- It's Fresh!
- You know exactly what they are eating, no hidden ingredients in a jar of baby food.
- It can be more economical. Save those coins for the college fund. :)
- Jarred baby food has a shelf-life of up to 3 year! (Yes, exactly.)
- Time. Do you have an hour a week to make baby food?
- Storage. It will take up space in your freezer.
- Convenience. It's not as convenient as jarred baby food when you are out and about.
Although those are things that can hinder you from going the homemade route, there are ways around them. When I first started, I used ice trays for freezing and placed them in dated, Ziploc bags. As she began to eat more and started daycare, I bought plastic containers from the Dollar Tree ($1.00 for 10 2 oz. containers) and that made it more convenient for travel and sending food to the daycare/sitter everyday. You can place the containers in hot water to thaw out or microwave on low. The daycare would have a Crock Pot on with water in it to warm bottles and food. I thought that was a great idea. These containers were also easier to store in my freezer.
One hour on a Sunday afternoon, will give your baby a weeks supply of baby food. That's enough time to get a load of laundry done while you puree!
- Blender
- Ice Trays or Plastic Containers
- Ziploc Bags (if you choose this route)
- Steamer Pot or Steamer Rack
- Water
- Potato Peeler
- Helpful Tool Tip: Apple Slicer
- Gather and wash your veggies
- Peel them if needed (For example, squash, carrots, etc.)
- Cut the veggies up into smaller pieces so they can cook quicker
- You can either boil or steam the veggies
- Let them cool
- Place them in your blender and add a small amount of water (if you boiled the veggies, use the water from the pot to add those nutrients back into the veggies.
- Package up the food in either containers or in your ice trays and freeze.
- Gather and wash your fruits
- Peel the fruit (apples, mangos, peaches, etc.)
- Slice/ cut them up into smaller pieces
- Place them in your blender
- Add a small amount of water if needed. Some fruits have enough natural juices and water in them so you won't need it.
- Package up the food in either containers or in your ice trays, and freeze.
Depending on your budget, making baby food can be very economical. Today the average jar of baby food is $,99. I usually spend about $15.00 on fresh fruits and veggies, some organic some not. With that $15 I usually get almost 2 weeks worth of food (13 days). That's $.37 a jar. Not bad, right?!
You will eventually come up with a system and budget that works best for you. At times, you will end up spending a little more on the fruits and veggies depending on where you shop. However, it would not surpass the amount you would spend on jarred baby food. And the upside, it's fresh and you know what your baby is eating. No added preservatives, syrups, dyes, sugars, etc.
Now, I don't think it is WRONG to feed your baby jarred baby food. I was raised on that stuff myself and I am perfectly fine. I am only sharing how to make baby food and how it can be beneficial for your baby and your pocket!
If you have any questions about making baby food, please share in the comments. Mommy's here!