My Decision to Make Lucas' Baby Food...
As part of my mission to be a stay-at-home Mom, I'm doing everything I can to give Lucas an awesome childhood. Before Lucas was born, I thought that maybe, if I had time, I would make his baby food. I put baby food preparation tools and storage containers on our registry, and received some at our shower. But as life got busy, robotics season was in full-swing, and we were traveling a lot, finding time to cooking dinner for Clinton and I was difficult, let alone mustering up the motivation to make home made baby food!
But after about three trips to the grocery store to buy jars of fruit and veggie puree, I discovered that making Lucas' baby food was the best choice for our family financially. Even though life was busy, I managed to find the time to do what I thought was the right thing.
To my complete surprise, baby food is a pretty easy thing to make, and the recipes and flavor combinations are simple. I honestly thought that it would be more difficult and time consuming than it actually is. Between washing, cutting, cooking, pureeing, and portioning, one batch may take 1 to 2 hours to prepare. I typically make two batches over a two-day period, which will last approximately 3 to 4 weeks, and adds up to about $15.00 total.
When choosing products for Lucas' food, I purchase fresh produce (being sure to buy plenty of whatever fruit or vegetable is on sale), or fresh-frozen veggies. If you are looking to reduce the number of contaminants in your baby's food, take buying Organic into consideration. But before you go out and spend a fortune on certified Organic food, take some time to read up on The Dirty Dozen: a list of the 12 most (and least!) contaminated foods.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no Superwoman! I don't make 100% of Lucas' food. I do purchase the occasional jar of puree at the store, and keep it in the cupboard or diaper bag for those days when we'll be out of the house for an extended period of time. For me, it's all about finding a balance, and what works best for our family.
But after about three trips to the grocery store to buy jars of fruit and veggie puree, I discovered that making Lucas' baby food was the best choice for our family financially. Even though life was busy, I managed to find the time to do what I thought was the right thing.
To my complete surprise, baby food is a pretty easy thing to make, and the recipes and flavor combinations are simple. I honestly thought that it would be more difficult and time consuming than it actually is. Between washing, cutting, cooking, pureeing, and portioning, one batch may take 1 to 2 hours to prepare. I typically make two batches over a two-day period, which will last approximately 3 to 4 weeks, and adds up to about $15.00 total.
When choosing products for Lucas' food, I purchase fresh produce (being sure to buy plenty of whatever fruit or vegetable is on sale), or fresh-frozen veggies. If you are looking to reduce the number of contaminants in your baby's food, take buying Organic into consideration. But before you go out and spend a fortune on certified Organic food, take some time to read up on The Dirty Dozen: a list of the 12 most (and least!) contaminated foods.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no Superwoman! I don't make 100% of Lucas' food. I do purchase the occasional jar of puree at the store, and keep it in the cupboard or diaper bag for those days when we'll be out of the house for an extended period of time. For me, it's all about finding a balance, and what works best for our family.
Baby Food Preparation...Preparing baby food can be an easy and fun task, if you have the right equipment. Spending a little money on nice cooking tools can save you a lot of time and frustration, and knowing how to safely prepare foods can help you avoid a trip to the hospital due to food-borne illness.
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Easy Baby Food Storage...There are many ways to store baby food once it has been prepared. I use a combination of methods, which works out well for my busy life style. As important as what you store your baby's food in, is how you store it. Learning safe food storing techniques can extend the life of your food, and keep bacteria at bay.
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Introducing New Foods...Introducing new foods can be a challenge, but can also be a lot of fun! Some babies love to try new things, while others could eat the same thing day after day. Acquainting your child's taste buds to new flavors is an important part of development, but should be done in a way that can help identify potential allergies, and is in line with their physical development.
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Baby Food Recipes...Making baby food is fun and easy! Here are some recipes for baby food that Lucas has enjoyed, and I have found are simple and nutritious!
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