Hello all!
Can someone explain to me in what way should I prepare "real" food and ways of storing it? I know I can look on the internet but I like hearing your examples!
I've read on another thread about the differences from a regular blender to a food processor?
For example, if I'm making supper for dh and I and we're having porkchops, rice and corn. Would I take some of everything and mush it all together? Without spices right?
DS eats jar food great but I'm thinking of trying different textures and tastes!
Thanks for your response!!
S :)

You can do some spices. My daughter always has liked them. She is only 13 months old and absolutly loves garlic! Liek you said you could mush it all together, the jarred food is like that, or you could do it sepratly. You may have to add a little liquid to get it the right consistancy. Also they sell baby food grinders at Wal-Mart. They have ones that don't require power, you just turn the crank and it rices the food basically. I am going to get one for my second child once I get pregnant again. They would be good for traveling.

As for storing it, you can freeze it in ice cube trays and then transfer to freezer bags. Then you can just thaw out the cubes as you need them.

I've tried DD on jars a couple of times and she just doesn't like them - fussy baby! So I make all my own baby food and it's very easy. Sometimes I make a batch specially for her and freeze it in ice cube trays. Sometimes, I cook for us and then puree up the leftovers for her the next day. You can mush it altogether and usually I do that, but sometimes I might do something like chicken casserole and put some mashed potato on the side so she gets a bit of a change of flavour rather than it all tasting the same.

A couple of things to watch out for if you are doing your own:

Don't put potato or sweet potato in a blender because it will go starchy and gloopy. You need to either mash it or push it through a seive. Also sweetcorn (or other veg with quite a tough skin) should ideally be put through a seive to remove the skin because babies can't digest it. It won't do them any harm but if you don't break the kernels of corn open they'll just pass through undigested.

Good luck

Spanish

Thank you for your advice and suggestions!

I usually feed ds the Heinz 6mos meat jars..but today i wanted to try the 8 mos meat jars and boy are they more chunky!! He hated it and choked on the little veggie pieces! I'm wondering if I should try and make it a more creamy consistency?
What age do you all think is a good age to let them try the chunkier pieces?

When I'm making my own food for him do I make everything really creamy/mushy(I know my "terms" are silly! :) )
Even if I'm having vegetable soup should I "mush" it up? And, can they pretty much have everything? I remember reading about certain foods that they need to stay away from.

Spanish where is a good place to purchase a seive? Would the baby food grinder that gel2005 suggested work the same?


Mom22- thanks for the advice on the ice cube trays! How much would you give your baby at this age? 2 cubes?

I know my questions are kind of silly but I want to take the time to offer ds different foods!!

Thanks!!
S :)

Hi S&J

Regarding how lumpy to make your food, be guided by your baby. Start with very smooth purees but gradually let them get more and more lumpy. I've heard you shouldn't let them have very smooth for too long or they'll get very fussy about chewing bits! Once my DD was taking some finger foods (bits of toast, bananas, rice cakes etc) that she had to chew little bits off she very quickly was happy to have lumpy food.

I think perhaps I've confused you with a 'sieve' - that's probably a British term and perhaps you call it something different. What I call a sieve is just a basket shape of plastic or wire with holes in it. The sort of thing you use for sifting flour or straining the water from the veggies. I suspect a baby food grinder is probably a much better option as that sounds like the thing I'd call a 'mouli' - Looks like a sieve but has a handle that turns a blade to chop up the food and push it through whilst the undigestible skins stay behind. Much easier than trying to do it yourself with a wooden spoon! LOL.

Initially my DD would take a couple of ice-cubes worth of food. Now at 7 1/2 months she'll eat about four and then probably have a bit of fruit for pudding.

Spanish

I'm not sure how many cubes because my kids would never eat babyfood, jarred or homemade! I just heard about that and thought it was a great idea. I believe the recommended amount is 1 tablespoon per year of age, although that sounds like so little. The Super Babyfood book gives a lot of great info also.