Your Guide to Homemade Organic Baby Food

The first few years are crucial in a baby's life. A growing baby can be quite intimidating to feed. Between sleep, baths, dishes, and many other things on your mind don't let hunger get the best of you or your baby. Save money and gain peace of mind by making homemade organic baby food. It's easy and has limitless benefits for your child. Reasons why processed baby food isn't as good as homemade organic are decreased nutritional value, unwanted additives, lacking freshness, no variety, less control over purity, safety, and quality, and money.

Processed baby foods are cooked at high temperatures to kill bacteria, but this method of preparation kills vitamins and other nutrients too. Processed baby foods contain amounts of chemicals like pesticides, herbicides and fungicides. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves these chemicals as safe, but why would you want to feed your baby chemicals? Since baby foods are massed produced the limited amount of flavors prevents your baby from developing an elaborate taste palate. Why spend over $300 a year in processed baby food when you could spend as little as $55 a year for organic?

There are four easy steps to making homemade organic baby food. All that's required to produce homemade baby food is to prep, cook, puree, and freeze. A simple example is sweet potatoes. Take 2 or 3 large sweet potatoes and wash them. Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 1 inch cubes. Next, add about 2 tablespoons of water and the sweet potato cubes to a microwave safe dish. Cover and cook the water and sweet potatoes for 8 to 10 minutes. Once the sweet potatoes are soft enough to mash with a fork let them cool off for about 5 minutes. Pour the soft sweet potatoes and juices into a blender or food processor. Add half of a cup of water and puree. You may need to add 1/4 to 1/2 a cup more of water to get the desired texture of baby food.

The same method can be done for oatmeal. Baby cereal costs more then $1.00 for a 1/2 pound box. A huge jar of regular oatmeal cost the same price, but you get 2 pounds of oats instead. This is a very easy and affordable way to make breakfast for your baby! Taking 1 cup of water and boiling it, throw 1/4 cup of oats into the blender, next cook the blended oats on low for about 10 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent any clumps from forming. Once it cools off you have homemade cereal for your baby!

Of course, bananas are so cheap and already soft. All you have to do to make homemade baby food is mash the banana up until there are no clumps and a little liquid. You have an organic baby snack in seconds! You can always freeze food in advance or just buy a few bananas at a time.

Don't give in to the temptation of sugar filled fruit roll ups! A healthy version would consist of whole wheat bread, your choice of jam, fruit, peanut butter, cream cheese, or whatever you like. Stick a carrot or celery stick in the roll up to prevent it from unrolling. A box of fruit roll ups cost a few bucks and lasts a day or two, but a loaf of bread and some jam can last a week or two.

You can even get creative with your organic homemade baby food ideas! Take a cantaloupe and scoop out the fruit. Save the rind and empty yogurt into it. Place the melon back into the rind filled with yogurt and serve!

The options that come with making homemade organic baby food are endless! Try new things like kiwi and cottage cheese or yogurt and bananas. Your baby will love you and the food you make! Of course, every parent wants the best for their baby. Show how much you care, can save, and can think of by making your own baby food!