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Crammed with refined sugars, chemically modified starches, preservatives, and artificial additives, most prepackaged baby foods are little more than processed nosh in a jar, which means that your bambino is mostly getting mouthfuls of fillers, instead of the fruits and vegetables pictured on the container.
If the idea of feeding your infant mashed peas and carrots predating your pregnancy is giving you the heebie jeebies, consider whipping up your own. This way, you'll know exactly what goes into your child's chow, without having to spend hours reading and decoding nutrition labels. Bonus: You won't be adding baby-food packaging to the landfill. Plus, considering that a 4-ounce jar of baby food costs between 60 cents to $1.20, you'll get to sock some extra cash away for your bairn's college fund. Basic Organic Baby Food
A blender (or a dedicated baby-food mill or hand grinder)
Food-cube trays (or covered ice-cube trays)
Glass containers for storage
1. Thoroughly wash the fresh, organic fruits and vegetables you've purchased.
2. Steam, bake, or boil to the consistency of your baby's stage of eating.
3. Mash everything in your blender or food mill, or puree it with a little water. You don't need to add salt or sugar, says Dr. Sears. Try a bit of lemon juice as both a preservative and a natural flavor enhancer.
4. Strain the food to remove any stray peels. Pour the puree into the food-cube trays and stick them in the freezer.
5. When the cubes are completely frozen, transfer them into individual glass containers with two or three cubes per container. Label with contents and date, then pop the containers back into the freezer.
6. When it's time to chow down, heat up the individual portions. Remember to test the temperature of the food before feeding your baby.
Resources
1. Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron (1998, F. J. Roberts Publishing Company)
2. The Petit Appetit Cookbook: Easy, Organic Recipes to Nurture Your Baby and Toddler by Lisa Barnes (2005, HP Trade)
3. The So Easy Baby Food kit includes a cookbook, covered freezer trays, and a how-to DVD
4. Get free recipes at Wholesome Baby Food
5. In case of emergency (or exhaustion), check out Happy Baby Food's frozen organic baby meals as your next-best option
Difficulty level: Easy
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