All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
For some families, it is a no-brainer what sort of baby food to use when it is time for their babies to begin solids. Many stick to the brands their parents used with them, while others want only the top of the line organics. The choice to make our son's organic baby food at home was just as easy a decision for me, not only because I'm a green GeekMom, but also because I'm a frugal one. As with cloth diapering, it's all about what works for you. But if making baby's food at home sounds like something you might want to try, the rest of this article, and its successive parts, will share resources, tips for preparation and storage, and suggestions for where to look for what to prepare after single ingredient purées.
I'm a price point shopper. I compare unit prices, buy in bulk, freeze and store overages; whatever it takes to save a couple of bucks on the grocery bill. Extending this to include our baby's food was made even easier by a bit of simple math. If one 1 oz. jar of organic puréed sweet potatoes costs 75 cents, and whole organic sweet potatoes cost 98 cents per pound (with each potato yielding 4-6 oz. cooked purée), the unprocessed tuber is clearly the less expensive option. Certainly if your family cooks most of its meals at home, adding some steaming or roasting to the list isn't that difficult. The harder decision for those families who don't cook most of their meals at home is whether or not a couple of hours a week can be spared to create healthy meals for baby in their own kitchens. For some families, the convenience of jarred (or frozen) baby food is worth the additional cost. We're pinching pennies. (Actually, we're rubbing pennies together in hopes that they will multiply!)
The first step in the descision to make baby's food at home is a firm grasp on food safety and storage. There are some basic steps to follow, and these are clearly noted in each of the resources below. The old saying "when in doubt, throw it out" cannot be stressed enough. Only use fresh ingredients to prepare baby food at home (last Monday's steamed peas are not an option), and clean cooking implements and hands.
Next, decide on a few first foods you feel comfortable preparing. This goes beyond rice cereal, as many fruits and vegetables make the list of acceptable first foods. Sweet potatoes, as mentioned above, are an easy, inexpensive option (especially if you find them on sale, around Thanksgiving, when their price is easily slashed in half), but bananas, avocado, apples, apricots, and all types of squash are also good, nutrient-packed foods. Buy a couple of sweet potatoes, prepare them and freeze cubes in a big batch, and you will have baby food for a month or more (or less, if you kid loves them as much as mine does). Part II of this article will go into specific detail about preparation and storage of homemade baby food, but the Wholesome Baby Food website is a great place to start research.
If you're still not convinced, I've selected a few excellent and informative cookbooks for baby that not only translate the stickier points of food safety, but also offer delicious recipes even the most finicky foodie would eat.
The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet - From the basics like butternut squash purée, to a toddler's shepherd's pie, this book gives nutritional information for each recipe and features appetizing color photographs too!
.
The Petit Appetit Cookbook: Easy, Organic Recipes to Nurture Your Baby and Toddler - Time saving techniques for cooking and preparation and age- and stage-appropriate food suggestions for even picky eaters make this book a must-have.
.
Cooking for Baby: Wholesome, Homemade, Delicious Foods for 6-18 Months- From the author of The Petit Appetit, this is a more visually engaging while still covering the absolute basics of cooking for baby. Everything in this book looks delicious!
.
Organically Raised: Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddlers- Featuring simple seasonal purées and a sampling of world cuisine for older eaters, this book promises to lay the groundwork for "adventurous eating."
.
The Everything Organic Cooking for Baby and Toddler Book - And they mean everything. This book is more practical than pretty, with over 300 recipes, tips for growing your own organic produce, and tips for shopping for the best produce at the grocery store. A great book if you can get only one.
.
Super Baby Food- This book is perfect for the mom who likes suggested menus, feeding schedules and who is also interested in keeping baby's diet vegetarian. There's a lot of useful information for every mom, but the information can get bogged down in food politics before getting to the point. Good simple recipes and sound information on nutrition and preparation.
.
Okay, still not convinced you can make your baby's food at home? I did some research and compiled a list of organic baby foods commercially available that I would say are as close to homemade as you can find in the marketplace. These are not cheap, but worth the expense if you want to feed your child only the very best.
Tastybaby Frozen Organic Purées and Cereals -Located in the freezer section of your local organic market on the west coast of the US, but will be available soon across the country.
Plum Organics Frozen Baby Food- Also in the grocer's freezer section, these foods come in re-sealable little space age packs for better portion control, but also for use with the convenient Plum Dispensing Spoon by Boon . Good variety of flavors and blends.
Earth's Best Organic Baby and Toddler Foods- If you prefer easy-to-store baby food in a jar, or need something to take on a road trip or for keeping in grandma's pantry, Earth's Best is a fine choice. Lots of variety, from first foods to full meals, snacks and treats. Available at specialty baby retailers and also Wal-Mart.
Gerber Organics Baby Foods- With by far the widest variety and availability, the food our parents fed us as babies is also available in an organic variety. Shelf-stable, good for travel, and found even in convenience stores, if you're looking for a well-known brand without all the fuss, Gerber is the one for you.
If you're on board with making baby's food at home, watch for Part II of this article which will feature my process for preparation and storage of baby food, from basic to advanced. I'll select a few must have tools for the task, as well as some speciality products available on the market.
