I must admit making baby food is not something I tried when my girls were babies, but it certainly looks do-able! Plus, there are so many opportunities for fresh produce right now with the Old Capitol Farmers’ Market and the Illinois Products Farmers’ Market at the Fairgrounds.
Why make your own baby food? Thanks to Springfield Moms contributor Melissa Schwoerer who shares her story and tips below.
About two years before I ever even considered having a baby, I met a mom of three who made her own baby food. I remember telling my husband that I would never have anything in common with this overachieving “perfect” mom. But when this helpless, vulnerable little person entered my life over nine months ago, all of my ideas about the kind of mother I would be went straight out the window.
When I was pregnant with Jack, I watched “Food, Inc.,” a documentary that would change my approach to food and nutrition forever. The thought of putting foods grown with pesticides, stored in preservatives, and stripped of nutritional value into my baby was not appealing to me. Though my husband probably wishes I had never seen this film, I am grateful it forced me to think twice about what I was eating and what I would feed my child. I have put a lot of time and effort into breastfeeding, and making baby food seemed like a natural next step.
There are also significant environmental and financial savings to making your own baby food. Think about all those little jars you don’t have to throw away or recycle anymore! (This is how I live with myself for all the diapers we go through.) Although I haven’t done a cost-savings analysis myself, I have read that making your own baby food can save an average of $0.24 per ounce.
I love that I can buy organic produce and make Jack’s food for much less than it would cost to buy commercial baby food. We love the Old State Capitol Farmer’s Market and supporting our local growers! Buying organic is not always possible here in Springfield or practical for your budget, but it does not have to be 100%. I’ve learned that if the foods he likes best can be organic, such as apples, it is still a huge benefit. Meijer has a wonderful selection of fresh and frozen organic produce, and it’s not terribly expensive.
Getting Started
My brothers and sister-in-law started me on my baby-food-making journey when they bought me the Beaba Baby Cook. I was intrigued, but a little intimidated by the whole idea. I just had a baby, I barely had time to shower, how would I ever find time to chop, steam, and puree a bunch of produce for him too? But as he got older and my family got into a routine, I found that it was easy to do during nap times and after he went to bed.
I know what you are thinking. I cannot possibly make all of my baby’s food and feed the rest of my family, go to work, walk the dog, clean the house, do the laundry, and maintain any sense of personal hygiene all at once. Yes, you can! Don’t get caught in the all-or-nothing trap. You don’t have to make all of your baby’s food. Start slowly and make the foods that she loves to eat the most. Over time, you will become an efficient, baby-food-making prodigy.
I am proud to say I can now steam and puree foods for Jack and make dinner for my husband and myself at the same time! Making all of Jack’s food has also really upped my confidence in cooking as well.
If you can make a smoothie, you can make your own baby food! You don’t have to buy a special baby food maker. All you need to get started is a pot of water and a blender. I loved my Beaba because it was small enough that I didn’t feel overwhelmed by having to puree and store huge amounts of food in the beginning. Starting out, I would cut, steam, and puree one apple and it would last a few days. We soon moved on to pears, bananas, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, peas, green beans (not the best puree), carrots, and mangoes. Now, my 25-pound, nine-month-old goes through apples by the dozen- he loves his applesauce!
I was eventually making so much applesauce and other foods that recently we decided to buy a food processor. I can now steam a whole bag of apples and puree them in about 30 minutes.
I tend to avoid grocery shopping, but I like to puree when the produce is as fresh as possible, so I force myself (or my husband) to go once a week to restock apples, sweet potatoes, bananas, and whatever else Jack is into that week. That same night I try to make as much food as possible. Here’s how:
- Wash your produce. I use a produce wash and a produce scrub brush. The steaming process will kill off most bacteria but I like to be extra careful.
- Cut and chop. Large chunks are easier, faster, and will puree just fine once they are steamed.
- Boil water in a large pot. I put everything into a steamer insert and steam with the lid on for about 5 minutes. You can also just throw the pieces into the boiling water. I prefer the insert because I can leave the water boiling for the next round and save some energy.
- Place the steamed pieces into your blender or food processor, add a little water, and puree. Depending on the food, you may need to add more or less water, it just depends on the consistency you want. You can use fresh water, some of the cooking water, or even juice.
- Keep whatever amount you think you’ll use in the next few days in a container in the fridge. Freeze the rest. Beaba makes great freezer trays with lids, but simple ice cube trays work just as well.
- Pop the cubes out and store them in sandwich bags, inside a larger freezer bag. Since I almost always forget to set them out to thaw, I’ve learned that 30 seconds in the microwave will do the job just the same.
- Watch your little one devour your hard work and be proud of yourself!
Recipes and Resources
I am still very basic with my purees, but now that Jack is getting older we are experimenting more with combinations. So far our favorite is Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal from the cookbook “Baby Love Foods.” It is just apples, golden raisins, baby oatmeal cereal, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It makes your house smell like apple pie! We have also tried the P.E.A. from that same book: peas, edamame, and apples. Another great source is www.wholesomebabyfood.com. Super Baby Foods has been recommended by several of my friends, and they have an IPhone App that is really handy for quick tips and recipes.
Submitted by Springfield Moms contributor Melissa Schwoerer. Melissa is a busy mom of two boys and a Springfield native. She went to undergrad and law school at the University of Illinois and currently works for St. John’s Hospital Human Resources Department. In her former life she enjoyed traveling with her husband Brent, and now is happy spending her free time with her boys, attempting to cook, and learning more about health and nutrition.
