Baby Food Facts & Recipes

Did you know that baby does not need rice cereal as a first food?

Baby's first taste of solid food should be a single ingredient, age appropriate first food. Great choices for first foods for babies, as many pediatric resources are now acknowledging, are tasty and creamy avocado, banana and sweet potato. These healthy and nutritious foods make really great first foods for baby.

These recipes for fresh homemade first foods for baby are idea first foods to introduce to your baby between the ages of (4) and 6 months old. Many parents still begin to introduce solid foods (complimentary or weaning foods) to their babies prior to the age of 6 months olds. These recipes acknowledge and accommodate this fact. Ideally, babies should have nothing but breast milk and/or formula during the first 6 months of life.

Nutritious and Tasty & Wholesome Baby Food for First Food Feedings  (4-6 months)

Avocado - a great first food for baby, avocados burst with essential fats and nutrients that a growing baby needs. Smooth and creamy, avocados are easily digested and well tolerated by most babies!

Vitamins:  A, C, Niacin, Folate  
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, Magnesium, Calcium

1. Peel and take out the pit of a ripe avocado - do not cook
2. Cut “meat” out and mash with a fork
3. There should be no need to use a machine as just like bananas, avocados have a very soft consistency and texture. Avocados do not need to be cooked
4. Add formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken up.

Bananas - bananas are another great first food for your baby. Research indicates that bananas and their mucosal properties actually help coat the tummy and help aid indigestion. Bananas are sweet, which may help baby more readily accept the first food experience. Learn more about bananas and if it's true that sweet fruits and veggies should not be introduced first.

Vitamins:  A, C, Folate  
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Selenium, Magnesium, Calcium

1. Peel a ripe banana - do not cook
2. Place banana in a food processor/food mill or blender and puree
3. You can also mash the banana in a bowl using a regular fork – heat in microwave for 25 seconds prior to mashing for extra softness
4. Add formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken up.

Organic Brown Rice Cereal - Did you know that baby's first food does not have to be a commercial infant rice cereal? Many pediatric resources are acknowledging the fact that avocado, banana and sweet potato make great first foods for baby.

If you decide to make homemade baby cereal, make it with brown rice (organic if preferred). Whole grains are more healthy and nutritious for your baby (and for the whole family). 

1/4 c. rice powder (organic brown rice ground in blender or food processor) 

1 cup water

1. Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the rice powder while stirring constantly. 
3. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly, mix in formula or breast milk and fruits if desired
Serve warm.

Pears
Vitamins: A, C, Folate  
Minerals: Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium

 1. Peel and cut into chunks so as to avoid the little seed portion. 
2. Steam gently until tender;
3. Place in a blender/food processor and puree until smooth. You may be able to just use a fork too.
4. Use the leftover cooking water if needed but Pears tend to be very runny and watery without adding liquid - Add some baby cereal to thicken if needed.

Acorn or Butternut Squash (winter)

1. Cut acorn, hubbard, or butternut squash in half, scoop out seeds
2. Place an inch of water in a baking pan, then place squash halves "face" down in the pan. Check on water level while baking
3. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes or until the “shell/skin” puckers and halves feel soft then scoop squash “meat” out of the shell
4. Place squash "meat" into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing. 
5. Add water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency.
6. You can also peel the squash, scoop out the seeds and then cut into chunks and boil/steam until tender (like when boiling potatoes for mashed potatoes)
7. Follow steps 4 and 5

Yams/Sweet Potato

Vitamins: A (24,877 mg ), C, Folate 

Minerals: Potassium, Sodium, Selenium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Calcium

1. Wash and poke holes in sweet potato with fork then wrap sweet 

potatoes in tin foil - do not peel for baking/microwaving. (you can also do 

this in the microwave - only use plastic wrap and cook for 8 minutes on

high or until tender)

2. Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 30 minutes or until soft.

3. OR

4. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into small chunks
5. Place chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover potato
6. "Steam" boil until tender, be sure to check on the water level.
7. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the sweet potatoes
8. If you have baked your sweet potato, remove skins and use liquid from your preferred source
9. Place sweet potato into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing. 

10. Add the reserved water or other liquid as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency minutes or until a knife inserted near center comes out clean.

Mango (6-8 months - sometimes over 8 months) 

Vitamins:  A (1262 IU in one cup.), C, E, K, Folate  

Minerals:  Potassium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium

1 Ripe Mango
Peel, Deseed and mash Mango until smooth

Add  formula/breast milk or water to thin or add cereal (if desired) to thicken up. 

Apples (Applesauce)

Vitamins: A, C, Folate 
Minerals: Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium 

This recipe is written so that you may use any amount of apples 

you wish. 

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; be sure to check on the water level 

and stir.

 4. Apples may be mashed with a potato masher to achieve a smooth applesauce consistency. 

If your masher will not achieve a puree type of consistency, then follow steps 5 – 7

5. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the apples

6. Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing. 

7. Add the reserved water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree

8. Add cereal (if desired) to thicken up the

9. Ask your pediatrician about adding some cinnamon for new tastes.

HINT.  You may also buy an "Adult" jar of Natural applesauce from your local grocers.  Make

sure you buy Natural Applesauce however. Read the labels if you are unsure.  The only 

ingredients should be apples and water or just apples.  A few companies may add ascorbic 

acid (vitamin C) or citric acid to their Natural Applesauce; this is fine.

Salt and sugar are never needed when making baby food. Omit these items, preferably at ALL times, in your baby's meals. Other spices such as cinnamon, garlic powder, pepper etc. may be introduced as early as 7 months with your pediatricians consult.