84 | Oh BABY! LOVINGCARE FORYOURBABY ©2017 HEB, 17-5852 Making your own baby food is easier than you think. It’s also less expensive than buying it pre-made. The reality is you’ll more than likely buy and make your own baby food. If you’re a person who likes to cook – you’ll love making baby food. You can be confident you’re giving the baby the best and healthiest ingredients available. Before you get started, there are some things that you will need. A steamer basket (either a stand-alone or microwave model) will ensure that you keep the nutrients in the food and not in the water. When your baby first begins eating solid food, you will want to puree their food to a fine consistency. It can be a little coarser when they get older. To puree food, you will need a blender or a food mill. Other things you will need are ice cube trays, plastic wrap and food containers or storage bags. When preparing the food, be sure to wash your hands and use clean utensils. Give all fruit and vegetables a thorough washing to remove dirt and pesticides. In the beginning, you will want the food to be mushy, so steam or boil fruit and vegetables. Then, puree the food in a food processor or food mill until you get the consistency you want. To remove any peels, strain the food. Put the pureed food into ice cube trays, cover with plastic wrap and put them into the freezer. After the food is frozen, put it into a storage bag or food container. Label what each food is and make sure it’s dated. Frozen baby food can be left in the freezer for two months. Take as many cubes as you want out of the freezer and either thaw them in the microwave or put them in a cup in a pan of boiling water with a lid on. Use fresh fruits and vegetables when making homemade baby food as much as possible. If you can’t use fresh, frozen vegetables are better than canned and canned fruit can be used when fresh fruit is out of season. Don’t use a lot of additives like salt or sugar, especially in applesauce because the apples are sweet enough on their own (buy the right apples). Lemon juice has been known to cause allergic reactions in some babies, so skip it. Bananas and kiwis don’t need to be steamed or cooked. They are soft enough already. It’s Good for You! Making your own Baby Food