Homemade baby food is the healthiest alternative to using commercial baby food. The end result will be a tasty array of meals that are healthy and natural. Making your own infant food allows you to control exactly what your infant is eating and it eliminates all the additives and preservatives used in commercial products. In this article, we’ll demonstrate how you can safely and easily make your baby’s food with little time and effort.
Cleanliness is critical to making fresh baby food, so start by washing your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap. Make sure that any tools or areas you use such as countertops, utensils, pots and pans, cutting boards and blenders or food processors are thoroughly cleaned. Running dishes and utensils through the dishwasher is preferable because the heat will kill germs and bacteria. You should have a separate cutting board for meat so that there’s no risk of contaminating fruits and vegetables with bacteria. Using a wooden cutting board is safer than plastic. It has been shown that bacteria are easier to remove from wooden cutting boards. Always be sure to thoroughly wash and cleanse the fruits and vegetables that you will be using to make your baby food. Even if you are not using the peels or skins, and even if you buy organic, you should always cleanse produce.
For the shake of the healthy recipes for your baby, keep choosing fresh produce and meat instead of using canned foods . Many canned meats and vegetables contain lots of added salt, sugar, preservatives and fat. Fresh is always best, and there are some foods that are particularly good for babies. Bananas, always a favorite when introducing solid foods, are packed with protein, calcium, iron, potassium and several vitamins that babies need. Pears and plums are also a good choice. Beef, pork and chicken are excellent sources of protein, calcium, essential fatty acids and important vitamins. Vegetables deliver beneficial fiber, minerals and vitamins into your child’s diet without including any cholesterol.
When introducing your baby to solid meals, it’s imperative that you get rid of anything that could trigger choking. This is why peeling skins, and pitting or removing seeds is important prior to cooking. Some of the most common choking hazards include raisins, grapes, nuts, popcorn, hot dogs, peanut butter, raw carrots, raw peas, raw apples and corn kernels. As well, honey can harbor spores of Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism. An adult’s intestinal tract can stop the progress of these spores, but in a infant the spores can develop and create lifestyle threatening poisons.
The appropriate food also depends on age. At 4 to 5 months you can begin to introduce cereals and iron-fortified baby rice. At 5 to 6 months babes can digest well cooked vegetables like carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, peas, green beans, spinach and beets. When they reach 7 to 8 months they can begin to eat meat. However, it’s essential that all of your baby food is made with fresh ingredients and cooked and stored using sterile utensils and dishes. You want your baby to grow up healthy, so start the process with healthy recipe choices.
