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Children / Health / Recipes

DIY Babyfood Purees to Take On-the Go: Less Waste and More Healthy

DIY Babyfood Purees to Take On-the Go: Less Waste and More Healthy

Your baby has been receiving nourishment and nutrition exclusively from breast milk or formula for the last 5-6 months. Signs that your little may be ready for solids is when he/she can sit up well, can swallow, and shows interest in what you’re eating. Your pediatrician is going to recommend iron-fortified rice cereal for your baby’s first food. However, research shows that babies do not have enough of the enzyme amylase to digest carbohydrates and “iron-fortified” means this rice is not a natural source of iron. So, what should you feed your baby instead?

Introduce single-ingredient vegetable and fruit purees first to single out allergens if irritations arise, combined with continued breastfeeding or formula. To make purees, simply steam your vegetable of choice (carrots, sweet potatoes, and beets are good first choices) then puree them in a blender with water or breast milk until smooth.

If you make a big batch, use an ice cube tray to freeze portions that can easily thaw in the fridge one at a time as needed. The reusable food pouches, like the ones from Little Green Pouch, are perfect for feeding your baby on-the-go. Fill the pouch with a frozen puree cubes and by the time your baby is ready for a snack, the puree has thawed and is ready to be squeezed out into a spoon for feeding.

After the single-ingredient purees, try mashed avocado and bananas. You can also combine bone broth, or other healthy meat sources, like grassfed butter, liver, or chicken with purees. Fat is good for brain development and animal products are natural sources of iron and protein. One Denver Dad says, “we were skeptical about the cost of feeding our baby liver at first, but a little goes a long way. We found ours from Oliver’s Meat Market, so we knew it was natural.”

Making your own purees, freezing them, and using the reusable food pouches is a healthier, less wasteful, and more economical option. Baby food that you buy in jars or pouches in the grocery store are highly processed, which makes them lose most of their nutritional value. When you make baby food at home, you know exactly what is going into your baby’s body. The reusable food pouch keeps you from having to toss empty jar after empty jar into the landfill. Plus, as your baby ages you can continue to use the reusable food pouch for applesauce in their lunchbox or smoothies on-the-go for breakfast.    

Dorothy Goodman is a writer, homesteader, and baker. She started a baby food business in Fort Collins, Colorado called Highchair Farms. She does her best to make consumer choices that will positively impact her community and encourages others to do the same.

 

Mile High Mamas
Author: Mile High Mamas

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