Permit me to say that homemade baby food are the best for babies. I am not against the bottled ones but there is definitely something different when it is made by you…talk of being healthy, fresh and more yummy. Having once tasted the bottled one once, no one told me to rekindle my old habit of making all my baby’s puree by myself.
So if you are like me, then settle down, puree and store your baby’s food and vegetable. It may seem tasking but once you start, they are all very easy to prepare, quite rewarding and your baby will love the fresh taste.
The good thing is that most of these foods and veggies are all freezable once puréed and all you need to do is invest in small containers that you can use to store them. Ok, i know some of us may have to contend with the magnanimity of NEPA or PHCN. Don’t bank on it so much, just prepare as when needed to avoid it getting bad and harming your baby.
The process of puréeing the foods & vegetables are very straightforward and you are good to go with a good budget hand blender and some small storage containers. I love the small ones because you can just pick up one and mix with any other food like yam, potatoes, rice etc. You can equally use ice cube trays and cover with a plastic wrap. The baby weaning guide contains more information, tips and guide to help you start weaning your baby successfully, as well as nutritious recipe combinations plus ideas for the next 6 – 12 months of your baby’s life.
Carrots – This is one vegetable that is really good, can be puréed and added to baby’s food like brown rice cereal or other pureed food and yogurt. Wash them well, peel the back off and cut into chunks. Boil a little water in a pot and steam the carrots for about 5-8 minutes. Discard the water in a bowl and purée carrots, adding some of the discarded water to it to get your desired consistency.
Green Beans and Peas – You have to patiently blend these two well and with more liquid too if you want to get a very smooth purée. Wash them, cut of the ends of the beans and cut into small pieces . Steam in boiling water for 3-5 minutes and purée, adding some water that you used to boil it to get your desired smoothness.
Green Leafy Vegetables – Full of nutrients that are good for babies but preferably pureed and used up immediately. I prefer mixing spinach, ugu and greens with other vegetables in order to give it bulk. Steam separately after washing as they get done and lose nutrients fast on cooking. You don’t need to add water to steam them as they release their own liquid, otherwise you end up with a puddle.
Avocado – This is technically a fruit but it is quite fleshy and filled with more nutrients than other fruits. It can be added to baby’s food, porridge or cereal. Avocado does not require any cooking or blending…just scoop out the flesh into a bowl and mash with a fork.
Other vegetables include sweet corn, broccoli, sweet peppers and others mostly for mothers in the diaspora. Check out your grocery stores or the market.
Finally, I like adding a bit of flavour to my vegetables especially after the first taste for baby, so a little onion, garlic, cinnamon, dawadawa/okpei, herbs (scent leaf) and tomato stew are not a bad idea.
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Chioma my son loved these vegetable purees in his baby to toddler years. The aroma that comes from these made me want to become a baby all over again. 😀 I tried all you listed here but the green leafy vegetables. It never occurred to me to add them. Nice addition to the list!
Flo, i feel honoured to see you on my blog. Thank you so much for stopping by and nothing stops you from being a baby once in a while…just close your eyes and savour the taste. lol
Chioma biko I don’t want to be tagged ori nni nwa ooo. lol
Please translate for your non-Igbo readers.
My dear you are doing a great job here. Now I know where to go to when I get isi popcorn because I am wondering what to feed my picky eaters. 😉
LoL. Thank you so much Flo, coming from a veteran like you…i appreciate it so much.
thanks for ds wonderful recipe…but i want to ask,these veggies[carrots,peas and d rest] are they supposed to be perboiled or blended straight away? as u said we can steam d ugu and green.
Yumardy, you are very welcome my dear. You steam them before blending except the avocado pear. Read the post again, because i mentioned it there. Dont hesistate to contact me again if you need clarifications.
I love D plastic storage plate in D pic above..Whr did U get dem pls..
In the shops Esther…depends on where you are based.
Good afternoon ma. Please when one stores these pureed veggies and fruits; how can one serve it again as a next meal. That’s how do you get it warm?
Grace, bring it out and leave to defrost. Don’t microwave or heat it. You can sit it in a bowl of warm water too.
Hello ma,
Kindly assist with what i can feed my 4months old baby with.am not doing exclusive doing to nature of my job.
Thanks.
Hello Themy, milk (either breast or formula) is still the main and most important for your baby. If you want to start solids at 4 months rather than the ideal recommended 6 months, then fruit purees (like apple, pear, avocado, banana), pap, rice cereal are a good start. Be sure your baby is ready before you start and consult your doctor.
My baby will be 9months this month,,can I give her fruits? Because she had no tooth yet. Can i start putting garlic in her food??I really appreciate you here.thanks
Yetty, she should have been taking fruits in form of purees by now. If you mean plain fruits, yes you can give her banana, peel the back of apple and pear toobut always be around to watch her while eating incase she chokes or bites a big chunk. Her gums are perfectly okay to chew with. Yes, garlic is good too.
Yes o, i have done carrot, apple, ripe plaintain etc, courstesy @mummysum recipe… But i havent try the vegetable pureee, i dont know Y but i do feel it will be tatsless sha, but i have added ugu to the ripe plantain , add carrot to it and den blend it all with titus fish.
do i have to start the vegetable one by one or just add 2/3 types as listed above for 1st timer, shes going to 10months now.
Bolu, tasteless? 🙂
Your taste bud have tasted a lot and is different from baby’s. For a first timer, I would always recommend starting one by one before mixing or matching them.
Hi Chioma, can my 11 months old Baby take Milo or Bournvita?
Hi Success, I wouldn’t advice giving them to baby les than 1 year. I believe they are not made for them at all.
Thank you so much. I just stumbled o. your page and I am so excited. Been struggling with baby to eat solids. But all the recipes I have tried from your page are awesome. She like them. We don’t fight to eat anymore. She 10month old. God bless you tremendously for coming through for a first time mum like me.
You are very welcome Flo