Name: Homemade baby food
Prep time: 15M
Cook time: 10M
Total time: 25M

- homemade baby food They're easy to prepare, and they allow you to save money and control the ingredients, freshness, and quality. Just be sure to follow a few basic guidelines:

Always choose fresh and seasonal products
No salt, sugar, honey or spices
All baby food, especially those containing meat and fish, must be cooked very well.
The final consistency should be smooth and lump-free.
Always make small portions.

At this point you can prepare your baby food, choosing, from time to time, between meat, fish, vegetables, fruit.

Index of topics

Vegetables

First, prepare the vegetable broth This is the basis of all baby food. Take a carrot, a potato, a zucchini, and some celery and immerse them in a liter of water, without adding salt. Boil for about an hour, until the water has reduced by half. After a month, you can also use other vegetables for the broth, introducing them week by week, such as artichokes, spinach, chard, and whatever your pediatrician recommends.
Get all the tools and small appliances you may need, such as food mills, blenders, or good homogenizers that you can easily find on the market at very low costs.
Vegetable puree is made by blending (or puréeing) all the vegetables used to make the vegetable broth. When blending, add a little broth to combine. Finally, add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and perhaps some pasta or baby food. If you want to freeze the broth, you can use ice cubes and store them in the freezer for about three months. If refrigerated, consume within 24 hours.

Meat

For pureed meat , whether chicken , beef, turkey, or rabbit, choose lean cuts, free of bones and cartilage. Steaming is recommended, as this preserves the nutrients and significantly tenderizes the meat. Use a steamer or a steamer basket. Once cooked, place the meat pieces (cut small) in a blender or food processor, add the vegetables from the broth, about 100 ml of vegetable broth, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil; then, blend everything until smooth.

Fish

Fish puree follows the same procedure as meat puree. The most suitable fish are definitely cod, hake, and sole; you can then add other varieties monthly according to your pediatrician's instructions. Clean the fish, steam it, and then blend it with the vegetables you used to make the broth.

Fruit

Fruit puree requires the use of just two fruits, at least at the beginning of weaning: pear and apple. Peel and core the fruit of your choice, then cut it into small pieces and steam it for about 10 minutes, until soft. Then, blend it with a blender or even a simple hand blender. The puree is ready, and if your pediatrician recommends it, you can add milk or rice cream.

Meat, vegetables and fish

If you want to freeze pureed meat, vegetable, and fish , pour them into vacuum-sealed jars: they last no more than 6 months in the freezer, and 24 hours in the refrigerator. Refrigerated fruit purees should be consumed within 24 hours. When freezing , follow your pediatrician's advice, who will advise you on which fruits can and cannot be frozen.

How to preserve them

Once you've decided to freeze your homemade baby food, if you want to be sure you're not making any mistakes that could be dangerous for your baby, follow this simple tip. Make a label and stick it on the jar, indicating the type of baby food and the date it was made. Then, there'll be no risk of feeding your baby something past the recommended time.

How long do they last?

In theory, The shelf life of homemade baby food should depend on the raw material (meat, fish, vegetables, fruit)In practice, it's best not to consume them after 24-36 hours. If you want to keep them for longer, simply put them in the freezer, where they can last up to six months before being consumed. Obviously, once thawed, they cannot be returned to the freezer.

What not to do with homemade baby food

There are some things you absolutely shouldn't do when making baby food at home that you should keep in mind:

Do not add salt to recipes, sugar and spices.
Never reuse leftover food of child.
Introduce one food at a time, waiting a couple of days to see if the baby absorbs it naturally and without problems.
Do not defrost homemade baby food in the microwave. if they are stored in glass jars.

How to recycle jars

Baby food jars are a classic recycled item. With a touch of creativity, you can use them to house plants or even transform them into small lamps or place cards. About find 10 unmissable ideas.

How to make baby food at home