Easy and Healthy Baby Food Recipes for Every Age

Becoming parents of a newly born child is one entertaining experience that is marked by numerous developmental process of the baby, including the process of introducing the new born to take solids. Preparation of homemade and tasty healthy recipes for the babies can be delightful so that the growing baby can get the best possible nutrition. In this guide, you will learn some useful advice for preparation of baby food recipes and some simple recipes which your baby is sure to like. 

Why Make Baby Food at Home? 

Making baby food at home comes with several benefits:Making baby food at home comes with several benefits: 

1.Quality Control: You are fully aware of what goes into the food given to your baby excluding preservatives that may be present in commercially prepared baby foods. 

2.Cost-Effective: Prepared at home, baby food is normally cheaper than the one that is bought from stores. 

3.Freshness: There is nothing like home prepared meal, they tend to be more fresh and delicious. 

4.Customizable: It will help you make some modifications on recipes depending with what you want your baby to have. 

Getting Started: Essential Tips 

Before diving into recipes, here are some tips to keep in mind: 

• Start Simple: Start with one ingredient meals that are basically just single food elements to ensure there are no adverse reactions to the allergies. 

• Consistency is Key: Mash all the food until they are extremely soft so that they can easily be swallowed by your baby. 

• Introduce New Foods Slowly: It is recommended that a new food be introduced every 3-5 days in the stability testing in order to monitor for any unfavourable effects.

• Hygiene: Hand, utensil and the working tops need to be clean at all times. 

Equipment You’ll Need 

• Blender or Food Processor: For pureeing food in a sufficient and desired quantity for a patient. 

• Steamer: This is healthier than boiling because it preserves more nutrients in the food than boiling. 

• Freezer Trays: Used in arranging batches of food such as boiled foods and other meals. 

Simple and Nutritious Baby Food Recipes

1.Apple Puree 

 Ingredients: 

•  2 large apples 

 Water

Instructions: 

1. Dissect the apples; remove the skin and seeds then cut them into small desired sizes. 
2. Apple pieces need to be softened so this can be done by steaming. 
3. Nutritional Benefits: It’s important to remember that apples are high in fiber and brimming with vitamins, which means they’ll do wonders for your baby’s stomach.

2. Carrot Puree

Ingredients: 

• 4 large carrots 
• Water 

Instructions: 

•  Wash and remove the skin off carrots, then dice them into small pieces. 
•  Steam until tender.

Nutritional Benefits: Carrots contain vitamin A, responsible for good vision since beta-carotene, which is the precursor to vitamin A, is abundant in carrots.

3.Avocado Mash 

Ingredients: 

•  1 ripe avocado 

Instructions: 

• Because it is very soft, just make a cross at the top, twist the two halves in opposite directions to separate them from each other and then taken off the pit then use a spoon to scoop the avocado. 
• Mix with a fork to a smooth paste. It is still slightly thicker than ‘normal’ breast milk or formula and you can add tiny amount of breast milk or formula to make it correspondingly thinner. 
• Nutritional Benefits: Avocados are really healthy in consumption and have the required fats that are needed for the brain development.

4.Sweet Potato Puree 

Ingredients: 

•  1 large sweet potato 
•  Water 

Instructions: 

• Wash and cut sweet potato into small cubes and peel it. 
• Steam until tender.

5. Banana and Blueberry Puree

Ingredients: 

•  1 ripe banana 
•  1/2 cup blueberries 

Instructions: 

•  Banana should firstly be peeled and sliced into a chopping board. 
•  Wash the blueberries thoroughly. 
•  Blend together until smooth. 

Mixing Your Baby’s Foods for Older Babies 

As the baby starts to develop and grow, and becomes used to the new kind of diet, you can try mixing the new flavors and forms of food. Here are a few ideas:Here are a few ideas: 

1. Apple and Carrot Puree 

Ingredients: 

•  1 large apple 
•  2 large carrots 
•  Water 

Instructions: 

1.  Wash the apple then skin it and cut it into desired smaller pieces. 
2.  The carrots should be peeled and chopper to enhance the creation of the soup. 
3.  Steam both until tender. 
4.  Blend together until smooth. 

2. Sweet potato and spinach baby food 

Ingredients: 

•  1 large sweet potato 
•  1 cup fresh spinach 

Instructions: 

1.  Wash the sweet potato and cut lengthwise into chunks. 
2.  Cook the sweet potato and spinach in steam until soft. 
3.  Blend until smooth. 

Home Made Baby Foods: Some Guidelines on How to Store Them 

1.  Refrigerate: Use for up to 3 days and store them in air tight containers. 
2.  Freeze: Place the purees into ice cube trays, and then freeze. Place the cubes in freezer bags for easier portions to be taken when the soup is served later in the day. It’s good for usage for up to a month, however, you can process them and store in the freezer up to 3 months. 

Conclusion 

Preparing your own baby food recipes  at home is such a great idea because it gives your baby quality foods. It lets you be able to prepare and feed your baby with hygienically prepared, healthy and delicious meals. With these simple recipes and tips, you can begin this wonderful process with confidence.