Getting Started With Homemade Baby Food - Supplies

Before I became a mom, homemade baby food seemed like a crazy idea. Who has time for that? What’s easier than popping open a jar?

Turns out, thawing an ice cube of homemade baby food is just as easy as opening a jar, with an added benefit of being cheaper and made to the consistency that your baby prefers.

To get started, you’ll need some supplies. Nothing crazy, so don’t worry. You don’t need to buy a special baby food maker. The market is full of baby food makers that go for more than $100. Save your money.

The food processor or blender you already have will suffice. Your house is already overrun with baby stuff – do you really want the baby stuff to take over your kitchen, too?

If you’re planning on making food on-the-go (say, while on vacation), you may want to get a stick mixer, as well. I never used one, but you might.

The second thing you’ll need is a pot or to cook your vegetables and fruit. I’ll just assume you already have one.

Here are some other cheap cooking supplies you may want: A strainer or colander to hold the cooked food and drain it; a mesh strainer (used to separating green bean or pea skins); a steam basket; and a potato masher. And, you already have a fork, which you’ll use to mash small things like a banana or avocado.

If you’re planning on storing food you’ll also need plastic ice cube trays (And no, you don’t need those cute heart-shaped ice cube trays); large freezer bags and a sharpie to date and label the bags. I found that most recipes I made filled nearly two ice cube trays – that’s about 24 servings/meals. So, you’ll want at least two ice cube trays, but probably more if the cooking bug gets you.

Kim Reiner from www.bodymindstomach.wordpress.com will be joining us in the weeks to come with a series on Baby Food Making! Stay tuned for more!