste of nut butter on my finger. I found that until they’re ready to have actual meals, that tiny tastes and gradual introductions was the best place to start to prevent feeling overwhelmed with yet another thing on my plate…quite literally 😉
Note that I also incorporate some Baby Led Weaning, like giving baby a whole carrot, a slice of apple, or some sweet potato that she can gnaw on to start learning about foods, textures, and tastes. Before they can take an actual bite of something or really chew, larger pieces that they can hold in their hand are best for exploration, motor skills, soothing gums, and minimal risk of choking (never take your eye off a baby or small child eating, just in case.) Although this post only focuses on my pureed food, I’d suggest doing some research on BLW if you’re in this stage as well; I found that a combination of both purees and BLW solids suited us best.
By six months, both of my girls were showing a genuine interest in the food that we were eating and would excitedly grab, taste, chew, (even with no teeth) and swallow properly. So, of course I then committed to only feeding my babies the best quality homemade, organic foods every single day. JUST KIDDING! I am not a perfect mom. I am a normal mom. I also buy the pre-made baby pouches (as my toddler is weirdly obsessed with them) or I’ll utilize whatever I have on hand, like a mashed banana with nut butter, which if you ask me, is a pretty delicious little snack. When I do have the time; however, I love to throw a bunch of healthy foods in my Vitamix and make a week’s worth of baby food. Here are some tried and true ingredients that I often use: (use organic as much as possible and always steer clear of added sugar)
- spinach
- zucchini
- peas
- fruit
- cucumber
- carrots
- avocado
- squash
- sweet potato
- coconut oil
- coconut butter
- ghee
- applesauce
- hemp hearts
- collagen
- bone broth
- plain yogurt (sheep yogurt or unsweetened coconut yogurt are easier for little bellies to digest)
- oats
- squash
*some foods that babies under one should not consume are honey, popcorn, and added salt.
I’ll start with combining all of my veggies and then be sure to add some protein and healthy fats. If it’s too thick, add a little water or almond milk. Every time I make a puree like this, it’s different, but it usually comes out delicious…and I know because both my toddler and I taste test 🙂 Hope this helps to give you some ideas and inspiration! Lastly, this stage often overwhelms parents, but if you approach it with ease and experimentation instead of trying to force healthy foods into your baby, it can be fun for all!
One Healthy Breakdown: bon appetit!
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