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A parenting community concentrating on diaper, cloth diapering, breastfeeding, and baby clothes free auctions as well
as a Market with attachment parenting products.
| Make Your Own Baby Food |  | | by Christina Cartwright | | | Savings | | Getting Started |
| Preparation and Storage |
|
| If you would really like to save some big $$$ off of your grocery bills,
consider making your own
babyfood. | | | Savings |
|
By preparing your own baby food, you can save at LEAST $1000 PER YEAR
PER CHILD! I'm sure most of us
Mamas have a whole lot of uses for $1000 other than spending it on jar
babyfood. The savings
alone can be a major factor in your decision to prepare your own
babyfood. A few other reasons
to consider it? Do you avoid buying T.V. dinners for your family or prepackaged kid's lunches bought from the store? Buying jar babyfood is very similar. It just doesn't compare to the taste and good nutrition of a
home cooked meal. It's instant,
that is why it cost so much. The good news? You don't need to buy
commercial baby food! You
can make your own food! I guarantee your baby will enjoy eating a
delicious home cooked meal.
Plus, you probably won't mind saving money in the process either!
|
|
| Getting Started |
| There are a couple of tools you will need to get started. Most
of them you already have right now in your kitchen. You will want to have
It's really easy if you get the baby food grinder, especially in the
beginning, because it
makes pureeing the food one simple step. |
| Preparation & Storage |
| Once you have cooked the foods
and pureed them, the next
step is storage. Freeze them in ice cube trays, after frozen pop out and store in your freezer in labeled freezer
zipper bags. The food can be stored for up to a couple of months
while in the freezer.
When it's mealtime, you can defrost the cubes in either a microwave
(for about 1-3 minutes on defrost)
or using a double-boiler method on the stovetop (put cubes into a small
pot, then place that pot over
a larger pot filled with boiling water). I used the microwave method
and found it to be very
convenient doing it this way! After thawing, foods
should be eaten within a couple of hours, and remember to throw away any unused portion that
your baby was eating. Bacteria can
grow in foods after the saliva has touched the food.
It is really easy to take them "on the go" as
well. Just put the foods
in a little sandwich bag or small tupperware and then put that in a larger
plastic bag with a freezer pack. It worked really well for my husband
and I whether we took
our son to the store or to Nana & Papa's house!
I loved making my son's food for him. I usually cooked the food on
a Saturday and then I had
enough to last for usually two weeks. The next Saturday I cooked
another recipe and then
I'd have plenty to alternate tastes. You do not need a lot of time to
make your own babyfood, and
the amount of money you save is just incredible when you think
about it!
| |
For all of us mamas who already make our own, and for those
who would like to try it,
I' have put together a collection of nearly 60 baby tested and approved recipes for your child to
enjoy! Everything from
baby cereals to dinners, teething biscuits, desserts and snacks!
You'll be surprised at
how yummy they taste and how
simple and quick a batch takes to prepare.
Try this yummy recipe for starters today!
~Sweetie Potatoes~
2-3 medium to large sweet potatoes
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Scrub and bake potatoes for 40 to 50 minutes, testing them
with a fork until they are at desired softness. Cool for 10-15 minutes. Peel off the skins
with a paring knife. Mash them with a fork or run through baby food grinder. Add breastmilk,
formula, or apple or white grape juice to desired consistency. Freeze in ice cube trays.
Visit my webpage for the complete recipe collection*. You will also find
food guide with
information to help you maintain a balanced and nutritious diet for your child. Get Creative! Don't be afraid to experiment and add your own
style. You will be
building healthy eating habits for your child and making the transition from babyfoods to table
foods easier since your child will already be used to the
flavorings and the cooking style you use.
It will make you question why you ever thought of spending money on those
little jars again.
It makes
me feel very happy knowing that my son is eating delicious, and
nutritious foods. Most major
baby food companies (including the organic ones) are adding water and
fillers to their foods,
by making your own, you know exactly what's going in. The taste is
just incredible too! Your
baby will love eating the food you cook for them!
*A $1 Donation is requested to access the website with these wonderful recipes. Your baby will love them!
|
| Christina Cartwright lives in Beaverton Oregon. She practices attachment parenting and is the proud stay-at-home Mama to Damien Nikolas & Wife to James. When not participating in the Frugal Living Community she enjoys concocting fun and nutritious new recipes for her son to try. A collection of her recipes can be found at her website.* |
© 2000 Christina Cartwright
|
