Last updated on November 25th, 2023 at 11:19 am
With two babies, there is a need for more of everything including food. Although a $0.99 jar of baby food doesn’t seem like much money, it will add up fast when you are buying in duplicate (or more). A great way to save some cash is to make homemade baby food.
Savings money is a great reason to make homemade baby food, but it is not the only reason. When you make your own baby food, you have complete control of the ingredients. You can choose to use only organic ingredients if you want, you can provide foods that aren’t available in jars plus there are no added preservatives or fillers. So why not make it yourself?
Making homemade baby food really isn’t complicated, however, it’s not for everyone. If you decide to try making your own baby food, remember that you can always change your mind, it does not have to be all or nothing. In fact, you might want to make some of your own baby food and supplement it with pre-made baby food. Do what works for you!
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Here are some tips on how to get started making homemade baby food and which foods are worth making and which are worth buying already made.
Around 4-6 months you will likely get the ok from your pediatrician to start your baby on solid food (solid means it was in a solid state before it was made into baby food). When it comes to first foods, they should run off of the spoon like a liquid. When you are starting solids, eating is more about learning to take food off of a spoon instead of out of a bottle. Always talk to your pediatrician for recommendations on allowed foods and the order of introduction.
Making Homemade Baby Food
Two great choices for your first homemade foods are bananas or avocado (YES, avocado!) Since your babies won’t be eating much at first, you can make mini-batches. You do not need to purchase a new blender to make homemade baby food. Use what you have. If you prefer to use a smaller blender container, you can usually buy accessories for the blender you already have.
First, wash your hands. When choosing a banana, look for one that’s yellow with a smattering of small brown spots. You want the banana to be sweet, but not overly ripe. First, peel the banana, then put it in the blender and puree. Check the consistency. Bananas get thin quickly, but if it doesn’t run off the spoon, you will want to add a small amount (1 teaspoon) of water and blend again. That’s it, homemade baby food success!
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You want to pick an avocado that is soft to the touch but not “mushy”. Hard avocados will become grainy when pureed so it is important to allow them to ripen first. Cut the avocado in half, remove the seed, and scoop out the flesh. Blend with a small amount of water. Again check the consistency before serving. You may also want to pass your pureed food through a fine mesh sieve to make sure there aren’t any lumps. You are now ready to feed your babies.
Put a tablespoon or two into a small dish for feeding and save the remainder in small plastic containers in the fridge for up to 3 days or pour into ice cube trays cover and freeze. Do not save uneaten food, you should not save it if it has been exposed to saliva.
When you are starting new foods, always use the 4-day rule. This is a simple way to test for allergic reactions or digestive issues from certain foods. To follow the 4-day rule, simply introduce one food at a time every four days.
Baby Foods to Buy Instead of Making
Some foods are difficult to process or difficult to find, making them less cost-effective for making at home. For instance, if you want to stay with organic foods, you may find that it is cheaper to buy your apples and pears in a jar. The yield is low, especially when your babies are of an age that requires steaming them first. Green beans and meats can be a bit tricky to get to the correct consistency. Also, depending on where you live some foods may not be available ‘fresh’. For instance, I was unable to locate fresh peas in any of my local markets.
Best Homemade Foods
The most cost-effective foods to make at home are carrots and sweet potatoes. You can get them at a good price (even when buying organic) and the yield is good.
To prepare carrots or sweet potatoes (yams) peel, roast, or steam (or scoop the flesh of sweet potato out after cooking) until soft and then puree. Sweet potatoes take quite a bit of water to get to the correct consistency for ‘stage 1’. Also, if you are freezing the food, make it thick because it will thin out upon thawing.
If you can’t find what you want fresh, it is OK to use frozen fruits or vegetables. To prepare from frozen, cook, blend, and use within 3 days. Put extras in the freezer immediately.
Once your twins have tried a variety of new foods using the 4-day rule and are eating well, stock up on their favorites by making big batches and freezing them. When the babies are a little older you can start pureeing or finely chopping whatever you are making for the rest of the family for dinner.
The best part of making your own baby food is that you know exactly what is going into what your kids are eating!
