homemade baby food ?'s

I'm planning to make my own baby food once we start solids (very soon, yikes!!!). A bunch of questions:

- I've heard that there are certain vegetables you should not prepare at home (carrots, other stuff I forget) because they may have high levels of pesticides/chemicals/bad stuff, even if organic - T/F?

- When you make stuff like apples, can you include the peel?

- We're vegetarian and will not be giving our babies meat. For veggie mamas, when did you start legumes and tofu? Is it ok to introduce things like pureed lentils and black beans pretty early, or would it be rough on their stomachs?

- Do you really have to strain things?

- DD may or may not have a milk protein allergy (they'll do a dairy challenge at 1 yr to find out). So she won't be able to have regular yogurt until then. Is soy yogurt ok for babies? (Can't imagine why not, but you never know.)

- Can you point me to any good websites on this stuff?

Thanks in advance!

 

wholesomebabyfood.com is a great site for making your own baby food!!

I peeled fruit, and then cooked it in water, using the juice to thin down the puree after blending it.
Soy yogurt is fine.

 

I love the wholesome babyfood website. I have a baby with a possible milk allergy too and it will give you substitutions to help. Try www.wholesomebabyfood.com

i forgot to add about the soy yogurt. I was told by the ped GI that most babies that have a milk protein allergy are allergic to soy as well so I have chosen not to attempt soy at all. I am doing the yogurt challenge too at one year. Were you told 10 days of yogurt to test??

Rachel

 

QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Oct 2 2007, 11:26 PM) [snapback]433254[/snapback]
I'm planning to make my own baby food once we start solids (very soon, yikes!!!). A bunch of questions:



- We're vegetarian and will not be giving our babies meat. For veggie mamas, when did you start legumes and tofu? Is it ok to introduce things like pureed lentils and black beans pretty early, or would it be rough on their stomachs?


Thanks in advance!



I use cooked beans and I have not seen (or smelled LOL!) a problem. Mine LOVE Morningstar items, too! (easy for me) I make a lot of sweet potatoes, avacados, etc.

 

- I've heard that there are certain vegetables you should not prepare at home (carrots, other stuff I forget) because they may have high levels of pesticides/chemicals/bad stuff, even if organic - T/F?
False. Everyone thinks that about carrots but it's not an issue. Check out www.wholesomebabyfood.com - you'll get every answer you need.

- When you make stuff like apples, can you include the peel?
I don't. I steam things rather than boiling because it preserves more nutrients.

- We're vegetarian and will not be giving our babies meat. For veggie mamas, when did you start legumes and tofu? Is it ok to introduce things like pureed lentils and black beans pretty early, or would it be rough on their stomachs?
I'll be starting chick peas, etc. at 8 months. Right now food is just a supplement but the babies are getting everything they need from their bottles.

- Do you really have to strain things?
I use a cheap braun hand mixer thing. It cost me $20 and so far I haven't met a food I can't puree. We've done pears, apples, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, bananas, avacado, carrots, green beans, mangos...and other stuff I can't remember at the moment!

- DD may or may not have a milk protein allergy (they'll do a dairy challenge at 1 yr to find out). So she won't be able to have regular yogurt until then. Is soy yogurt ok for babies? (Can't imagine why not, but you never know.)
Don't know.

- Can you point me to any good websites on this stuff?
www.wholesomebabyfood.com has been my bible. I love making my own baby food! I buy mostly organics and I feel great about it.

BTW: It's true that most babies with true milk allergies have an intolerance to soy so I wouldn't go crazy on the tofu or soy yogurt.

 

The only problem with doing apples and such and leaving on the peel is that your babies may have a harder time digesting all that ruffage. also it could be a choking hazard for new eaters since the peels tend to stay more intact even after lots of pureeing.

 

I cooked my own and did sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, peas & beans! All were well received. The book SUPER BABY FOODS is highly recommended!

 

I second the Super Baby Food recommendation - it's written by a vegetarian twin mom. It's all theoretical for us still (Babies are 14 weeks today), but I'm a cookbook fanatic and it's really a fun read!

 

Ditto on wholesomebabyfood.com.

I LOVE my food processor! It's great for everything. Things like bananas and soft sweet potatoes just need ricing with a fork. So easy!

I was lazy and just bought the organic apple sauce.....the only two ingredients are organic apples and water, so that was an easy one!

Have fun!

 

We also have a Twin Wiki entry on the subject!

[Wiki]Making_Your_Own_Baby_Food[/Wiki]

 

I made alot of my own baby food. I just used my food processor! Carrots are one that you shouldn't make b/c of the nitrates. Mine especially loved bananas, avacados and sweet potatoes (just mash with a spoon and a little bit of breastmilk or formula). HERE are a few other books to take a look at. HTH

 

Wow, thanks for all the responses! Looking forward to checking out the books & websites...

 

I'm a veggie momma and gave tofu and beans at 7 months. I'd mash the tofu or puree it and and cereal.

 

Another :banana: for Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. If you google it, she has a website. Awesome instructions and ideas from a vegetarian perspective.

Since most of the nutrients are in the apple peel, I use my VitaMix and puree the apples with peels (but no seeds!). It is really fine, though you can strain it if you're worried about a stray piece of peel, but if you have a good blender or food processor, you will not see one fleck of peel!

I made all of my own baby food for my oldest DC and started to with these twinkies, but I was headed towards PPD and decided that the last thing I needed when the kids are in bed is to be steaming/peeling/pureeing/freezing beets! Or broccoli! So, I've switched to Earth's Best Organic baby food in the jars and it's all OK.

 

Another fan of wholesomebabyfood.com!
I use the steamer and blender a lot to make our food.