Home-made foods contain vitamins, minerals, and nutrients naturally. Commercial baby foods are processed. They process the food to ensure that all bacteria have been killed AND to help ensure long shelf life . However, when you cook something at such high heat it also kills some of the good bacteria and nutrients in the food, thus they sometimes add this back in artificially. With home-made food, you will always know what your child is eating. Baby food companies also add in ingredients like starches, sugars or preservatives- all things we want our baby to avoid!
How do you make your own food?
There are so many ways to prepare the food. First, the term "baby food" used by commercial baby food companies in itself implies that babies should be eating a "special" diet apart from the rest of the family. However, this is not necessarily true. You do not have to blend the baby's food into a liquid like substance like you see in typical commercial baby foods. You just want to be sure the food is small enough or mushed up enough that the baby can not choke. Many people are opting for baby led solid weaning and introduction of solid foods.
What is baby lead weaning as it relates to solid foods? It is, basically, skipping thin and runny purées and not feeding your baby with a spoon. You will offer the baby foods that have been soft-cooked and cut or mashed into small easily manageable pieces. You prepare the food and offer it to the baby. The baby does the rest. Many who advocate Baby Led Weaning believe that babies who feed themselves early on are better able to control just what their bodies need to nourish them. With this method A BABY SHOULD NEVER BE FED TABLE FOOD BEFORE 6 MONTHS! Before 6 months a baby is not likely to be able to hand typical table foods.
More traditional pureed baby food options are also very easy! You can either smash the food up with a fork OR opt for various baby food making products that are now available. An all-in-one baby food processor is a SUPER easy way to prepare you own nutritious baby food at home! One product that I really love is the Green Beaba Babycook ! It starts by steam cooking vegetables, fruits, and meats in less than 15 minutes, while preserving their vitamins and flavors. It then purees or blends them to the desired consistency. It functions as a steamer, blender, warmer and defroster to prepare fresh, healthy meals for baby. So you can prepare a mass quantity of baby food, place it in freezer trays, then use the appliance to then defrost the squares! It really is very multi-functional!
There are also lots of neat little accessories that are designed specifically for making food for you baby. Here are a couple neat ones:
Baby Orange & Pink Boon Squeezable Spoon - $9.99 With this new spoon you could feed your baby with one hand tied behind your back. Just squeeze the handle to dish out perfect small portions of the day's strained veggie selection.
So no matter how you decide to prepare your baby's food. Making you own food is a healthier alternative to store bought commercial foods!
Have a messy eater???
Try a Solola Baby Bib. Turn feeding time into art appreciation with this colorful and useful baby bib. Made from 100% cotton textile, back strap woven by the fair trade Solola Weavers' Group in the Guatemalan highlands. Each bib is adorned with a traditional Mayan animal design. Adjustable closure to fit all babies and tots.
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