[Boston73]

Originally Posted by cat915

I had a friend recommend these...
One Step Ahead Baby - Baby Cubes

Thanks Cat...I did see those before, but that site says they're currently unavailable. They would be perfect!

[Boston73]

These look like they would be good too.

Bed Bath & Beyond Product

[JustPeachy]

I do peel the fruits with harder skins that wouldn't blend well. The only one I can think of offhand is the pears and apples. I blend with the skin on for the softer fruits such as apricots, figs, etc.

Jen - I think it's maybe a little cheaper than the earth's best foods. It really just depends on the cost of the fruit/veggie. I've been trying to buy whatever is in season. I'll look for things to be on special like two containers of raspberries for $5. It doesn't take too much time. The veggies take a little longer b/c they tend to require cooking beforehand like boiling the carrots to soften them. The only tricky part is I can't run the blender while Aiden is napping b/c it's so loud so I have to do it while Aiden is occupied in the exersaucer or playing with toys. Eventually, I'm hoping just to be able to use table food leftovers for his baby food. It's what my mom did for me. I'm really doing this more to get him to eat more veggies, more varieties, and I didn't like the look of the canned meats

[hopin4baby]

One Step Ahead Baby - BabySteps Homemade Baby Food System

i found this hope it helps

[jenedens6102]

Thanks Rach, I'll look into it!

[cat915]

Originally Posted by JustPeachy

I do peel the fruits with harder skins that wouldn't blend well. The only one I can think of offhand is the pears and apples. I blend with the skin on for the softer fruits such as apricots, figs, etc.

Jen - I think it's maybe a little cheaper than the earth's best foods. It really just depends on the cost of the fruit/veggie. I've been trying to buy whatever is in season. I'll look for things to be on special like two containers of raspberries for $5. It doesn't take too much time. The veggies take a little longer b/c they tend to require cooking beforehand like boiling the carrots to soften them. The only tricky part is I can't run the blender while Aiden is napping b/c it's so loud so I have to do it while Aiden is occupied in the exersaucer or playing with toys. Eventually, I'm hoping just to be able to use table food leftovers for his baby food. It's what my mom did for me. I'm really doing this more to get him to eat more veggies, more varieties, and I didn't like the look of the canned meats

we never did canned meats- our dr said to avoid them that they weren't good for the babies so we went right to real meats at around 10 months...

[Teagan873]

Peachy....for the veggies...did it say in your book that you have to boil them? I was thinking of making my own baby food in the future and thought I would use the steamer bags (LOVE them!) made for the microwave then puree. Veggies come out so bright and there is hardly any liquid in the bag after cooking. I thought I would do this since boiling takes away a lot of the nutrients....plus, it only takes like 3 min to cook them and they come out pretty mushy with just an extra 15 sec. I figured I would do the same with fruit. I read awhile ago too that the fruit should be cooked first...but maybe they suggest that just to soften it.

I don't recall reading anything that says microwaving the food beforehand would be bad for babies...but then again I haven't really don't much reading up on the process yet. Have any of you heard anything against microwaving the food before it's pureed?

[JustPeachy]

You can definitely steam the veggies. That is pretty much what I am doing on the stove. You just put enough water in the bottom of the pan to cover about the bottom half of the veggie (maybe an inch?) and then basically steam them. I'm sure the microwave would be fine. I try to avoid the plastics and the microwave especially with the baby stuff (I know I'm a little crazy) so that's why I stuck to the stove.

Our pediatrician told us we could start meats at 6 months since we had already been through all the veggies and fruits but so far I've only given Aiden chicken. I just can't quite picture little Aiden eating a steak yet But, I might try grinding up some meatballs next week.

For anyone thinking about the process, this is a neat book that explains all the basics and it has receipes and food charts for each stage(month 4 versus month 6) as separate chapters. The book is only $7.99 but it's a good reference.
BabySteps Guide

[cat915]

i made a bunch of baby food this weekend. And after seeing the color of fresh peas steamed and pureed vs gerber, i'm going to attempt to make more... for now i'm just doing the whole ice cube tray - i have those covered ice cube trays and then when they're frozen, i pop them out and place them in ziplocs in the freezer. I haven't had a chance to buy any little containers yet. We went and bought some farm fresh produce-- jen- you can definately make it for cheaper if you buy either local or what's on sale or even frozen peas would work.

[Boston73]

Ok..so I tried Squash yesterday. It came out great..tasted good to me, but Brady wasn't a big fan. He wasn't a fan of the peas either. Loves Gerber's peas and squash tho. I also found that I just can't find the time to do all this. Our house is a Split. The bottom level is a huge family room and a 1/2 bath, so the top level is bedrooms, bath, living room and kitchen. My blender is soooo loud that I can not do it while he is sleeping and when he's not sleeping he hates the blender!!!! I think I'll try the sweet potatoes next and if doesn't like it then I'm just going to stick with Gerber. I haven't tried any fruit yet either. Maybe he'll like that better.

Oh well..can't say I didnt' try!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peachy..that's a great idea about grinding up the meatballs. Brady is almost 8 months and I haven't tried any meat with him yet. I was going to start with chicken too. Did you grind it up or just give him little pieces? I think Brady would do all right with little pieces. I give him Gerber Puffs, Cheerios, Biter Biscuits and Wagon Wheels and eats those like crazy..does realy good chewing and loves them!

I'm just not sure what do with the meat.

[JustPeachy]

I ground up the meat and mixed it with ground apricots. He's just starting with the finger foods. He doesn't love it before noon but gobbles it up in the afternoon! Picky eater. Squash didn't go over to huge here either for veggies. Maybe try corn or the baby carrots? I know it's tough with the blender being loud.

[nic-paul]

I'm not quite there yet, but I've been reading a book called "Super baby food." Its got alot of great info & recipes for homemade baby food. & I believe she suggests using regular ice trays. She is all about saving money!!! With the health of her children being first & foremost. I'm going to probably make most of Aubrey's baby food, however, for times when we're in a crunch, we'll keep jars of Earth's best on hand as well as Happy Baby frozen organic baby food in the freezer. (Check out Happy Baby on the web. That might give you some ideas on some neat food combinations that you could make yourself -- just read the ingredients on the labels. The labels are displayed on the website.)

[cat915]

i've been using this site
Make Homemade Baby Food Recipes, Homemade Baby Food Recipes, Solid Food Baby Tips, Baby Nutrition & more!

i made peaches w/ banana today- they went over well.

[Teagan873]

Great site Catherine....these storage containers look perfect too!
One Step Ahead Baby - Jumbo Baby Cubes

[hopeful2bmom]

I thought I would just post this b/c I am a freak about the microwave as well.

They have stainless steel ice cube trays and food steamers to. Freezing and heating of plastics can cause leaching of toxins.

Ten reasons to throw out your Microwave oven (taken from research):

Continually eating food processed from a microwave oven causes long term, permanent, brain damage by ‘shorting out” electrical impulses in the brain (de-polarizing or de-magnetizing the brain tissue).
The human body cannot metabolize (breakdown) the unknown by-products created in microwaved food.
Male and female hormone production is shut down and/or altered by continually eating microwaved foods.
The effects of microwaved food by-products are residual (long term, permanent) within the human body.
Minerals, vitamins, and nutrients of all microwaved food is reduced or altered so that the human body gets little or no benefit, or the human body absorbs altered compounds that cannot be broken down.
The minerals in vegetables are altered into cancerous free radicals when cooked in microwave ovens.
Microwaved foods cause stomach and intestinal cancerous growths (tumors). This may explain the rapid increased rate of colon cancer in America.
The prolonged eating of microwaved foods causes cancerous cells to increase in human blood.
Continual ingestion of microwaved food causes immune system deficiencies through lymph gland and serum alterations.
Eating microwaved food causes loss of memory, concentration, emotional instability, and a decrease of intelligence.