Before you start feeding your little one it's important to have a conversation with your pediatrician about when is an appropriate and what is appropriate to feed your baby!
Then when it is time and you head to the store you maybe wondering what foods and products to buy for your little one!
Before you start picking products, one of the best pieces of advice I can give is a registered dietitian and mom is to avoid and limit products with added sugar. Why get your little ones hooked on the taste of sweets right from the start; instead add a hint of sweetness with pureed fruit as a way to add natural sweetness to baby cereals, yogurt, etc.
Pictured above are three of my favorite baby food products:
- Baby Mum Mum's - Each serving (4 rusks) is only 30 calories and the ingredient list is nice and simple: japonica rice, potato starch, and pear juice.
- Earth's Best Food - These little jars of food are a great go-to for busy days! What I loved about this product line is that they have been making organic baby food for 30 years.
- Plain Yogurt - Starting your little one with plain yogurt is the way to go and then if needed, add a hint of sweetness with pureed fruit.
Then my next tip is it is worth taking the time to make your own baby food! Here are my DIY Baby Food Steps and Tips:
• First, the parent should wash his or her hands thoroughly and then wash the fruit or vegetable thoroughly.
• Steam or microwave the fruit or vegetable until tender, then let it cool slightly and transfer to a blender or food processor.
• Add 1 T of water and then purée until smooth. Depending on the amount of food, it may be necessary to add more water, but just 1 T at a time until reaching the desired consistency.
As for storing: keep some in labeled containers in the refrigerator and place the remainder in ice cube trays for freezing. Then once they are frozen, you can transfer the cubes to labeled freezer bags or storage containers with the type of food and date. Typically one or two cubes will make a meal, depending on baby’s age and appetite.
Molly's tips were included in Today's Dietitian (2011) - Click here for the full article and more tips.
