Baby Food Grinder

Baby food taste gross but that is because babies taste buds are not developed yet. You can make baby food it is easy but put no seasoning! Nothing but water should be added to anything you make for baby. Puree fruit, veggies and put them into ice cube trays and freeze this will give you servings and less waste. Meat can wait most babies don’t eat it anyway.
References :

Avocado – a great first food for baby, avocados burst with essential fats and nutrients that a growing baby needs! Smooth and creamy, avocados are easily digested and well tolerated

Vitamins: A, C, Niacin, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium

1. Peel and take out the pit of a ripe avocado – do not cook
2. Cut “meat” out and mash with a fork
3. There should be no need to use a machine as just like bananas, avocados have a very soft consistency and texture. Avocados do not need to be cooked
4. Add formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken up. Learn More about Avocado

Bananas – bananas are another great first food for your baby. Research indicates that bananas and their mucosal properties actually help coat the tummy and help aid in digestion. Bananas are sweet, which may help baby more readily accept the first food experience. Learn more about bananas and if it’s true that sweet fruits and veggies should not be introduced first.

Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Selenium, Magnesium, Calcium

1. Peel ripe bananas – do not cook
2. Place banana in a food processor/food mill or blender and puree
3. You can also mash the banana in a bowl using a regular fork – heat in microwave for 25 seconds prior to mashing for extra softness
4. Add formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken up.

Organic Brown Rice Cereal – Did you know that baby’s first food does not have to be a commercial infant rice cereal? Many pediatric resources are acknowledging the fact that avocado, banana and sweet potato make great first foods for baby!

If you decide to make homemade baby cereal, make it with brown rice (organic if preferred). Whole grains are more healthy and nutritious for your baby (and for the whole family). Learn more about whole grains. You may also be interested in reading our Cereal FAQ explaining what types of grains to use, how long they may be stored and more!

1/4 c. rice powder (organic brown rice ground in blender or food processor)
1 cup water

1. Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the rice powder while stirring constantly.
3. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly, mix in formula or breast milk and fruits if desired
3. Serve warm.

Pears
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium

1. Peel and cut into chunks so as to avoid the little seed portion.
2. Steam gently until tender;
3. Place in a blender/food processor and puree until smooth. You may be able to just use a fork too!
4. Use the leftover cooking water if needed but Pears tend to be very runny and watery without adding liquid – Add some baby cereal to thicken if needed.

Squash (winter)(4)6 months+
(nutrient info for squash of all types may be found at our "Tips on Squash" page)

1. Cut acorn, hubbard, or butternut squash in half, scoop out seeds
2. Place an inch of water in a baking pan, then place squash halves "face" down in the pan. Check on water level while baking
3. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes or until the “shell/skin” puckers and halves feel soft then scoop squash “meat” out of the shell
4. Place squash "meat" into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
5. Add water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency.
6. You can also peel the squash, scoop out the seeds and then cut into chunks and boil/steam until tender (like when boiling potatoes for mashed potatoes) then follow steps 4 and 5

Yams/Sweet Potato (4)6 months+
Learn why a Yam really is NOT a Yam!
Vitamins: A (24,877 mg ), C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Sodium, Selenium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Calcium

1. Wash and poke holes in sweet potato with fork then wrap sweet potatoes in tin foil – do not peel for baking/microwaving. (you can also do this in the microwave – only use plastic wrap and cook for 8 minutes on high or until tender)
2. Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 30 minutes or until soft
3. OR
4. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into small chunks
5. Place chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover potato
6. "Steam" boil until tender, be sure to check on the water level.
7. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the sweet potatoes
8. If you have baked your sweet potato, remove skins and use liquid from your preferred source
9. Place sweet potato into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
10. Add the reserved water or other liquid as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean.

Baby First Foods and Homemade Baby Food Recipes for Babies 6 months and older

Mango (6-8 months – sometimes over 8 months)
Vitamins: A (1262 IU in one cup!), C, E, K, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium

1 Ripe Mango
Peel, Deseed and mash Mango until smooth

Add formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken up.

Apples (Applesauce)
Vitamins: A, C, Folate
Minerals: Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium

This recipe is written so that you may use any amount of apples you wish!
1. Peel, core and cut apple into slices/chunks
2. Place slices or chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover apples
3. Boil/steam until tender; be sure to check on the water level and stir. 4. Apples may be mashed with a potato masher to achieve a smooth applesauce consistency. If your masher will not achieve a puree type of consistency, then follow steps 5 – 7
5. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the apples
6. Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
7. Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree
8. Add cereal (if desired) to thicken up the
9. Ask your pediatrician about adding some cinnamon for new tastes!

References :

I have fed four children homemade baby food. Start solids at 6 months. Mush a banana with a fork. Feed applesauce from the store. Mush potato with a fork and add some seasoning. Feed oatmeal (whole grain stuff rather than the rice cereal stuff). Peas. Etc. Nothing has to be fancy. After the first couple months, they’re usually eating what they can from the normal meal.

For instance, breakfast this morning was blueberry muffins and juice. For a 6-7 month old, I’d just feed applesauce; for 8-9 months, I’d crumble the muffin up in the applesauce.

Lunch today is pasta with spaghetti sauce. For a 6-7 month old, they wouldn’t eat solids because they’re not up to 3 meals a day; for 8-9 months, I’d go light on the sauce and cut it into small pieces and feed them; beyond that, I’d leave it in slightly bigger pieces for them to fingerfeed.

Tonight for supper we are having baked potatoes with ground beef over top and cooked cabbage. For a 6-10 month old, I’d take the peel off the potato, squish with a fork, add A LITTLE butter (we don’t use much ourselves), salt and pepper, and for the later end of that range I’d also pull some leftover peas or broccoli from the fridge since the cabbage would be difficult to eat.
References :