Good morning readers! I am introducing a few new categories here in the baby blog. The first, is ‘Ask a Baby Blogger’. We bloggers love questions, especially ones that gives us blog fodder! So if you have a question, feel free to comment or leave either Heather or I a private message and we’ll try to answer as best as we can! Our first ‘Ask a Baby Blogger’ question has to do with making baby food.
I am trying to make my infant’s baby food. I used the blender method but it came out all goopy. What did I do wrong?
Potatoes and starchy foods cannot be pureed in a blender. Blending them makes the starches break down and then you get something that can be used for your preschooler’s art project rather than tasty mashed potatoes.
For potatoes, what you should do is boil them, peel them and mash them. If your child can have dairy go ahead and put a little butter and milk in them until it is the right consistency. If not, use breast milk or a little water to thin the potatoes out to the desired consistency.
Other foods such as bananas, and avocados don’t need blending. You can simply use a spoon and scoop out the fruit in bite sized portions. I used to do this and then eat the rest of the banana! You can also store banana by mashing it and sticking it into the fridge. Adding a small amount of lemon juice to the banana will keep it from turning brown but I assure you, your baby doesn’t care if his banana is brown. There is nothing wrong with a brown banana that has been stored in the fridge or freezer–it just looks unappetizing to us moms! (Note: citrus fruits can be highly allergenic so don’t use them to prevent browing unless you’re sure that your baby isn’t allergic.)
Blenders work well on things such as carrots, apples, and beans. You can use breast milk or the water that the food was cooked in to thin the food out to the desired consistency.
You should also not prepare baby food by microwaving it as this might destroy vital nutrients and you should also not used canned carrots or other vegetables as they contain too many nitrates for baby. When possible buy fresh. . .but frozen is fine as well.
I feel it is important to note that you don’t have to serve everything the same consistency as does the jarred baby food companies. Most babies that are older than 6 months can handle a little texture. So if your mashed potatoes are a little lumpy. . .your baby probably won’t mind.
You are also free to add your own seasonings if you’d like. The idea that babies need bland food is cultural rather than medical. Babies in Japan start their first journey in culinary enjoyment with radishes! Likewise, a few of my own children have had a propensity towards spicy salsa. Needless to say, you can add a little flavor to your food if you want. Be sure first however, that your child isn’t allergic to anything!
I highly recommend the book, First Meals by Anabel Karmel. While the later sections have what one might call ‘advanced’ cooking skills (puff pastry mice anyone?), the first section that deals with infants gives excellent advice as well as tasty recipes and combinations.
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Solid Foods: Making Your Own Baby Food
5 Cultural Myths About Starting Solids