10 Great recipes for homemade baby food

Stage 1

Great Baby Food Recipes 4 months 

Apples/Applesauce:

Directions:

1. Peel, core, and cut apple into slices/chunks
2. Place slices or chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover apples
3. Boil/steam until tender, continue to stir apples.
4. Use a potato masher to make smooth applesauce consistency. If consistency is still too thick follow steps 5-7.
5. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the apples
6. Place into blender and begin pureeing
7. Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree

Avocado:

Directions:

1. Peel and take out the pit of a ripe avocado – do not cook.
2. Cut out Avocado insides and mash with a fork. There should be no need to use a machine; avocados have a naturally soft consistency and texture.

Banana:

Directions:

1. Peel ripe banana – do not cook
2. Place banana in a food processor / blender and puree
3. You can also mash the banana in a bowl using a regular fork but be sure to hear in microwave for 25 seconds prior to mashing for extra softness.
4. Add formula/breast milk or water to thin.

Stage 2

Great Baby Food Recipes 6 months

Peas:

Directions:

1. If using fresh peas, open the pods and scrape out the peas from the pod.
2. Place fresh peas into a steamer basket in a pan with just enough water to slightly show through in the basket.
3. Steam until very tender; be sure to check on the water level.
4. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the peas.
5. Place into your choice of appliance and begin pureeing. It is best to use the setting that makes the finest liquid puree. If you are unable to get the pea skins to puree try using a fine strainer to pull out the skins.
6. Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency

**Tip: plunging hot cooked peas into a bowl of ice cold water is known to help make a smoother puree.

  Pumpkin Puree:

Ingredients:

• 1 sugar pumpkin
• Water
• Cinnamon, nutmeg (optional)

Directions:

1. Halve the pumpkin, de-seed
2. Place halves face down in a baking pan with approx. 1-2 inches of water
3. Bake between 375-425 F for approximately 40 minutes to 1 hour. Note the skin should be wrinkled and pumpkin should feel soft when pressed.
4. Scrape out the pumpkin insides and then mash or puree as needed for your baby

Mango Puree:

Directions:

1. Peel, de-seed, and chunk a ripe mango.
2. Place mango chunks in a blender or food processor
3. Add formula, breast milk, or water and blend until the proper consistency for your baby.

Peaches:

Directions:

1. Halve the fruit and place “open” side down in a pan filled with 1 inch of water
2. Bake at 400F until soft and tender and/or puckering of the skin appears.
3. Peel skin from fruit and remove pits and/or seeds then
4. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the fruits
5. Peel off skin then place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
6. Add the leftover water as needed to achieve a thin, smooth puree

Stage 3

Great Baby Food Recipes 8 months

Sweet Spinach:

Ingredients:

• 1 medium/large ripe banana – peeled and broken in half
• 2-3 cups of organic baby spinach

Directions:

1. Pour water into a pot until it is about 1 inch deep and bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Place the spinach into a steamer basket and put the basket into the pot. The water should not touch the bottom of the basket. Cover and steam for 5-7 minutes until spinach is wilted.
3. Put the banana and spinach into a blender or food processor and pulse until desired consistency is achieved.

Nectarine Cauliflower Mash:

Ingredients:

• 1 organic Nectarine – washed, peeled, and chopped
• 2 cups of organic cauliflower florets – fresh or frozen

Directions:

1. Pour water into a pot until it is about 1 inch deep and bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Place the nectarine and cauliflower into a steamer basket and put the basket in the pot. The water should not touch the bottom of the basket.
3. Cover the pot and steam for about 7 minutes, until the cauliflower is very soft.
4. Place the nectarine and cauliflower into a blender or food processor and pulse until mushy, but not completely smooth. If too thick feel free to add a little breast milk, formula, or water while blending to get the desired consistency.

Raspberry Pear Oatmeal

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of old fashioned rolled oats
• 1 organic ripe pear — washed, peeled and chopped
• Handful of organic raspberries (washed)

Directions:

1. Bring 3/4 cup of water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat and add the oats.
2. Lower the heat to medium and let the oats cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until all the water is absorbed.
3. While the oatmeal is cooking, place the pear and raspberries into a food processor or blender.  Blend until smooth.
4. Combine cooked oats and raspberry pear puree in a bowl and serve.

**For more information about storing and saving your homemade baby food please check out our article on it here. (LINK)