How to Make Homemade Baby Food

All of us mothers know how expensive baby food can be! Browsing the baby food aisle at the grocery store can be very depressing--especially since you know you can buy a huge bag of frozen vegetables for the price of two jars of prepared baby food. Here's a great way to get your baby off to a happy and healthy start to eating right--and eating cheap! 

Things You'll Need:

Blender

Rice cereal

Food from the grocery store 

Step 1

Transitioning from formula to soft foods can be strange and unfamiliar for your little one, so make the move slowly. You can puree up some frozen (originally, but cook them first) vegetables or fruits, and to water it down a little, use some prepared formula. The taste will be familiar to your little one, and they'll be getting new food as well. 

Step 2

Puree down the food as much as possible when starting them out, and if you need it a little thicker, or want to add some essential nutrients, incorporate some rice cereal. This will thicken it up, and most rice cereals have added nutrients needed for your baby to grow strong and healthy. 

Step 3

Why buy special foods when you can puree up dinner? Take foods from your dinner and puree up the same foods for your baby--this will avoid waste from pureeing a whole bag of vegetables for your little one, and in addition, it will get your baby used to the types of food you eat on a regular basis, which can make for a less picky eater down the road. 

Step 4

Don't give babies things like puddings. Sure, it's good, but this only encourages your baby to eat unhealthy foods when they're little. Also, over time, they may prefer the sweets over the healthy fruits and vegetables, and dinnertime will later become a struggle. Keep all foods healthy, and avoid sneaking bites of McDonald's french fries or fried foods to your little one. 

Tips & Warnings 

When you're first starting your baby off on baby food, remember to start with small quantities. Not many babies jump right in and gobble up a bowl of pureed vegetables. 

Your baby will tell you when they're done eating. Don't force your child to eat food they don't show an interest in. 

Do not feed your baby nuts, honey, beets, spinach, collards, highly acidic fruits, uncooked egg whites, raisins, popcorn, raw vegetables, or harder fruits (like apples). 

Sara Haley is a freelancer currently living in Nebraska with her husband and two children, along with numerous four-legged friends.  She writes for Bukisa, eHow, and her own personal blog at sarakhaley.blogspot.com.  She has written for numerous publications both online and off, and continues to enjoy sharing her knowledge and love for life with others.