Wesley and I received a gift from his cousin Jessica and her husband Brandt this week. Baby DB is now the proud owner of a hand-crafted tie-dyed onesie, a staple in every kid's wardrobe, I think. Kid also got a very fuzzy teddy bear and some stacking cups. Mom got a book on introducing purees and solids to baby's diet.
The book is written very simply with small words and big pictures. I am guessing they took the sleep deprivation into account when they designed the pages. It makes it seem so easy to puree and freeze your own baby food. The book tells you when to introduce what and how to prepare it in easy steps and large batches. I didn't think I was interested in making my own baby food but now I am curious. It seems easy enough and would definitely be cheaper than buying jars of baby food.
So Moms, did you make your own baby food? How did it go? What were the benefits and drawbacks and would you do it again? Any expert tips on the matter? I think it would be fun to get together with at least one other mom of an infant and prepare batches of freezable baby food together once every two weeks. Everything is easier when it's social, right? Plus, it would provide me with some accountability if I had a mish-mash partner. Thoughts?
Great concept....however reality will be well reality. You can always try it at least once. But I promise the quick trip to the grocery store will most likely win out.
ReplyDeleteCat
Eryn - Yes, I made my own baby food. Super easy, inexpensive, sets your mind at ease (because you know what's in it and how fresh it is) and, I think, helps make your child more open to unprocessed foods, because from the very start they are eating very fresh, minimally fooled-around-with foods.
ReplyDeleteI wrote more about this in my blog in January of this year, and the post includes a recipe:
http://iwantnina.blogspot.com/2010/01/purity.html
Cheers!
Oh, and I also did this with friends - where we would each make batches of various things, then meet and trade big bags of frozen cubes. More variety for baby and less work for mama.
ReplyDeleteI originally planned to make my own, but then reality kicked in. ;) Working full-time means that during my off time, I want to spend time with the Princess. It didn't help that during that time period, she was very clingy and wouldn't let me leave her sight (and wasn't happy about hanging in the kitchen with me). So, sorry. I know that doesn't answer your question at all... :)
ReplyDeleteHi Eryn,
ReplyDeleteWe're not really big do-it-yourselfers, but we made all of Lulu's baby food and it was easy. We just made a batch, froze it in ice cube trays, and would take a block or two out to defrost when we needed it. As I recall we would mostly make just one pureed ingredient at a time. It's really no big deal. Lulu never had baby food from a jar. If we can do it, you can do it!
Abigail
Thanks for the advice and encouragement everyone!
ReplyDeleteMy standard baby gift to new moms is a mini-processor and some little storage containers and some ice cube trays. My dad was in the Navy and constantly gone and my mom worked and she made our baby food. She just took leftovers from dinner and would puree them up. Good luck!
ReplyDelete-Emily
What an awesome gift, Emily! Aren't you clever? :)
ReplyDelete