I decided awhile ago to try to make my own baby food. It's not that I'm super concerned with organic baby food and things that may be in store bought (although with the whole melamine in formula you never know) but I just think it's gotta be a lot cheaper and not too hard to do. I decided that I didn't want to do the whole ice cube trays and baggies thing though. It just seemed like a hassle. Instead I found these containers that are 1 or 2 oz (I bought the 2 oz) that are similar to ice cube trays but they are individual and have lids on them. They can be frozen, microwaved, and are dishwasher safe. Anyway. So I invested in 4 sets of them and they came in the mail Monday so I started making food this week. The picture of the "green stuff" is actually a comparison of Gerber and homemade peas. The homemade ones are brighter green. To be quite honest I think they taste much better. I'm not a fan of canned peas, I like frozen or fresh. I made them from a bag of frozen peas that I got for free. Yes, free. They were on sale for $1 and I had a 0.50 coupon that was doubled. Yeah, I think making your own food can be cheaper. I am going to keep up with the cost so I can figure it out in the end, factoring in the cost of the containers (which can be used for the next baby(s) I might add). So far I have made peas, green beans, acorn squash, peaches, and pears. I was going to make prunes but there is only one brand of prunes that doesn't have additives and Fry's must not have realized that b/c of that there is actually an expiration date on them...the whole shelf was expired. Anywho...the peas were the hardest to make because of the casing. They just needed more time in the food processor. I used canned peaches and pears that were free of additives (just 100% juice). They were super easy AND I got 4 oz of juice from each that I also froze to mix 50/50 with water once I give him juice. I figured out that I made 46 oz of baby food and 8 oz of juice for about $6. It would have been a lot cheaper had I not made the squash. I need a garden for those b/c they're kind of expensive. I'm not going to make carrots or sweet potatoes until he is older b/c they say the homemade nitrate levels are higher. Apparently Gerber etc. takes this out somehow.
I took these pictures of Elijah yesterday..little cutie. He has been SO clingy though! I really can't get anything done. I set him on the couch next to me so I could sort through some things and within minutes he was asleep.Little stinker fights sleep so terrible. He thinks he's going to miss something I think.
Well, that's all for now!
5 comments:
I made all my own baby food too... have you read the book Super Baby Foods? It's a great resource.
yeah making your own baby food is way cheaper & usually healthier. I like doing the big things like pumpkin & potatoes & the acorn squash. Also to let you know that avacados are the like the best food for them, has everything good for them in it! And they're easy to smash up.
I always just put mine in empty baby food jars that I had either used already or got from other people. They freeze fine, are good for travel & are around the right amount.
I was thinking about making my own baby food too! Can you recommend any good sites that has info on that? I can relate with you on baby being clingy! Madden is the same way a lot of times! That's just cuz they love us soooo much! :) Love the pics. He is soooo adorable I especially love the one of him with the tie and sleeping on the couch! Too precious!
Oh my. Reading your blog makes me feel like a terrible mother. I think tonight Will ate taquitos...or so says daddy. Who knows, maybe he ate cookies for all I know....ahhhh. the life of a working mommy. Hee hee! Love the pics. Elijah is SOOOOO cute!
You can also mash up egg yolks when he is a bit bigger, since it's the white that give the allergic reaction. (I just hardboiled them, then popped the yolks out.) Or sneak in greens (like spinach) in other food since they get a bit bitter by themselves. Elianna liked pumpkin and spinach or carrots and spinach. We did the ice cube tray since I had to do monster batches for my little piggies and didn't have enough little containers. I'll have to look for the containers you're talking about, that sounds handy!!!
There are a lot of great books out there you could get at your library (or have them order for you) that have cool "recipes" for different foods once he graduates to mixed and/or chunky foods. Do a search on Amazon for "baby food" under "books" and you'll get lots of ideas. And if you're feeling really gourmet, "First Meals" by Annabel Karmel is cool.
Argh, am I really only about 8 - 10 months away from starting this all over again... for two?!?!?
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