Making Homemade Baby Food From Fresh Garden Produce
26.07.2023 - 22:45
/ gardeningknowhow.com
You don’t have to buy baby food. You can make, and even grow, your own. With a home vegetable garden and some fruits, it’s possible to make delicious, nutritious, and safe baby food at home.
Store bought baby food clearly has some advantages: it’s more convenient, takes less time, and ensures your baby gets a full complement of nutrients. On the other hand, there are also benefits of making baby food that make it worth your time:
If you have a garden, why not stock it with the best baby food vegetables? Growing food for the whole family is cost-effective and rewarding. Unless your baby has allergies, any vegetable or fruit is fair game. Babies prefer mild flavors. Try growing these veggies that are mild and nutrient dense:
A favorite fruit for babies is bananas, but most gardeners are unable to grow them. Other fruits easier to grow and that babies love include:
Allergies are always a concern, so talk to your pediatrician before trying new foods. A typical approach is to introduce a new food and then wait a couple of days to see if your baby has a reaction before serving it again.
Before you make your own baby food, talk to your pediatrician or a dietician about safety. There are some things babies should not eat that are perfectly safe for adults and children, like honey and raw veggies. Make sure you fully understand what your baby can and cannot eat.
Once you know the safety rules, making baby food is easy. Simply wash the fruits and veggies and remove any peels, pits, or seeds. Cook vegetables and harder fruits until they are soft and then puree in a blender until very smooth. Steaming is the best cooking method for retaining nutrients.
Knowing how to store homemade baby food is essential for ensuring your baby gets a meal