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*The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

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Pages: 1 [2] 3 4 5 >>

CookieMomster
Golden

Member since 5/09

6414 total posts

Name:
Me

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

So excited for this thread

Posted 2/2/10 8:05 AM
 
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NoStressMom
My Heart and Soul

Member since 5/05

11122 total posts

Name:
D

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

I don't heat up the veggie or fruit I let it sit out before hand to at least be room temp

Posted 2/2/10 8:09 AM
 

sleepie76
enjoying every minute

Member since 12/07

3881 total posts

Name:

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by hunnybunnyxoxo

def check out wholesomebabyfoods.com and pick up this book, annabel karmels 100 top baby purees. this is what i used in the beginning! it was great!!!!




Great thread!

I actually made her first sweet potato last night! She LOVED it!

I borrowed annabel karmels 100 top baby purees from my library. Great book!

I'll be attempting carrots, butternut squash next

Posted 2/2/10 8:11 AM
 

pnbplus1
Family

Member since 5/09

5751 total posts

Name:
Mommy

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Ooh, love this thread! I posted about this a week ago. Getting ready to try) the cereals (again) and then it will just be a matter of time for other foods. Can't wait!

Posted 2/2/10 10:43 AM
 

ibl530
LIF Toddler

Member since 10/08

425 total posts

Name:

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

so excited for this thread!

Posted 2/2/10 11:14 AM
 

CaMacho
Sisters :)

Member since 7/06

15112 total posts

Name:
Jess

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by davenjess

bumping - i am so excited - i just made my first batch of carrots!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon



Awesome Jess! Let us know how Emma likes it!

I have yet to make my own... we're still doing the 3 days straight of each (using store-bought for this) to make sure no allergies. Trying string beans tonight. I'm hoping to start making my own next week!

Posted 2/2/10 11:35 AM
 

hunnybunnyxoxo
this is what it's all about

Member since 11/07

3321 total posts

Name:
Lisa

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

glad to see lots of mommies making their own food!Once you get going, it is so easy!

my dd is 13 months now so i no longer have to batch puree and freeze food b.c she is pretty much eating table food.


just from reading through some questions and comments i am going to post a few things from my own experience..

** although the beaba is nice convenience ( steamer, grinder, reheater all in one) i did not buy it b.c i thought it was too small. you can only make small batches at a time. once you get into a routine, it is so easy to take one saturday day or a week night and just cook and puree 2 weeks worth of food in one sitting.

**invest in a large food processor. i have a 10 cup food processor from target. it was the best $50 i ever spent! they are great b.c of the size and b.c once you start moving past veggies, you will need something powerful to grind up meat. i have the black and decker one and i love it!

**these are the items that i buy frozen: peas, broccoli, string beans, just recently i bought frozen diced butternut squash, spinach ,frozen blueberries during the off season. I buy frozen b.c by the time I buy fresh veggies to the time I cook them, they start to lose their nutrients plus I no longer waste money on spoiled veggies

Fresh items: zucchini, organic carrots, bananas, apples, pears, acorn squash, butternut squash, yams, mangos, green/red peppers. These items keep longer.

** in the beginning, I would make everything separate. One batch of peas, one batch of carrots etc. I did this for a while b.c I wanted dd to get used to the taste of each veggie. I would puree a half a bag of peas and half a bag of carrots and that would yield 4 trays I believe…

**steam your veggies! It will retain the most nutrients and reserve the water that you used to steam them to thin out the puree. Otherwise, I roast the yams, butternut squash which really brings out the sweetnes.
Puree and store in freezer trays. I bought 4 freezer trays with lids. I had two regular freezer trays already. You can store the puree in the fridge up to 3 days without spoiling, after 3 days it must go in the freezer. Personally I mostly threw everything straight to the freezer to avoid any accidental spoilage.

**to defrost, put the desired serving amount in the fridge over night. otherwise, you can defrost by nooking them in the microwave.

Posted 2/2/10 12:32 PM
 

NoStressMom
My Heart and Soul

Member since 5/05

11122 total posts

Name:
D

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by hunnybunnyxoxo

glad to see lots of mommies making their own food!Once you get going, it is so easy!

my dd is 13 months now so i no longer have to batch puree and freeze food b.c she is pretty much eating table food.


just from reading through some questions and comments i am going to post a few things from my own experience..

** although the beaba is nice convenience ( steamer, grinder, reheater all in one) i did not buy it b.c i thought it was too small. you can only make small batches at a time. once you get into a routine, it is so easy to take one saturday day or a week night and just cook and puree 2 weeks worth of food in one sitting.

**invest in a large food processor. i have a 10 cup food processor from target. it was the best $50 i ever spent! they are great b.c of the size and b.c once you start moving past veggies, you will need something powerful to grind up meat. i have the black and decker one and i love it!

**these are the items that i buy frozen: peas, broccoli, string beans, just recently i bought frozen diced butternut squash, spinach ,frozen blueberries during the off season. I buy frozen b.c by the time I buy fresh veggies to the time I cook them, they start to lose their nutrients plus I no longer waste money on spoiled veggies

Fresh items: zucchini, organic carrots, bananas, apples, pears, acorn squash, butternut squash, yams, mangos, green/red peppers. These items keep longer.

** in the beginning, I would make everything separate. One batch of peas, one batch of carrots etc. I did this for a while b.c I wanted dd to get used to the taste of each veggie. I would puree a half a bag of peas and half a bag of carrots and that would yield 4 trays I believe…

**steam your veggies! It will retain the most nutrients and reserve the water that you used to steam them to thin out the puree. Otherwise, I roast the yams, butternut squash which really brings out the sweetnes.
Puree and store in freezer trays. I bought 4 freezer trays with lids. I had two regular freezer trays already. You can store the puree in the fridge up to 3 days without spoiling, after 3 days it must go in the freezer. Personally I mostly threw everything straight to the freezer to avoid any accidental spoilage.

**to defrost, put the desired serving amount in the fridge over night. otherwise, you can defrost by nooking them in the microwave.



Thanks Lisa for your breakdownChat Icon

Posted 2/2/10 12:36 PM
 

hunnybunnyxoxo
this is what it's all about

Member since 11/07

3321 total posts

Name:
Lisa

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

my pleasure!!! i have lots of experience in this area!!

all her meals were homemade with the exception of 3 or 4 times..
even when we go out, we would bring our homemade purees and feed her there...

Posted 2/2/10 12:43 PM
 

NoStressMom
My Heart and Soul

Member since 5/05

11122 total posts

Name:
D

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by hunnybunnyxoxo

my pleasure!!! i have lots of experience in this area!!

all her meals were homemade with the exception of 3 or 4 times..
even when we go out, we would bring our homemade purees and feed her there...




I have one for ya!! When you started her on meats chicken steak did you puree them also?? Mixed in with veggies??

What type of combo foods worked well together and you could freeze with no problem?
Right now I make her pears, applesauce, peaches, butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato I even combined carrots and pears.

She doesn't care for my veggie but she loves all the fruit. I need new ideas. She is starting to like sweet potato just mashed and I put it in little piece on her tray and she goes to town.

Posted 2/2/10 1:44 PM
 

oops123
LIF Adult

Member since 8/05

2509 total posts

Name:
michelle

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Message edited 3/1/2010 9:43:31 PM.

Posted 2/2/10 2:14 PM
 

Angel321
...

Member since 4/08

15553 total posts

Name:

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by CaMacho

Posted by davenjess

bumping - i am so excited - i just made my first batch of carrots!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon



Awesome Jess! Let us know how Emma likes it!

I have yet to make my own... we're still doing the 3 days straight of each (using store-bought for this) to make sure no allergies. Trying string beans tonight. I'm hoping to start making my own next week!



she loved them and then liked them and then wanted nothing to do with them! that's my girl for ya! (this was all in one meal) Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon

Posted 2/2/10 2:56 PM
 

Angel321
...

Member since 4/08

15553 total posts

Name:

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

UM - OMG _ i have been giving Em carrots made in their own water - how bad is this????????????????

Posted 2/3/10 6:28 PM
 

BnBdreamin
Gonna be a BIG Bro in April!

Member since 10/06

5913 total posts

Name:
Denise

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by hunnybunnyxoxo

glad to see lots of mommies making their own food!Once you get going, it is so easy!

my dd is 13 months now so i no longer have to batch puree and freeze food b.c she is pretty much eating table food.


just from reading through some questions and comments i am going to post a few things from my own experience..

** although the beaba is nice convenience ( steamer, grinder, reheater all in one) i did not buy it b.c i thought it was too small. you can only make small batches at a time. once you get into a routine, it is so easy to take one saturday day or a week night and just cook and puree 2 weeks worth of food in one sitting.

**invest in a large food processor. i have a 10 cup food processor from target. it was the best $50 i ever spent! they are great b.c of the size and b.c once you start moving past veggies, you will need something powerful to grind up meat. i have the black and decker one and i love it!

**these are the items that i buy frozen: peas, broccoli, string beans, just recently i bought frozen diced butternut squash, spinach ,frozen blueberries during the off season. I buy frozen b.c by the time I buy fresh veggies to the time I cook them, they start to lose their nutrients plus I no longer waste money on spoiled veggies

Fresh items: zucchini, organic carrots, bananas, apples, pears, acorn squash, butternut squash, yams, mangos, green/red peppers. These items keep longer.

** in the beginning, I would make everything separate. One batch of peas, one batch of carrots etc. I did this for a while b.c I wanted dd to get used to the taste of each veggie. I would puree a half a bag of peas and half a bag of carrots and that would yield 4 trays I believe…

**steam your veggies! It will retain the most nutrients and reserve the water that you used to steam them to thin out the puree. Otherwise, I roast the yams, butternut squash which really brings out the sweetnes.
Puree and store in freezer trays. I bought 4 freezer trays with lids. I had two regular freezer trays already. You can store the puree in the fridge up to 3 days without spoiling, after 3 days it must go in the freezer. Personally I mostly threw everything straight to the freezer to avoid any accidental spoilage.

**to defrost, put the desired serving amount in the fridge over night. otherwise, you can defrost by nooking them in the microwave.



Pretty much ditto... except for nuking... I'm not a microwaver (I try to thin with BM and microwaving is a no no for BM). We have an instant hot water tap so I fill a cereal bowl with hot water and sit a glass jar in it for a few before hand. I've collected a bunch of baby food jars from family. However for the most part, DS is fine with cold food.

Posted 2/3/10 11:16 PM
 

hunnybunnyxoxo
this is what it's all about

Member since 11/07

3321 total posts

Name:
Lisa

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by davenjess

UM - OMG _ i have been giving Em carrots made in their own water - how bad is this????????????????



its not the worst thing but i would not continue to do it. i read that it is ok to use the water from organic carrots...

Posted 2/3/10 11:40 PM
 

hunnybunnyxoxo
this is what it's all about

Member since 11/07

3321 total posts

Name:
Lisa

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by NoStressBride

Posted by hunnybunnyxoxo

my pleasure!!! i have lots of experience in this area!!

all her meals were homemade with the exception of 3 or 4 times..
even when we go out, we would bring our homemade purees and feed her there...




I have one for ya!! When you started her on meats chicken steak did you puree them also?? Mixed in with veggies??

What type of combo foods worked well together and you could freeze with no problem?
Right now I make her pears, applesauce, peaches, butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato I even combined carrots and pears.

She doesn't care for my veggie but she loves all the fruit. I need new ideas. She is starting to like sweet potato just mashed and I put it in little piece on her tray and she goes to town.



the very first time i made her chicken, i boiled chicken breasts and pureed it and gave it to her along with veggies on the side. i dont recommend doing that b/c the chicken pureed up chalky like and very gritty .
knowing what i know now, i recmd you buy a whole oven roaster chicken and cook it along with some veggies. once the chicken is cooked, pull the meat from the bone and throw it into the blender along with some veggies. you will have tp puree in batches b.c it will yield a lot of meat!
chicken on the bone always comes out moister. use both white and dark meat. dark meat is higher in iron than white.
i would serve the chicken cubes (that already had some veggies blended with it) along with cubes of already pureed veggies so that i knew dd was getting plenty of veg! ( so i would serve 1 cube of chicken with 2 cubes of whatever pureed veggie i had and give her a cube of fruit after )
i also liked making beef stew. it would freeze great and taste great too! eventually, i threw cooked brown rice into either the chicken or the beef...
everyone always wanted to know what she was eating b.c it always smelled so good! and tasted good too!

Posted 2/3/10 11:54 PM
 

Angel321
...

Member since 4/08

15553 total posts

Name:

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by hunnybunnyxoxo

Posted by davenjess

UM - OMG _ i have been giving Em carrots made in their own water - how bad is this????????????????



its not the worst thing but i would not continue to do it. i read that it is ok to use the water from organic carrots...



i am using organic carrots - but i threw away the batch where i used the water & made a new one...

Chat Icon Chat Icon

Posted 2/4/10 12:03 AM
 

BnBdreamin
Gonna be a BIG Bro in April!

Member since 10/06

5913 total posts

Name:
Denise

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Hey, here's one... anyone ever forget they were steaming and let the water cook out and ruin/almost ruin your pot!?!?!? Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Not to mention waste veggies!!!!! Chat Icon Chat Icon

I'm always good to run up and change a diaper while I'm steaming and then get side tracked while I'm upstairs only to wonder "what's that smell"?! Chat Icon

Posted 2/4/10 12:48 AM
 

Angel321
...

Member since 4/08

15553 total posts

Name:

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by BnBdreamin

Hey, here's one... anyone ever forget they were steaming and let the water cook out and ruin/almost ruin your pot!?!?!? Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Not to mention waste veggies!!!!! Chat Icon Chat Icon

I'm always good to run up and change a diaper while I'm steaming and then get side tracked while I'm upstairs only to wonder "what's that smell"?! Chat Icon



i have the beaba - so it's not really possible - but i could TOTALLY see myself doing that!!!!! Chat Icon Chat Icon

Posted 2/4/10 12:50 AM
 

NoStressMom
My Heart and Soul

Member since 5/05

11122 total posts

Name:
D

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by hunnybunnyxoxo

Posted by NoStressBride

Posted by hunnybunnyxoxo

my pleasure!!! i have lots of experience in this area!!

all her meals were homemade with the exception of 3 or 4 times..
even when we go out, we would bring our homemade purees and feed her there...




I have one for ya!! When you started her on meats chicken steak did you puree them also?? Mixed in with veggies??

What type of combo foods worked well together and you could freeze with no problem?
Right now I make her pears, applesauce, peaches, butternut squash, carrots, sweet potato I even combined carrots and pears.

She doesn't care for my veggie but she loves all the fruit. I need new ideas. She is starting to like sweet potato just mashed and I put it in little piece on her tray and she goes to town.



the very first time i made her chicken, i boiled chicken breasts and pureed it and gave it to her along with veggies on the side. i dont recommend doing that b/c the chicken pureed up chalky like and very gritty .
knowing what i know now, i recmd you buy a whole oven roaster chicken and cook it along with some veggies. once the chicken is cooked, pull the meat from the bone and throw it into the blender along with some veggies. you will have tp puree in batches b.c it will yield a lot of meat!
chicken on the bone always comes out moister. use both white and dark meat. dark meat is higher in iron than white.
i would serve the chicken cubes (that already had some veggies blended with it) along with cubes of already pureed veggies so that i knew dd was getting plenty of veg! ( so i would serve 1 cube of chicken with 2 cubes of whatever pureed veggie i had and give her a cube of fruit after )
i also liked making beef stew. it would freeze great and taste great too! eventually, i threw cooked brown rice into either the chicken or the beef...
everyone always wanted to know what she was eating b.c it always smelled so good! and tasted good too!



Great tips Lisa thanks again!!

Ok now I have another question for ya
When did you start adding spice salt, pepper, garlic, butter, onions?


Posted 2/4/10 11:36 AM
 

Gertyrae
Peace out Homies!

Member since 5/05

20046 total posts

Name:
Gerty ®

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by BnBdreamin

Hey, here's one... anyone ever forget they were steaming and let the water cook out and ruin/almost ruin your pot!?!?!? Chat Icon Chat Icon Chat Icon Not to mention waste veggies!!!!! Chat Icon Chat Icon

I'm always good to run up and change a diaper while I'm steaming and then get side tracked while I'm upstairs only to wonder "what's that smell"?! Chat Icon



Yup...and I ruined the silicone steamer for good. The pot was okay, but the steamer had half it's legs!!Chat Icon Chat Icon

Oh, and of course I was steaming broccoli so the house smelled like farts for day!Chat Icon

Posted 2/4/10 12:28 PM
 

hunnybunnyxoxo
this is what it's all about

Member since 11/07

3321 total posts

Name:
Lisa

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

i read salt is a no no! it's hard on their kidneys and really not necessary.
i never added salt to anything that i was making for dd.
now that she pretty much eats what we eat, i always make sure to lightly season any meat with salt.

i didnt add butter to anything either for a while.

the seasonings i used for the most part were fresh garlic, fresh onions, paprika, cinnamom, cumin.

she started meats around 6/7 months i think and i am pretty sure i started seasoning with garlic around 8 months.
i wasnt sure if garlic would disrupt her stomach so i waited a little bit.

my fav recipe from Annabel Karmel's top 100 baby purees was the chicken with leeks recipe! it was soooooooo tasty! havent made it in a while so maybe next week.

Posted 2/4/10 12:29 PM
 

NoStressMom
My Heart and Soul

Member since 5/05

11122 total posts

Name:
D

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

Posted by hunnybunnyxoxo

i read salt is a no no! it's hard on their kidneys and really not necessary.
i never added salt to anything that i was making for dd.
now that she pretty much eats what we eat, i always make sure to lightly season any meat with salt.

i didnt add butter to anything either for a while.

the seasonings i used for the most part were fresh garlic, fresh onions, paprika, cinnamom, cumin.

she started meats around 6/7 months i think and i am pretty sure i started seasoning with garlic around 8 months.
i wasnt sure if garlic would disrupt her stomach so i waited a little bit.

my fav recipe from Annabel Karmel's top 100 baby purees was the chicken with leeks recipe! it was soooooooo tasty! havent made it in a while so maybe next week.



Great thanks again

Posted 2/4/10 1:40 PM
 

ibl530
LIF Toddler

Member since 10/08

425 total posts

Name:

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

ok ladies. I got the go ahead to start with fruits and veggies. Ped said I could start with whatever I wanted, but b/c DD gets a little constipated, she suggested staying away from apples and bananas for right now.

I really wanted to start with veggies first so we didn't get the sweet taste first.

Does it matter if i start with carrots or sweet potato or butternut squash?

I was thinking carrots first.

I have the beaba, so, I was just going to make some small batches freeze it up, and go that route.

Any advice. I have checked out wholesomebaby (great website), and have a few cookbooks in the house. I have also checked out annabel karmels site.

Right now I "feed on demand", it tends to be every 3 1/2 hours. She gets cereal 2x a day. Should I just start with the veggie in the morning, or do I go both morning and night right away?

Thanks! Ahh, feel so nervous for some reason, but excited as well!!!

Posted 2/8/10 10:07 AM
 

pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe

Member since 9/05

32436 total posts

Name:
Stephanie

Re: *The Official Making Your Own Baby Food Thread :)

SO, I made KJ sweet potatoes and squash and he LOVED both of them. I need to go out and buy some ice cube trays and I will be all set

one question - how long can you leave the baby food in the fridge?

tiaChat Icon

Posted 2/8/10 10:08 AM
 
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