Can i make my own baby food

Is it OK to make my own baby food?

Yes, you may find several benefits to feeding your baby homemade foods. It can be less expensive than store bought, for example. It can let your child enjoy baby-friendly versions of foods they see the rest of the family eating. And it may be easier than you think. All you need is a blender, food processor, or even a hand-held mixer.

Keep these tips in mind to ensure homemade food is nutritious and safe for your baby:

When is my child ready to try baby food?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months. Before your child starts solid foods, be sure they are developmentally ready. They should be able to sit in a highchair or feeding seat with good head control, for example, and should show interest in food, opening their mouth on their own. Your pediatrician can help guide you through getting started.

What's the best way to get started making my own baby food?

First, think about foods are already on your menu. There's probably no need to make a special item. After introducing individual foods, you may want to try combinations. Don't worry too much about ratios—there is no magic formula. And try not to overthink which solids and how much of each to give your baby. (Remember that breastmilk or infant formula still provides the vast majority of calories and nutrients for infants under age 1.)

Instead, consider balancing several types of foods to offer different nutrients. You may find that your baby only eats a few bites of something new, so plan to store leftovers for later. Some foods may need to be offered 8-10 times before an infant or toddler eats them well.

Balance, moderation & variety

The latest USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage parents to “make every bite count" by having every food in an infant's diet support nutrition and growth needs. Think of each bite as a chance for your child to explore the color, taste, and texture of a nutritious food.

When offering your baby new foods, try to include fruits and vegetables in each color of the rainbow. Also offer good sources of protein (such as beans, chicken, fish, and yogurt), fat, and iron (for example, iron-fortified oat cereal or meats). Serving a variety of foods also is key to helping lower the risk of toxic element exposure for your baby. (See Heavy Metals in Baby Food.)

Get those allergen foods in!

Early exposure to common food allergy culprits, such as egg, soy, gluten, dairy, nuts and fish, can lower the risk of babies developing allergies to them. Try mixing a small amount of peanut butter with oatmeal cereal, for example, or offer bites of scrambled egg. You can also introduce yogurt or shredded cheese once your baby is eating solids, along with small bites of a well-cooked white fish like tilapia or cod. If your child has severe eczema or an egg allergy, be sure to discuss introduction of these foods with your pediatrician.

What should I avoid?

Do not feed infants under age 1 honey, since it can contain bacteria that could make them sick. Also beware of foods that may be a choking hazard, such as nuts or raw carrots. You can offer your baby water with meals, but it is best to avoid all other beverages except breastmilk or formula. Homemade foods should not replace breast milk or infant formula, and remember that you should not make infant formula at home. (See Is Homemade Baby Formula Safe?)

Storing homemade baby food

Some parents like to prep in advance by cooking in batches and storing the pre-made baby food. This can make life easier during busy days. Consider freezing the leftovers to use another time. After cooking, an ice cube tray is a wonderful way to freeze leftover food. Each cube is about 1 oz of food, and you can transfer to a zipped plastic bag or other storage container after freezing. Be sure to label the type of food and the date. Plan to eat frozen baby food within 3 months by reheating on the stove or in the microwave.

What about baby-led weaning?

Some families choose to skip pureed foods and offer babies small bites of regular table foods, typically without utensils. This allows infants who reject purees or prefer texture to feed themselves, even choosing what and how much they eat.

It's a good idea to talk with your pediatrician before starting. Your child should show signs of general developmental readiness for solids, plus the ability to bring their hands to their mouth. Begin with small bites of soft or mashed foods first, such as baked sweet potato, scrambled egg, small pieces of banana or ripe mango, or green peas. Remember to avoid raw vegetables, nuts and seeds, popcorn, whole grapes, and other foods that may increase choking risk.

Remember

What's right for your family may not be the same as for your friends, so try to avoid comparisons. All families are different and strive to do their best. Making homemade baby food is a great option, but don't feel badly if you need to use store-bought food, as well. Family size, budget, and schedule all contribute to these decisions. Just remember to offer a variety of foods to your baby, and make every bite count!

More information

Starting Solid Foods
Choking Prevention
Ask the Pediatrician: How should we feed our baby if we're running low on money?
Heavy Metals in Baby Food

How to make baby food: Homemade baby food tips, ingredients, and storage

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Photo credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy for BabyCenter

Making your own baby food is easier than you might think and can be less expensive than buying prepackaged baby food. It's also convenient because you can use any produce, grains, and meat you have on hand.

Homemade baby food can be as simple as a pureed or mashed version of what you're serving the rest of your family. This also gets your baby used to eating the same food as everyone else, a strategy that could pay off during the picky toddler years.

Before feeding your baby homemade baby food, be sure they're ready to start solids. Babies typically don't need anything other than breastmilk or formula until they're 6 months old, and they're usually ready to start solids around then.

Signs your baby is ready to start eating solids include having good head and neck control, being able to sit up, and being interested in food – they'll show this by opening their mouth and leaning forward when food is near.

You can start with baby cereal or a single pureed or well-mashed fruit, vegetable or even meat. Introduce a variety of single-food purees first; once they've tried several of those, you can start combining multiple foods.

Feed your baby with a soft-tipped spoon, and be patient as they learn to eat. When they turn their head away, lean back, refuse to open their mouth, or start to fuss or play with the spoon, they're done eating.

For more inspiration, check out our age-by-age guide to feeding your baby, our gallery of baby food recipes, and our guide to finger foods.

Photo credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy for BabyCenter

What you'll need to make baby food

To make baby food, you'll need a tool to grind or puree. Possibilities range from an electric baby-food maker to a good old-fashioned fork:

A baby-food maker. This all-in-one tool first steam-cooks and then purees fruit, vegetables, and meat. Some models can defrost and reheat previously prepared food. Since babies usually only eat purees for a short period of time, many parents might not have the space or want to invest in a baby-food maker – but there are plenty of tools already in your kitchen you can use.
A blender or food processor. Some parents like them, since it's really easy to throw food in together and blend it. But others find them too cumbersome and don't like the amount of cleanup required for small jobs.
A hand blender. This handheld electric gadget purees food like a blender, but works in the opposite way: You place it into the food rather than vice versa.
A hand-turned food mill with different blades for various textures of food. Many parents say this portable, non-electric gadget is their favorite tool.
A baby-food grinder. Non-electric, portable, and very inexpensive, this simple tool breaks down chunks of food like the mill, but it only has one setting. Read reviews before ordering – the grinders don't always work as well as they promise. However, some parents swear by them.
A steamer can be perfect for softening vegetables to mash into baby food, though you can usually do this just as well in a microwave or over the stove.
A fork. This ubiquitous piece of cutlery is all you need to transform easily mashed foods such as baked sweet potatoes, avocados, and bananas into a meal for your baby.
A strainer or sieve to get rid of larger chunks or seeds. This isn't necessary, but can help make purees easier for your baby to eat when they're first starting solids.

Photo credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy for BabyCenter

How to choose baby food ingredients

Choose fresh fruits and vegetables, and try to use what you buy within a few days. When fresh isn't available, frozen is a good option as well. Use a rainbow of colors of produce in your baby's food – a variety of colors means a variety of vitamins and nutrients.

Some great ingredients to use in baby food include:

Avocados make a great first food because they're soft and easy to mash, and a great texture for your baby to start solids with. They also contain healthy fats and other essential nutrients.
Bananas are also soft and easy to mash, and are easily a favorite for how naturally sweet they are. Bananas are also full of potassium and vitamins.
Berries are full of vitamins and antioxidants – plus, they're tasty!
Green vegetables like broccoli and green beans are packed with vitamins for your baby. Steam them until they're very soft and puree on their own, or blend with other foods.
Beans are a perfect food to mash up for your baby. They're a tasty source of protein, vitamins, and minerals like zinc and iron.
Meat such as chicken, turkey, beef, or fish will give your baby protein. You can use meat you've prepared for the whole family (make sure it's well cooked), and puree it for your baby, on its own or mixed with other food.
Sweet potatoes are tasty and packed with vitamin C. Cook the sweet potato to soften it, then mash or puree it for your baby.
Squash can pair well with other veggies or fruits. Cook it well so that it's soft, then mash or blend it.
Oats are full of fiber and, if fortified, iron. You can buy baby oatmeal at the store and mix it with breast milk, formula, or other pureed baby food. You can make homemade oatmeal by grinding oats and mixing them with a liquid, but experts don't recommend it since homemade oatmeal isn't fortified with nutrients your baby needs. (More on that below.)

Photo credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy for BabyCenter

How to make your own baby food

When preparing to make your own baby food, keep your baby's eating abilities in mind. They aren't able to chew much, and are just getting used to swallowing food. Make sure any tough parts of the food (such as skin), or any potential choking hazards (like seeds or pits), are removed.

Cook the food you're using until it's very soft and tender. Mash and puree it, and mix with any other foods if you're making a combination. If you need to thin the food, mix it with some water, breast milk, or formula.

When first introducing your baby to solids, start with a single type of food. Feed it to them for a few days before introducing another single food. Once your baby has had a variety of single foods with no allergic reaction, you can start combining them together for different tastes.

You can also feed your baby whatever you're making for the rest of your family, as long as it doesn't have added sugar, honey, or salt. While you're cooking, set aside a small portion for your baby before you add seasonings. Once your baby gets used to the taste of plain food, you can add herbs and spices to introduce them to new flavors.

Photo credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy for BabyCenter

Preparing fruits and veggies to make baby food

When preparing fruits and veggies for baby food, make sure they're skinned well and that any pits or large seeds are removed. You don't necessarily need to strain the small seeds in berries, since they aren't a choking hazard. Your baby probably won't digest the seeds very well, so you may see them in their diaper later – but that's nothing to worry about.

Wash your produce before serving it to your baby. You can rinse it with water, soak it in a water bath (with a bit of white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or baking soda), or boil it – which has the added benefit of softening your produce before you puree it for your baby.

Remove any outer shells around vegetables like peas or edamame. With citrus fruit like oranges, you might want to remove as much of the membrane as you can, since that part of it can be tough and might not blend as well in a puree.

Once all skins and seeds are removed, cook your fruit or vegetable (if needed) until it's soft and can be easily mashed or pureed.

Since bananas and avocados are already soft, you don't need to cook them before mashing or pureeing. You can peel, mash with a fork, and serve. If the texture is too thick for your baby, mix it with a bit of water, breast milk, or formula.

Photo credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy for BabyCenter

Preparing cereals and grains to make baby food

Fortified baby cereal is a good source of iron and zinc. It might be made out of oats, barley, rice, wheat, quinoa, or multiple grains. With fortified baby cereal that you buy at the store, all you need to do is mix it with some breast milk, baby formula, or water.

When your baby is first getting used to eating solids, mix it with more breast milk or formula to make it thinner and easier to swallow. To start, try mixing 1 tablespoon of baby cereal with 4 tablespoons of water, breast milk or formula. As your baby gradually gets more used to eating solids, you can mix it with less liquid so it's thicker.

You can make baby cereal from scratch, but it won't have all the added nutrients that store-bought cereals are fortified with, like iron, zinc, and vitamins.

If you make your own baby cereal at home, make sure that you grind whatever grain you're using very finely for your baby, then cook it in boiling water. Add warmed breast milk or infant formula to thin it out.

You can also prepare it in reverse, cooking the grain first and then blending it into a puree. Then you can serve it to your baby right away, or freeze it for later.

Photo credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy for BabyCenter

Preparing meat and fish to make baby food

You can make baby food from beef, chicken, turkey, pork, or fish. Keep in mind that some types of fish (such as marlin, tilefish, and shark) aren't safe for babies because they have high levels of mercury.

Babies are especially sensitive to bacteria in undercooked meat and could get food poisoning, so be sure to cook all meats to the right temperature: 145 degrees Fahrenheit for fish and whole cuts of beef and pork, 160 degrees for ground beef, and 165 degrees for chicken and other types of poultry, as well as all kinds of leftovers.

Since chunks of meat can be choking hazards, especially when your baby is first starting solids, puree the meat for your baby until it's a thin consistency. Also be sure that all the skin, gristle, and bones are removed.

If your baby doesn't like the taste of meat by itself, try mixing it in a puree with a fruit or vegetable.

Photo credit: Thayer Allyson Gowdy for BabyCenter

Homemade baby food storage and serving

Here are some extra pointers for storing and serving baby food:

Serve food no warmer than body temperature.
Take care if you heat meals in the microwave. Microwaves heat unevenly and can create "hot spots" – areas of the food that are much hotter than others – so be sure to stir microwaved food well and let it sit for a few minutes before serving.
Dish out only the amount of food you think your baby will eat at that feeding. You'll need to toss what's left over in your baby's bowl because your baby's saliva will get into the mixture and make it easier for bacteria to grow in the food.
Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and use them within a couple of days.
Try freezing baby food in ice cube trays to make it easier to store and serve. After the cubes are frozen solid, remove them and store in plastic freezer bags. Frozen fruits and vegetables will last six to eight months in the freezer; meat and fish will last one to two months.
Babies can't drink cow's milk until they're a year old, so don't use it in homemade baby food. If your baby food is too thick for your baby to swallow, thin it with plain water, breast milk, or formula.
Feeding your baby potentially allergenic foods (such as smooth peanut butter, eggs, and dairy) early can help prevent a food allergy. If your baby is at higher risk for a food allergy – if they have chronic eczema or if a sibling or parent has a food allergy – talk to your pediatrician about the best way to introduce potentially allergenic foods.
Remember that it's okay to buy prepackaged baby food if it works better for your family – it has all the same nutrients your baby needs to grow and thrive.

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Kandis Lake

Kandis Lake is a registered nurse, health writer, and mom of three kids. She lives in Utah and loves reading and adventuring with her family.

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How to cook baby food - Encyclopedia Baby food

Viktoriya Levchuk© Broccoli, zucchini and cauliflower puree

Taking care of your child's health in today's world means starting complementary foods right with whole, healthy foods prepared with love. Most mothers will immediately ask how to prepare baby food that is of high quality, easily digestible and tasty.

Canned food can sometimes seem easy to feed a baby, but when you start reading the ingredients of each tiny can (not to mention the cost of each can), it makes more sense to try your hand at making homemade baby food yourself. nine0005

When you think about how to prepare baby food, it seems so complicated. However, everything is much easier. In fact, baby food is the easiest recipe to prepare. Many mothers who hate to cook learn how to cook with healthy complementary foods for their beloved child.

Let's start with a few practical tips on what you need, what products to choose and what else to keep in mind to make the process as easy as possible.

Contents:

So, how to prepare baby food? Simple - choose a fruit or vegetable that needs to be introduced into complementary foods, cook until tender, make a smooth puree and voila ... a batch of baby food is ready. And now to the details, the following tips will teach you how to cook baby food in no time. nine0005

1. Buying the right tools

Blender

This “devil machine” is the best assistant in the kitchen. Only a blender can bring fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and other products to the ideal consistency. During the first few months, solid foods are made smooth and tender without lumps so that the baby's digestion slowly gets used to the complex textures.

Stainless saucepan

Good, regular dishes will always be washed. The first experiments burn, stick and are almost not washed off. Buy one good quality baby food pot. I have never regretted in 6 years. She washes with a brush, dishwasher, iron brush and she is still like new. We choose high-quality, stainless dishes, small up to 1 liter, with a good handle and lid. I have a lid with heat protection, I can take it with my bare hands, it is not hot, and neither is the pen.

Broth with peas and rice

Baby food freezer tray with lid

One good plastic or flexible silicone tray will last a long time. Moreover, it is needed for the first 4-6 months; you will not need to freeze baby purees anymore. You can buy without a lid, but then you have to suffer from bags, as baby purees love to absorb odors from the freezer. During meals, portions can be diced and heated in the microwave before serving. nine0005 freeze mold

Food thermometer

Many new mothers are advised to buy a food thermometer. I didn't buy. My wrist was an indicator, always, if I'm hot, then the child will be very hot. But for speed and convenience, a food thermometer comes in handy to make sure the food is at the right temperature for small mouths.

Steamer or multicooker

A modern kitchen cannot do without these devices, because it is easier and more useful for us. In principle, a slow cooker will always help out when you need to cook porridge, and a double boiler - a lot of vegetables and fruits. These tools always help out, save the time of an eternally busy mother. I advise!!!

2. Choose Your First Foods Carefully

Choose fruits and vegetables for your first weaning foods that are rich in nutrients. Brightly colored vegetables are fresh vegetables. For the first feeding, foods such as broccoli, zucchini, zucchini, pumpkin are suitable, they are rich in vitamins, and at the same time look attractive. Fruits such as apple and pear can be introduced from about six months of age and are also very rich in vitamins, such as blueberries and peaches. nine0005

It's a good idea to talk to your doctor about which foods to introduce first and what is the best age to start complementary foods (this can be between four and six months) and don't forget to start with one.

We offer the child the same food for four days - if any signs of allergy appear, the mother will immediately notice it.

3. Safety first

Making homemade baby food is a convenient way to provide your baby with a healthy diet free of additives and preservatives. nine0005

Preparing and freezing small batches of food in advance makes the task much easier. However, do not forget to throw away any food that has been touched with a used feeding spoon, food that has already been reheated, and food that has been in the freezer for too long. At first, it is recommended to keep frozen baby puree for no more than 1 month in the freezer.

Children's dishes can be washed in the dishwasher, the only thing you have to do is choose a cleaning agent for children. If there is no dishwasher, then wash the dishes under hot water, at first you can pour boiling water over before use. nine0005

Food should always be warm, but not hot. If there is no thermometer, we measure the temperature of the food with the back of the wrist before serving.

Avoid food or utensils that contain harsh chemicals that can react in microwaves or ovens and always keep your hands clean before handling any food.

I remind you that your child should wash their hands before preparing food. They should be washed frequently, as well as products that are cleaned and then cut. nine0005

What happens when products are rejected?

It is important to understand that a child likes and dislikes certain foods, but it is important to consider that as the baby develops, his tiny taste buds also grow and new taste preferences appear. Parents need to be patient, first feeding is a messy experience, so keep enough rags and bibs on hand to enjoy your baby's first tastes.

Baby food at home: recipes, videos

The growing up of a little person is a delightful process that cannot but please the parents of the crumbs. However, the first feeling that mom and dad face when it comes time to introduce complementary foods into a child's diet is confusion.

Which food is the most healthy, hypoallergenic and delicious? Most often, the first "real" meal of the crumbs after mother's milk and formula is vegetable or fruit puree. The choice of baby food on store shelves is very wide - each manufacturer tries to convince the buyer that jars with beautiful labels contain only natural products, there are no dyes, sweeteners and other harmful additives. A variety of "meals" for babies in factory packaging marked "3+ months." does not guarantee the true usefulness of the product that is inside. Every mother understands that complementary foods prepared on her own, from natural products, are much better for her child. nine0005

Another advantage of making your own baby food is that you can choose the best ingredients, wash fruits, berries or vegetables thoroughly, peel them well and remove damaged parts. In addition, the parents of the crumbs themselves can choose the way - how best to cook baby food: food can not only be boiled, but also baked in the oven or cooked in a double boiler.

It is also important that home-made baby puree is much tastier, it will undoubtedly be useful for a growing organism and will not cause allergies! Even the simplest children's dish, prepared by mom, keeps the warmth of caring hands and cannot be compared with expensive dishes from the store. nine0005

What should be the correct complementary foods for children? Of course, you should start with one ingredient (such purees are called one-component purees), then move on to more complex options. Experts emphasize that the most suitable product for the first "dish" is zucchini. Cauliflower can also be considered neutral. Gradually it will be possible to introduce carrots, pumpkins, potatoes, broccoli and green peas. At the first stage of the introduction of complementary foods, it is better to give preference to vegetable purees and switch to fruit purees when the child already treats “serious” food well. nine0005

The basic rules and principles of preparing high-quality baby food yourself:

it is best to take fresh products for preparations: fruits from the tree, berries from the bush and vegetables from the garden are much healthier than those that have already been in the refrigerator for a week. If there are no seasonal vegetables at the time of preparation, the use of frozen foods is acceptable, but in this case, try to give preference to whole fruits - they retain the greatest amount of nutrients; nine0024
only filtered water should be used for cooking vegetables;
the preparation of baby food requires, if not separate dishes, then thoroughly washed. Do not, for example, cut vegetables on a meat board. If there is a dog or cat in the house, then you need to restrict her access to the kitchen when food is being prepared;
It is not recommended to use vegetables and fruits in the diet of infants, in which the content of chemical additives is consistently high. These often include watermelons and melons, beets, spinach and lettuce; nine0024
It is better to soak vegetables purchased on the market with water before cooking: put carrots, potatoes, zucchini and cauliflower in filtered water for a couple of hours - this will remove nitrates;
do not leave excess mashed potatoes for the next meal: the child should be given only freshly prepared food, and "yesterday's" mashed potatoes are best eaten by adults or given to pets;
you can choose cream, boiled egg yolk, grated cheese or finely chopped dill as an additive to puree - this will diversify dishes for children from 8 months; nine0024
try it! Children's food can and should be enjoyed by an adult.

There is another question that often worries parents: is it permissible to preserve baby puree and how to do it correctly? After all, such complementary foods for the developing body of a small child must be prepared daily for one or even two or three years: until the baby is ready to eat adult food from the common table. Not every mother has the time and opportunity to prepare baby puree daily, but you don’t want to buy food for the baby in the store. In addition, it is obvious that in the winter-spring period it is almost impossible to find fruits and vegetables grown without the addition of chemicals. The answer to the question is quite simple: the requirements for the conditions for preparing baby food are very strict (keeping the temperature, sterilizing jars, etc.), but using an autoclave solves all problems: all that is required is to load jars with blanks into the autoclave for 20 minutes and set temperature 120 degrees. After cooling, it is better to store baby food in a dark, cool place for about 12 months, daily delighting the child with homemade homemade food. nine0005

Pumpkin puree: tender and aromatic

Pumpkin is a tasty vegetable that is good for babies. This fruit has a beneficial effect on digestion, is well absorbed by the child's body and is rich in various vitamins: A, C, B, B2, E, PP, T. In addition, the carotene content in pumpkin is 5 times higher than in carrots!

Baby pumpkin puree has a sweet taste, so the kids eat this dish with great pleasure. For preparations, it is better to buy small whole pumpkins, as they usually taste better than large ones and are easier to peel. nine0005

Rinse pumpkin well under running water, peel, cut in half, remove seeds.
Then you need to cut the fruit into small cubes, put in a saucepan and pour water. Cooking time after boiling - 20 minutes. You can also steam pumpkin: it will retain more nutrients with the same cooking time.
The next step is to beat the cooked pumpkin with a blender until the consistency of a gentle puree. If the dish turned out to be thick, add water or milk (milk mixture). nine0024
Vegetable oil and salt are added to pumpkin puree to taste, but these additives should be used with caution: only if they are acceptable for the age of the child.

For babies older than 8 months, pumpkin puree is supplemented with other fruits and vegetables, and also added to porridge.

Broccoli puree: simplicity and elegance

Broccoli is not just cabbage, but a storehouse of vitamins and microelements! Beautiful on the outside and fantastic on the inside - the high content of protein and vitamin C (there is more in broccoli than in citrus!) deserves special attention. There are many articles on the Internet about the benefits of broccoli, and preparing this product is not at all difficult. nine0005

To prepare this type of cabbage for baby food, you need to choose the highest quality product: the inflorescences must be unopened, green, moderately elastic.

Broccoli should be washed, cut into pieces and boiled. Steaming will take 20 minutes, in water - faster: fresh cabbage should be boiled for a little more than 5 minutes, and frozen - at least 10. When cooking, do not pour a lot of water, it should only cover the vegetables a little.
When the cabbage is cooked, it must be taken out, put into a blender bowl and chopped to a puree state, add a little warm boiled water.
Add salt and butter to taste.

Pear puree: a fragrant dessert

It's no secret that babies love fruit puree - almost all children like sweet dishes. The pear is a suitable option for the first one-component fruit food - a sweet fragrant fruit that has a high concentration of vitamins, stimulates digestion and almost never causes allergies. nine0005

If you want to cook a safe puree for your child at home, then it is best to choose green pears, these are the fruits that are considered to be the least allergenic.

Fruit must be peeled, core removed with seeds, cut into cubes.
Transfer the pear to a heavy-bottomed enamel saucepan, add a little water and simmer over low heat for 15-20 minutes.
Then transfer to a blender bowl and puree until smooth. If the puree is too thick, add a little warm boiled water. nine0024
You can dilute the dish with milk or formula - it depends on the taste preferences of the baby.

A similar recipe is used for applesauce. In the future, try to combine these two fruits in one dish.

Classic apple-zucchini puree

A good appetite of a baby pleases every mother, but little gourmets are often capricious, and it is not easy to please them. Zucchini and apple puree is a classic combination of products that will diversify the baby's menu already in the fifth or sixth month of life. nine0005

This complementary food contains only hypoallergenic products, has a positive effect on the functioning of the heart, and stimulates the strengthening of the immune system.

Selected products should be thoroughly washed, peeled, core removed from apples.
Cut zucchini and apples into cubes, put fruits in a cooking pot first - they should cook for 5 minutes longer, and then vegetables. The total cooking time is 20 minutes.
When the food becomes soft, it must be ground to a puree with a blender. nine0024
To taste - dilute with water, add salt, oil.

This puree can be considered an independent dish for the little ones or become a delicious side dish for older kids.

Colorful carrot-potato puree

For many parents, carrots and potatoes are the simplest and most understandable type of complementary food for the baby. However, if you cook and serve standard products a little differently than usual, you can improve the traditional taste of a classic dish. nine0005

Young potatoes should not be chosen for baby puree - they contain a lot of starch. Carrots, on the contrary, it is better to buy young ones.

Wash and peel the vegetables thoroughly and cut into cubes.
It is better to steam the mashed potatoes and carrots, the vegetables should be boiled separately. Cook until tender, 20 minutes on average.
Separately, puree the vegetables in a blender, diluting with warm water if needed. nine0024

Both types of puree are beautifully placed on a plate without mixing: the child can decide for himself whether to mix food or eat separately.

Exotic variety: mango puree

Tropical fruits should not be offered to a small child before 7-8 months and only if there was no allergy to other products.

Mango is an aromatic fruit with an original pleasant taste. This fruit helps to overcome colds, reduce inflammation in the body, improve sleep and normalize the functioning of the stomach. nine0005

To feed the baby, ripened fruits should be selected - quite soft, yellow-red in color.

Fruit should be peeled and pitted, cut into cubes.
Put the raw mango in a blender, purée, transfer to a heavy-bottomed pot and boil for a few minutes.

Older children may be offered uncooked mango puree. This fruit is completely independent - no need to add sugar or water! nine0005

Sweet pumpkin puree with apple

This puree is called sweet, since both pumpkin and apples are foods with sufficient sugar content. Such a dish is well suited as a dessert for children who already eat “serious” food well - vegetable purees and cereals.

In addition, such complementary foods are an excellent option for the autumn-winter period: seasonal products contain enough choline, a lot of fiber, natural proteins and vitamins (groups A, B, C, E, etc.), zinc, sodium, calcium and only! nine0005

Pumpkins and apples need to be peeled, peeled and seeds removed, cut into cubes and sent to a double boiler.
Cook for about 20 minutes until the food is soft. Then place them in a blender bowl, add raisins and chop. If the child chews well, mash everything with a fork, and leave the raisins whole.

Hearty puree with celery and turkey

For older kids, meat is added to vegetable dishes - turkey fillet is an excellent option for developing a child's taste preferences. Appetizing and fragrant meat puree includes only three ingredients: celery root, turkey fillet, butter. nine0005

The proportion of meat and celery should be approximately 10:1, the amount of butter to your taste.