Mila is already seven months old! We cannot believe how quickly she has grown up. She has been the biggest ray of sunshine during an otherwise gloomy 2020 and we cannot be more thankful. At six months we started introducing solid foods. This has to be the milestone we were looking forward to most. We have been so ecstatic to introduce the world of food to our little one. I think many new parents are intimidated by preparing food for their children, and we wanted to share how we started the process.

I wanted to start by saying – there is no right or wrong way to feed your baby! Oh my goodness – for those new moms out there like me, I’m sure sometimes it’s overwhelming trying to decide the best way to feed your baby. Baby led weaning? Purees? Cereals? Well I’m here to say – you do you. Talk to your pediatrician, family, friends and find a method you feel comfortable with. Your baby will do great. 

We opted to start with some cereal as her first food at the recommendation of our pediatrician. We quickly realized Mila absolutely loves eating! So we wanted to keep the diversity going and keep introducing new foods into her diet. We’ve sort of adopted a mix of homemade baby purees and baby led weaning, and she is loving it.

We have been participating in a community supported agriculture program for years with JBG Organic based out of Austin. If you can find one in your area, I highly recommend it! We get a fresh box of organic locally grown produce each week at a lower cost than what you would pay at most supermarkets. We’ve so enjoyed using those boxes as inspiration for not just our meal prep for the week, but Mila’s also. If you are in Texas and want to try them out, you can use the code “CSA78865” for your first box free. 

General Tips

If you are wanting to make more homemade baby purees but struggling with the process, this post is for you! We wanted to share a few tips and recipes for Mila’s favorite purees. 

1. No special equipment needed! We have been using our mini food processor and it’s worked great. So, don’t waste your money on special “baby food makers”. 
2. Make small batches and then freeze leftovers. We use these jars for storing.
3. If the consistency is too thin, you can add some baby cereal to thicken it. If too thick, thin out with reserved liquid from steaming or boiling or breastmilk/formula. 
4. Don’t be afraid to add in some herbs or spices (non-spicy, i.e. cinnamon, cumin, curry powder) to add more flavor. Avoid adding salt or sugar, however. 

Method:

1. Thoroughly wash and (if needed) peel your desired fruit or vegetable. 
2. Roughly dice and add into a small saucepan with just enough water to cover the fruit or vegetable. Do not use more water than needed. 
3. Next, simmer with the lid on for 10-20 minutes or until the fruit or vegetable can easily be pierced with a fork. 
4. Strain and reserve the liquid. 
5. Add fruit/vegetable to the food processor and pulse. Add reserved liquid in small quantities until desired consistency is reached. 
6. Finally, place into jars and refrigerate until ready to use or freeze once cooled. 

Some of our favorite combinations: 

-Apples and Carrots (1/2 apple, 1 large carrot = 2 jars)

-Apples and Cinnamon (1 apple = 1 jar)

-Cauliflower and Potato with Rosemary (1/4 large russet potato + 1 cup cauliflower florets = 3 jars)

-Pear and Spinach (1 pear + handful of spinach = 2 jars)

-Sweet Potato and Kale (1/2 small sweet potato + handful of kale = 2 jars) 

Legumes/Beans:

We’ve recently started adding in legumes and beans into her diet as well. Lentils and beans are great options because they mash easily. You can use canned beans (just be sure to drain and rinse well), but we absolutely love our instant pot for making beans and lentils without having to soak overnight. Here are a few favorites.

-White Beans and Chard 

-Red Lentils, Carrots and Collard Greens

-Black Beans, Lime, and Cilantro 

Note that obviously some fruits don’t require simmering if they are already soft. Examples include banana, berries, and avocado. 

We hope this guide to homemade baby purees makes them a little less intimidating and gives you and your baby some fun new recipes to try together! 

Want more baby content?

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