Debating making my own baby food

Any suggestions? Advice? Am I in over my head with a 2 year old and 5 month old?

Re: Debating making my own baby food

I made most but liked Earths best for fruits or veggie blends I wouldn't normally buy.

Re: Debating making my own baby food

I didn't Bc Earth's Best is organic and I was able to score amazing coupons.

So, to me, it wasn't worth it.

Re: Debating making my own baby food

Make extra and freeze. For example on Sunday's I often will make a few containers while my husband can watch the kids.

Re: Debating making my own baby food

I made my first child's food for a few months. Then I realized that earth's best was organic and didn't have anything added so I switched to that. I spent so much time making the food, freezing it, making sure it was defrosted, etc so having the jars was just easier. Try it and see how you like making it. You might enjoy it and if you don't, Earth's Best is a great option.

Re: Debating making my own baby food

I started with it, and it wasn't too hard. But dd never really took to purees, and what I found was that she liked the earths best better than my own. It was just smoother. Mine got a little texture-y in the freezer. So I made here and there, but also bought jars.

Debating making my own baby food

I made all of my daughters's purees and I loved doing it. I would make big batches once a week and freeze everything. She really only ate purees for like 4 or 5 months so it wasn't too bad.

Debating making my own baby food

It's really not that hard, especially if you aren't so strict about making everything. I did a lot of banana or avocado done you can just mash those worth a fork. Also sweet potatoes and squash are easy to make a big batch. I think peas are so much better homemade and both my girls loved them. I mostly made my own veggies and bought a lot of fruits. Although I did a peach mango that was really good and banana blueberry was another favorite. Is such a short time that they eat purees so it's not that much work.

Debating making my own baby food

Ok, I think I'm over it. Lol.

I picked up some beech nut bc they are "just" the fruit or veggie. Nothing else. They didn't have them when dd1 was on purees. We did earths best which I liked how it's organic, but it has absorbic acid which I don't love. Rather it have nothing or lemon juice concentrate.

Message edited 12/5/2015 9:51:27 PM.

Re: Debating making my own baby food

Re: Debating making my own baby food

With my first I made everything. Now with baby number 2 I said F that and went straight to the jars! I've been using Beech Nut.

Re: Debating making my own baby food

I actually liked it. With working full time, it was easier to make big batches (a little bit goes a long way) and have frozen, then worry about grocery shopping :)

Re: Debating making my own baby food

If you read the ingrediants on the Beechnut it's exactly the same as you'd make at home.
With a LOT less effort.

Re: Debating making my own baby food

Debating making my own baby food

Honestly i think its a personal decision and your going to get 100 answers... the truth is, do you have the time? Do you find its worth it? And do what is best for your family... thats all you can do...
give it a shot and make a decision based on that... you can also make some and buy some...

First foods i made... and then eventually started to buy a lot... i would say it was 50/50.... once we startes mixing i started buying more... she loved plum organics mixes... i also used ellas kitchen...
I always used organic when i bought premade. And i also only used organic fruit and veggies when i bought fresh...
Theres a great website that i used, i got from these ladies that was amazing with recipes, nutritional info, what age to start... ill look it up but can someone share it if they know it...
After like 1 maybe before that i mostly bought the food and would just make a few staples that i knew she loved that i cooked...

the only thing i hated about it was spending the time to make it only to find out she hates it... so frustrating when alone time was so sacred... lol

Give it a shot and see if its for you the only way to know is to try...

Re: Debating making my own baby food

Re: Debating making my own baby food

Two big money savers if you don't want to make all your baby food:

Bananas are super simple. Peel and mash in bowl with a fork and serve.

Apples we always bought apple sauce because it is WAY cheaper than baby food apples, thats why it is in all of the baby food blends. Its slightly more textured than baby apples but my infants never had a problem.

ETA: Avocado is also a good one to mash yourself and serve.

Message edited 12/6/2015 8:49:19 PM.

Debating making my own baby food

I did it and was super easy I just steamed everything one Sunday a month and put it in the freezer. My kids were 22 months apart . Sweet potatoes were great because I put 15 in the oven scooped them out and added some water in the blender then froze individual portions.

Message edited 12/6/2015 9:02:34 PM.

Re: Debating making my own baby food

It's just so easy to buy jars! And if you buy them on sale, it's really not very expensive. Plus, babies are only on purees for a short time, so IMO, the time I save is worth the (maybe) couple hundred dollars I'd spend in total on jars.

Debating making my own baby food

I did! shocking. Still do. DH and I can't afford to eat organic meat and all veggies, so I batch cook on a Sunday and freeze it.
I steam fruits and veggies in my steamer basket and puree them in my food processor (the full size Cuisinart). For the first foods, I strained them. Later, when the babies could handle some texture, I didn't pulse it as much.
I put them in the OXO cubes they sell at the baby store. I freeze the cubes, unmold them into a freezer safe zip loc bag and then defrost and reheat as needed.
Having said that, I found that the selection and variety of packets has really gotten better in the past 2 years. I use a lot more packets than I used to for things like Strawberries and Cherries, Mangoes, etc. Things that aren't in season fresh/organic so I use packets.

Debating making my own baby food

I made all the baby food for all three of my kids. I loved doing it! www.wholesomebabyfood.com is a great resource! It's really easy to do. IMO, it's worth it to give it a shot since you are considering it. The worst that can happen is that you'll realize it's too much and then you can switch to jars. I found it too be MUCH easier than I had anticipated. Good luck!

Re: Debating making my own baby food

I bought beech nut. But I'm of the "I can't be bothered" camp. lol.

Re: Debating making my own baby food

I tried it a few times but I'm not into cooking to begin with. I quickly switched to Earth's Best. I'd like to try Beechnut Organics this time, I've heard good things about them and they smell amazing.

Message edited 12/7/2015 7:33:31 PM.

Re: Debating making my own baby food

Debating making my own baby food

Not worth my time personally. If you have amazon prime there is great thing called "subscribe and save" I get all my diapers wipes, formula and baby food as well as other household items. They send to you monthly and it cheaper than even getting at warehouse clubs like BJs. I get my baby food delivered that way...