Buying ready-made baby food may seem like a convenience, but with its high price and often added fillers, making baby food at home is a far better choice. You don’t prefer eating processed foods for every meal, so why should your infant? And before you think you don’t have the time, the following recipes can be whipped up in fewer minutes than it takes you to drive to the store. Homemade baby food is full of fresh ingredients, rich in flavor, and healthier for your tot. Have your food processor handy and feed your baby meals that are infant-gourmet.

Transition from breast milk or formula to soft solids

At four to six months, experts suggest introducing your infant to soft solids, such as single grain cereals, fruits and vegetables. In addition to breastfeeding or formula, soft soft solid foods provide vital nutrients and help your infant’s digestive system develop. By one year, your tot is ready for just about everything the rest of the family eats - granted, it is pureed or mashed to accommodate the fact your baby doesn’t have a full set of teeth.

Single food purees are excellent to introduce your child to new foods and to monitor your child’s reaction to them. However, you can have a lot of fun creating multi-ingredient dishes for your kiddos when you are comfortable feeding them a variety of foods.

Homemade baby food is a time saver

If the thought of making separate meals for your tot has you headed to the supermarket baby food aisle, rest assured that it will only add a few more minutes to your normal prep time for the family meals. Food processors and blenders are time saving gems in the kitchen.

Gourmet baby food recipes

The following recipes are suitable for babies six months to two years, but use your own judgment when introducing them to your tots. And be sure to substitute the fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods you have on hand at home to save yourself even more time.

Each recipe makes four to six servings, which can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to two days or frozen up to a month. You can double or triple the recipes and freeze them in ice cube trays so you always have single serving meals on hand.

Strawberry Coconut Puree
Makes 4 to 6 servings

This is a tasty nutritious breakfast meal.

Ingredients:
1 small banana, cut into large chunks
6 strawberries, washed, trimmed
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 cup plain whole milk yogurt

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth or desired consistency.

Apple Winter Squash Puree
Makes 4 to 6 servings

Serve this lunch or dinner dish warm.

Ingredients:
1 red apple, cored, peeled, diced
1/4 to 1/2 cup cooked or canned garbanzo beans (rinsed, if canned)
1 small parsnip, trimmed, peeled, diced
1 (2-inch thick) slice of butternut squash, peeled, seeded, diced

Directions:
Place apple in a food processor or blender. Place parsnip and squash in a medium-sized saucepan and cover with water. Place on the stove over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender. Drain water from pan and add to food processor or blender. Puree until smooth or until desired consistency.

Chicken Pineapple Puree
Makes 4 to 6 servings

This dish can be served warm or cool.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cooked chicken
1/2 cup crushed pineapple
3/4 cup cottage cheese

Directions:
Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth or until desired consistency.

Spinach Rice Puree
Makes 4 to 6 servings

Leafy greens and brown rice create a dish full of antioxidants and flavor.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cups baby spinach, washed
1 cup cooked brown rice
1/2 cup feta or goat cheese
Squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
2 tablespoons water

Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until spinach is wilted, sprinkling with water, as needed, if spinach begins sticking to the skillet. Add cooked spinach and remaining ingredients to food processor or blender and puree until smooth or until desired consistency. Add more water 1 tablespoon at a time if mixture is too thick.

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