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Making baby foods at home
It is cheaper, its better, its simple, its rewarding!
Commercially prepared foods do not have any nutritional advantage over home cooked foods with the following exceptions:
1. Commercial baby cereals are fortified with iron
2. Commercial baby yogurt has added Omega 3 (DHA), and Vitamins D, A, C, and E.
Equipment needed
Sieve/Strainer with a fine stainless steel mesh: Vegetables and Fruits
Forks: Egg yolk, Banana, Potatoes
Food Mill Grinder: Meats, Vegetables, Fruits
Blenders: Puree meats, vegetables, fruits
Food processor: Grind Rice, Bajra. Puree
Ice cube trays: Freeze serving size foods for storage.
Vegetables
Wash thoroughly
Cooking
Boil, Steam, Bake in oven or microwave oven.
Use minimum water.
Use a fork or a blender/ food processor to make a puree for infants under eight months.
For 8 months and above the foods could be lumpier about the size of baby peas.
Wait for tomato based curry sauces till after the first birthday.
Fruits
Wash thoroughly
Cooking
Cook all fruits till the age of 12 months except soft flesh fruits.
Boil, Steam, Bake in oven or microwave oven.
Use minimum water.
Use a fork or a blender/ food processor to make a puree for infants under eight months.
For 8 months and above the foods could be lumpier about the size of cottage cheese curds.
Soft flesh fruits not to be cooked: Bananas, Avocado, Kiwi, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Papaya, Mango
Preparing Cereals
You can use one of the two following methods to make a cereal starter.
1. Grind the grain to a powder in a food processor. Mix the powder with at least 4 times the water and cook on low heat till soft puree is done. Add equal amount of breast milk or iron fortified infant formula before feeding.
2. Grind the grain into a powder making it like an Atta. Now mix the Atta with water, knead and cook like a Roti. Crumble the Roti in the food processor. Cook the crumbles with a little bit of water till soft. Add equal amount of breast milk or iron fortified infant formula before feeding.
Storing
The cooked foods can be put in ice-cube tray and frozen. The frozen cubes can be stored in freezer bags for up to six months.