Reflections on Making My Own Baby Food

My twins are now 10-months old, and thankfully, they're starting to eat more "people" food. They're taking a greater interest in new tastes and textures and that means they get to share the family meal (mushed up, of course) and are slowly pulling away from baby staples like pureed carrots and squash.

I've been making baby food for the twins for five months now, and I must admit, I am so happy that the end is in sight when it comes to baby food. I thought those of you who are parents may want to know my thoughts on the whole homemade baby food process.

My main motivator was definitely economics. I estimate that I saved approximately $135 over the last five months by making my own baby food. And it really only took a couple of hours every two weeks. (Keep in mind I was making food for TWO babies... with a singleton, your cooking sessions would last much longer).

I found that there are lots of resources on homemade baby food available at the public library. I also love the website Wholesome Baby Food. It has lots of great information on how to get started, what kinds of foods freeze well, and recipes and tips.

I initially bought these little cubes for food storage. But as the babies ate more, I decided that I preferred these Rubbermaid containers. It was quicker to fill the larger containers and they don't break when you drop them, unlike the baby food cubes. Many friends have told me they used ice cube trays, and I tried it once, but didn't find it as convenient as some other containers.

I learned to take short cuts when it made sense. For example, it was easier and cheaper for me to buy regular ol' unsweetened applesauce than it was for me to buy the apples, peel and core, them, and make them into my own applesauce. I also found some great deals on frozen vegetables that steam in the bag. This made making things like green beans, carrots, and peas, faster and cheaper than buying the fresh stuff.

I did a lot of double duty. I roasted squash while I was baking sweet potatoes. I cooked chicken breasts in my crock pot while I made a pot of pears on my stove.

I found that I liked knowing exactly what was in my babies' food. I discovered that they had less tummy upsets and spit-ups when they ate food I had made instead of food I'd bought. I also found that the boys were able to try finger foods and thicker textures sooner than my first son had when he was eating all store-bought baby food.

I highly recommend making your own baby food. It's economical and better for your baby and the environment. The homemade stuff just smells and tastes so much better than store-bought!