Whether you want to save money or want your baby to have healthier food, preparing food is a wonderful alternative to over-processed store-bought options. Much of what you pay in commercialized baby food is water, a trend that started after WWII as baby food companies tried to maintain profits in the face of rising food prices. Additionally, commercialized baby food contains salt and other unnecessary additives. Commercialized baby food may also lack important vitamins and nutrients lost in the preparation stages. You can prepare healthy baby food easily and cheaply at home.

There are some very naturally soft foods that require very little preparation, such as: unsweetened applesauce, canned pumpkin, yogurt, cottage cheese (with a little extra mashing), banana, hot cereals such as cream of rice, and mashed potato. For more solid fruits, vegetables, and meats, there are two main methods of preparation: steaming and boiling. Since there are some water-soluble nutrients in many vegetables, steaming is usually the best option. To retain nutrients with boiling, include some coking water with the boiled vegetables.

For ease of preparation, you will need a blender, a steamer basket with a tight-fitting lid (if you intend to steam), and an optional pressure cooker or crock-pot for extra tender meats. You will also need basic ingredients; fruits and vegetables are best in season, second-best frozen, and least-best canned. You can grow your own, purchase food from a local farmer’s market, or a supermarket. Leftovers from your own family’s meals are the easiest and cheapest route. Try to choose ingredients with the least amount of additives, salt, and sugar. Additives are unnecessary, salt is an acquired adult taste, and natural sugar is best for baby. (Natural sweeteners like honey, molasses, and occasionally brown sugar are acceptable in small doses when baby’s taste-buds are more developed.)

For most fruits and vegetables: wash well (especially if purchased from a supermarket; consider a special spray to eliminate pesticide residue). Peel and slice or cut into small chunks. Place in steamer basket or simmer in water until tender (depending on the type of food, this can take 10-20 minutes). When tender, puree in blender. Younger infants require a very smooth consistency, but you may increase the coarseness of consistency as baby grows. If you choose to boil, remember to add some cooking water or perhaps some orange juice in the blender

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