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Make or buy baby food


Your Baby’s Food: Homemade or Store Bought?

Making your own baby food is a very personal decision many mothers think about. It is not always an easy choice because there are a lot of factors such as lifestyle, cost, benefits and risks that go into it. As my best friend put it,

“There is something really gratifying and pure about making Henri’s food. Since it is made by me, I know exactly what goes in his tummy. And of course, I have to taste it, making me more aware of the flavors my child does and does not like.”

What is Most Important: Experts Weigh In

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the most important concern surrounding the decision of what to feed your child is to provide an “adequate amount of essential nutrients by consuming appropriate quantities and types of food.”

Essential Nutrients for Babies

Some important essential nutrients for your baby include protein, healthy fats, iron, vitamins D, A and B12. As long as your child receives important nutrients, whether it’s from homemade baby food or store bought, you are providing your baby with the building blocks for their future growth and development. I found this guide from USDA.gov helpful in learning about the nutritional needs of my baby. I think you will to!

Year One

Many of you may be breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of age. During this time, the sole form of nutrition should be breast milk. After six months of age, complimentary foods may be introduced into your baby’s diet. This may be in the form of rice, cereal, vegetables and fruit. These are some of many nutrient based complimentary foods AAP recommends in your baby’s diet.

When your baby is at least six months and ready to begin eating solid food, your question may be, “Should I make my own baby food or buy it from the store?”  The rest of this blog post helps answer your question!

Should You Consider Making Your Baby’s Own Food?  

The benefit of making your own baby food is knowing exactly what your baby is eating with no worry of extra “surprise” ingredients. Here are tips to consider when making your own baby food:

  • ALWAYS follow strict food safety rules for preparing and storing homemade baby foods. Refer to this easy guide from FoodSafety.gov for details on baby food preparation and storing safety.
  • Wash fresh produce thoroughly.
  • Use fresh fruits and vegetables as much as possible. Prepare fresh produce shortly after purchasing in order to preserve the nutrients.
  • Remove peels, cores and seeds in any produce.
  • Remove skin and trim all visible fat from meats.
  • Cook meats by baking, broiling or stewing.
  • For younger infants, puree meat in a blender to desired consistency by adding a small amount of fluid. For older infants, chop meat and poultry into very small pieces.
  • Avoid using canned fruits and vegetables with added salt or sugar.
  • Serve food plain. Do NOT add seasoning and spices to your baby’s food.
  • To adjust flavors add other pureed foods that your baby has already eaten.
  • Never incorporate foods that your child has never eaten. There may be a food allergy you are not aware of.
  • Introduce new foods one at a time in order to make sure there is no food allergy connected with a particular food.
  • Avoid adding eggs or dairy before age one. Dairy and eggs at such a young age can cause a food allergy.
  • Homemade food kept in the refrigerator should be eaten within 48 hours after preparing.
  • If you are making large batches, freeze in BPA-free containers with proper lids. Label and date all containers.

Are There Ingredients to Avoid in Store Bought Baby Food?

Actually, no there is not. In my research for this post, there aren’t ingredients to avoid in store bought baby food, but there are additives to avoid. Make sure there is no corn syrup and sugars added. Generally, baby food has fewer additives that other food. Purchase foods that have only fruits and/or vegetables and water added. Many families lean towards organic brands because they know the food is free of pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals. If the cost of organic brands is too high, read the labels and make sure there are no additives like corn syrup, sugars or other ingredients that are not real food or food-based.

 There are Benefits to Store Bought Baby Food

 The biggest benefit is convenience! I cannot say it enough. It requires less careful preparation and cleaning, less pureeing, less freezing and less waste. Baby food manufacturers are constantly creating new products, which allows for easier and lighter carrying. Companies have started packaging their foods in pouches, which are easier to carry than glass jars.  Also, many companies package their baby foods in ways that are designed to help parents advance their baby’s diet at the right age.

At the end of the day, the decision to make your own baby food or buy food for your baby is a decision that needs to fit into your lifestyle. As long as you are providing your child with a healthy well-rounded diet, you really cannot go wrong.

Baby Food: Homemade vs. Store Bought

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Homemade baby food has been a topic circling the internet for quite some time as an alternative to buying commercial baby food. However, there are many conflicting opinions about whether making your own baby food is the best option for your little one.

Many people rely on baby-led weaning as their main approach to introducing solids. Baby-led weaning is the process of introducing solid whole foods when your baby is around six months of age.

However, there are many disadvantages to using baby-led weaning as your approach to introducing solids. We talk about it more in these blog posts, Baby-Led Weaning + Gut Health and Baby-Led Weaning + Nutritional Deficiencies.

On the other end of the spectrum, making homemade baby food by pureeing fresh food is actually the healthiest option for your baby to start eating solid foods. And even further, homemade versus store bought commercial baby food is the way to go! We’ll explain why down below.

If you’re a new parent and you’re trying to figure out which route to take when it comes to introducing solids, listen up.

This article covers:

  • The main advantages of making your baby’s food
  • How to make your own baby food
  • The difference between homemade pureed food and solid food

6 Advantages of Homemade Baby Food

1. Lower Cost

There are many advantages to making your own baby food. For example, making your own baby food comes at a much lower cost than buying commercial baby food. When you make homemade baby food, you’re only paying for the ingredients you put into it. You’re not paying for the company to manufacture and distribute the product.

In addition, you won’t need to go out and purchase separate baby food to feed your little one. You can just use the foods you’re eating, as long as it’s safe for your baby, and puree it into their own portion.

2. Creates Healthy Eating Habits

The next advantage of making homemade baby food is that you start to create healthy eating habits at a young age. Your baby isn’t stuck eating pureed mush in a jar or pouch. When you make it yourself, you get to control the texture and way in which your baby consumes it – spoon fed, self-fed, etc.

You’re exposing them to fresh, healthy ingredients blended in a way that they enjoy, so they’ll learn to love eating healthy! Plus, you’re exposing their taste buds to a variety of different foods at a young age, leading them to make healthier choices as they grow up!

3. Provides Essential Nutrients

Another advantage of homemade baby food is the difference in vital nutrients. Baby food manufacturers use high temperatures to kill bacteria in baby food, killing essential nutrients. Consequently, not getting enough essential nutrients can cause digestive issues later on.

However, by making your own baby food, you’re not getting rid of any essential nutrients; you’re just blending nutritious foods and feeding them to your little one. It doesn’t get much fresher than that!

4.

Less Toxins

Probably one of the greatest advantages of homemade baby food when compared to pre-made store bought options is that you have greater control over the potential toxins in the food your baby consumes. Manufactured baby food is often laden with heavy metals and dangerous toxins. By making your baby’s food at home, you get to control the inputs by purchasing fresh, organic and high quality ingredients. You can read more about this in our post, Heavy Metals in Baby Food.

5. More Convenient

Making homemade baby food is also more convenient. You don’t need to make a trip to your local grocery store to buy jars or pouches of baby food. All you have to do is use fresh ingredients that are safe for your baby and blend!

Making homemade baby food works wonders for busy parents who don’t have extra time to head out to the store. In addition, you can meal prep homemade baby food ahead of time instead of on a daily basis!

6. Helps Your Transition to Finger and Family Food

In addition, making homemade baby food helps your baby wean off breast milk and transition to finger and family foods with ease. For example, once your baby is ready for solids, introducing delicious textures and new flavors will make weaning much easier.

Similarly, giving your baby the same foods you’re eating but in pureed form makes transitioning to adult food a breeze. Plus, your baby will be so used to trying new foods that they most likely won’t be picky eaters!

How to Make Your Own Baby Food

Making your own baby food is super easy. All you need is a blender or food processor to blend organic food, fresh fruits and veggies, and any other whole foods with bone broth or water. For example, you can incorporate sweet potatoes, green beans, and seasonal produce.

You can even combine different varieties of nutritious food and make healthy food combinations! When blending food, adding new flavors is an excellent option for spicing things up if you run out of ideas.

Babies learn to adjust to certain foods reasonably quickly, so adding different flavors or textures can enhance their eating experience and make them excited for mealtime!

Remember, there are certain foods and flavors you can introduce to your baby during the first 6-12 months, but other types of food need to wait until they’re older. We go more in-depth about what kinds of solids you can start introducing to your baby in our Starting Solids Course.

What’s the Difference Between Homemade Pureed Food and Solid Finger Foods?

During the first year of their life, your baby’s digestive and immune systems are still developing, which means they still require essential nutrients. When you start weaning your baby off of breast milk or formula, they aren’t exposed to as many vitamins and minerals as before, which means you need to supplement with real food.

Babies also aren’t getting as many vital nutrients if you start introducing solid foods in chunks or finger foods rather than purees. Your baby’s digestive system can’t readily absorb the nutrients as easily from chunks as they can purees. Therefore, pureed baby food is a much more viable option for maintaining a healthy diet for your baby.

However, as mentioned above, commercial baby food purees don’t have the same nutritional value as homemade baby food. Making your own baby food out of natural, healthy foods is the best way to obtain all the essential nutrients your baby’s diet needs.

Check Out Some of Our Favorite First Baby Foods

Some of our favorite first foods for baby are linked below. They are our favorites for their nutrient density and gut friendliness.

  • Gut Friendly Baby Broth (First Food For Babies)
  • Baby Butternut Squash Puree (Stage One + Stage Two)
  • Protein for Babies (Protein in Purees – Stage 2 + 3)

Baby food - from a jar or with your own hands? Pros and cons

Complementary foods are solid foods for young children in addition to dairy products that they have received for several months as their sole source of nutrition.

— Polina Alexandrovna, why is the introduction of complementary foods called a transitional stage in a child's nutrition?

— The beginning of acquaintance with complementary foods does not mean the transition to an adult diet. The first or second complementary foods are important so that the child adapts and is psychologically ready to eat adult food, and his digestive organs are tuned to work properly. Therefore, complementary foods are considered a transitional stage from milk nutrition to nutrition at a common table.


- Is the composition of canned zucchini or apple puree for babies different from the homemade version?

- Factory nutrition may vary depending on the raw materials that the manufacturer uses in a particular puree. Therefore, it is impossible to say that all such food is the same. For example, zucchini puree may contain rice flour so that its consistency is more correct in the opinion of the manufacturer. Mom decides what to put in, and in the same way she can add rice flour. An industrial puree that is suitable for a child and meets the requirements of parents may be identical in composition to homemade puree.

— There is a lot of speculation about baby food in jars. What are the most common parenting misconceptions?

- The most common myth is "canned mashed potatoes don't taste good and kids don't eat them well." In fact, most babies enjoy eating factory-made purees without experiencing any problems.

There are concerns that baby puree is “wrong” or does not meet nutritional requirements. The manufacturer is required by law to list all the ingredients of the product. For example, mashed potatoes may contain rice flour that is not always healthy, especially if vegetables are introduced to the child in order to avoid constipation. What kind of food is more useful for the baby, whether to buy just such a puree or look for another in composition - the parents decide together with the doctor. Therefore, it is wrong to equate all manufacturers and their products.


See also
  • "10 myths about canned baby food"

- Puree is often said to contain preservatives.

— Modern technologies make it possible not to use preservatives in the production of baby food. That is why it is written on the jars that open food is not stored for more than a day even in the refrigerator. As long as puree does not come into contact with air, it does not spoil within the specified shelf life due to sterilization and vacuum packaging. After opening the jar and contact with air, the puree quickly deteriorates, which indicates the absence of preservatives in it.

— Is it true that canned baby food is addictive, and then the child refuses natural products?

- There is no causal relationship here. When a child refuses a fresh apple, the problem is not the canned puree in his diet, but that he is not familiar with food in pieces. The child ate a homogeneous puree for a long time, and then they offer him a large piece of an apple - naturally, he will not cope with it right away. That is why, after the child gets used to a homogeneous puree, puree with soft small pieces is gradually introduced - so that there is no discomfort if the baby does not chew them. Gradually, the pieces become larger and denser. Over time, the child comes to eat a real whole apple or other hard fruit or vegetable.

Baby food in a jar or homemade puree - which is right for a baby? Pros and cons of


— How long can I feed my baby bottled baby food?

- You can feed your baby as much as you like, there is no strict age limit. But baby needs to be introduced to the different textures and flavors of . The need for canned food usually disappears when the baby moves to a common table with a diet familiar to the whole family. During this period, puree from a jar, especially tasty and sweet fruit varieties, often becomes a safe treat for grown-up babies.

— In which cases canned baby puree is contraindicated?

- There are no diseases in which canned puree is contraindicated. But for some diseases, the presence of a particular product in baby food is undesirable. Factory puree is different in composition. Parents can choose purees without ingredients that are not suitable for the baby or should be limited in his diet, and continue to feed the canned product without problems.

— How to choose baby food in a jar that is healthy for a child?

- First of all, you need to read the full composition of the product on the back, because some ingredients are not indicated on the front label of the jar. It is important to pay attention to the expiration date of the food, the reputation of the manufacturer. All components of the puree must correspond to the age and condition of the child, his individual characteristics.

For example:

  • the first puree must not contain rice flour;
  • Strawberry puree should not be given to a four-month-old child;
  • cereals are excluded from the diet of children with celiac disease (gluten intolerance);
  • An older baby should be offered puree with chunks.
MAMAKO
® fruit puree with goat curd pleases the baby with a delicate taste, and the mother with a simple and understandable composition! The plant, which produces MAMAKO ® fruit puree with goat curd, has successfully passed an international audit and received a TUV certificate, which confirms the quality and safety of products.

What mistakes do parents make when preparing mashed potatoes for feeding with their own hands

- Sometimes parents cook the wrong way - sometimes they overcook vegetables, and also make the puree too thin or thick. I hope that no one will fry food for their young children instead of boiling or steaming. Sometimes parents put spices and salt in baby puree, which is also not worth doing. The child should initially get acquainted with pure tastes, and extraneous additives are useless.

In addition, mothers need to be guided by foods that are appropriate for the age of the child, do not cause allergies and are not difficult for him, and also be guided by what the family eats. If parents give the baby something that they themselves do not eat, then when switching to an adult table, he may refuse the usual family food, he will have to cook it separately. This will be a big problem.

- The child refuses the food prepared by the mother and does not eat anything. What to do in such a situation?

— The same food or dish can be offered to the child during the week. Food selectivity in children often depends on taste sensations, but a child may refuse to eat for other reasons, for example, when he is not hungry or would like to play instead of dinner. If during the week the child does not perceive the product that the mother offers, perhaps he still does not like it. In this case, the same product can be given in the form of canned nutrition . Often, kids really refuse homemade puree, preferring the factory version. Again, mom can cook another product and give, for example, broccoli instead of zucchini, which the child will appreciate.

Fruit puree MAMAKO ® contains 20% goat curd. This food option is convenient at the stage of introducing children not only to fruits, but also to dairy products. It is the little ones who eat sweet, tasty foods well during the first feeding period and even when they get older - for dessert.

- Are the recipes for complementary foods from 6 months and those for 10 months different?

- For toddlers, there are no recipes and complex dishes, because it is a simple food for discovering pure tastes without salt and spices, gradually getting used to the texture of the products. In the preparation of the first children's dishes, you can vary the combination of vegetables, focusing on the taste of the baby.

Recipes appear from the age of two or three with a full transition to the common table, when family preferences become more important. Of course, the baby needs to be introduced to products that are not consumed in the family, because there is a kindergarten and a school ahead. However, the basis of his diet should be food from the general household table . In addition, parents should be careful in cooking: do not overcook foods, do not add artificial ingredients, properly cool food so that homemade vegetable or fruit puree for the first feeding is healthy and safe for the baby.

- Is it possible to combine canned and homemade food and in what proportions?

— There are no strict rules: what is convenient for the family is chosen. For example, it is difficult to make meat puree at home, so sometimes parents add industrial meat supplements to homemade vegetable puree.

There is also no clear gradation in the percentage of different food options. In one plate, you can mix what you have prepared yourself with what you bought in the store. But at home it is not always possible to achieve the desired combinations and prepare, for example, a combined product that includes a variety of fruits and cottage cheese.

Choose a way of eating that is comfortable for your family. It is easier for someone to cook for their child on their own, for someone it is easier to buy ready-made mashed potatoes. Pediatricians often recommend mashed vegetables or fruits of industrial production, because when it is used for a child, the risk of undesirable consequences is much less.

* Breast milk is the best food for babies. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of a child's life and continued breastfeeding after complementary foods are introduced until the age of 2 years. Before introducing new products into the baby's diet, you should consult with a specialist. The material is for informational purposes and cannot replace the advice of a healthcare professional. For feeding children from birth.

Product question. How to prepare baby food for the future. BelPressa

Those who choose the second option eventually realize that they cannot do without blanks, unless you are a robot or you have a bunch of helpers. How to prepare baby food for the future? Belgorodskiye Izvestia collected practical advice, and pediatrician Antonina Zayeva told how not to harm the baby and make food as healthy as possible.

Purchased no worse than

Contrary to well-established beliefs, doctors recommend feeding young children with industrially prepared complementary foods, because the chemical and microbiological safety of their composition can be guaranteed. In such products, the degree of grinding of raw materials corresponds to the age of the child. Also among the advantages are a long shelf life, homogenization and a wide range.

“If a mother decides to prepare food for her baby on her own, then the food must be prepared with the maximum benefit for the child. In frozen foods, the chemical composition practically does not change, but the amount of vitamins and minerals decreases. And the organoleptic properties also change: taste and smell, cellular structure. With conventional freezing, about 35% of the original quality of the product is lost, and with shock or acoustic freezing, 10% is lost,” said Antonina Zayeva.

She notes that it is better to freeze foods in vacuum packaging: this way their taste will suffer less. It is also important to write the date of freezing and observe the terms and conditions of storage.

Vitamins for any season

In summer or early autumn it is useful to freeze vegetables for the winter, especially if they are grown in your own garden. But if it is not there, then it is quite possible to buy and freeze it. In any case, vegetables will cost more in winter. In the cold season, their assortment is smaller, and the taste is worse. Most often, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, green peas, bell peppers and tomatoes are frozen for children. This is usually done in plastic bags, after washing the vegetables and cutting them into pieces. It is better to freeze in small portions, so that later it is convenient to get and cook. You can also freeze various berries. They are convenient to use for making fruit drinks and compotes.

“Frozen vegetables can be stored for an average of 6 to 12 months at -18°C. At -12 ° C, the shelf life is reduced to 30 days, and at -8 ° C - to 7. You can also freeze ready-made vegetable puree. But you have to use it within a month. Quick-frozen fruits are stored for no more than a year, and berries - 9 months," said Antonina Zayeva.

Meat is always at hand

For a child who already chews well, you can make semi-finished products and store them in the freezer. These can be meat or fish cutlets, meatballs, meatballs, in which, in addition to meat, vegetables and cereals are added if desired. They will always be at your fingertips, all you have to do is get them and cook them.

Cooking meat can be frozen in advance in small pieces. Put it in bags and sign it so you don't forget what's in it. You can also store ready-made meat in the freezer, dividing it into the portions you need in terms of volume.

“However, it keeps longer if it is frozen in large blocks. So, it is recommended to store a chicken carcass at a temperature not higher than -12 ° C for no more than 8 months, and divided into parts - 1-3 months. Beef is stored at -12 ° C for 8 months, but pork is only 5 months. The lower the temperature, the longer the food can be stored. Fish at -18 °C can be stored for 6 to 10 months. Frozen ready-made meat dishes are stored on average up to 30 days, and semi-finished products from 1 to 3 months,” said Antonina Zayeva.

Puree to eat immediately

— How long can you keep freshly prepared vegetable, fruit and meat baby food?

— Refrigerated for up to 24 hours. During this time, the growth of pathogenic bacteria is minimized. You can freeze vegetable broths to make a quick soup or dilute porridge. But meat is not recommended until 1.6 years, because when cooking from meat, chemical and biological active substances, fats, salts, traces of feed, antibiotics that were given to the animal get into the broth. When using such broths, the child's enzyme system may fail. Try rich bone broths from pork, lamb, beef after 3 years, advises Antonina Zaeva.

She notes that food must also be defrosted according to certain rules: do it gradually and on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Then too much juice is not released and the maximum amount of useful substances is preserved.

- Is it worth it to roll jars of puree ourselves?

— I do not recommend canning baby food at home, because sugar, salt, vinegar are usually added as a preservative, and these substances are not used to feed children.

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