Baby Food: Making Your Own Purees
Today I'd like to share some basic fruit and vegetable puree recipes which are ideal for making your own stage 1 baby food, as well as adding flavor, texture and nutrients to older stage foods for babies and toddlers (and even older!). I use my fruit and vegetable purees in pasta dishes often to give my picky eater older daughter some added vitamins and minerals in her meals! These purees are delicious and are fresh and healthy as well!
If you refer back to last week's recipe post, you'll see that I recommend having a way to steam your fruits and vegetables, as well as a way to thoroughly puree them to a smooth consistency, especially for Stage 1 baby foods. I bought a rice cooker/steamer when my first daughter was born and then I was given the Baby Bullet as a gift last year, which I love; however any good food processor will do. Keeping these important tools in mind, here are some simple recipes for making your basic Stage 1 baby food purees:
Pureed Banana
*Bananas do not need to be steamed.
1. Place one peeled banana in food processor
2. Add ¼ cup of water (I like to use purified baby water)
3. Puree in the processor until smooth (pudding consistency). Enjoy!
Pureed Butternut Squash
*I like to buy the fresh cubes of butternut squash in the produce section to cut down on time.
1. Place butternut squash cubes in the steamer and steam until very soft - can put a fork through it and will easily break apart.
2. Add the squash immediately to the food processor
3. Add a few tablespoons of water (amount determined by how much squash made)
4. Puree in the processor until smooth (pudding consistency). Enjoy!
Pureed Peaches and Plums
*These two fruits can be pureed the same way
1. Cut the fruit in half and remove the pit
2. Cut an X into the skin of the fruit on each half
3. Place in the steamer until the skin has started to separate from the pulp. The skin at that point will just peel off
4. Add the fruit immediately to the food processor
5. Add a few tablespoons of water
6. Puree in the processor until smooth (pudding consistency). Enjoy!
*All of these purees can be frozen to be enjoyed later. All of them should at least be refrigerated to maintain freshness, but should be eaten within 2-3 days, or it is better to freeze. Making your own purees this way is both healthy and cost effective! You can double or even triple the amount of food for the same price as buying premade foods when you make your own!
Join me next week for some holiday recipes your kids and students will love!