15 Easy Peasy Baby Food Purees

Everyone tells me that I give my babies solids very early, but I think I may have gone too far here. Simon is a week old and I made my first baby foods this week! Don't worry, I don't plan on feeding him solids for a while yet! We have an abundance of wonderful produce from our CSA, our garden and as well as our friends gardens that I haven't been able to use all our fresh produce because people have been bringing us meals since Simon's arrival. I decided that Simon shouldn't miss out on summer vegetables so I made some baby food and put it in the freezer for when he's ready in a couple months.

Over the past few years, I have talked to so many moms about making baby food. There's always a little apprehension about the dos and don'ts as well as the when. Let me just say ... don't be scared to dive in. It's so much fun to make baby food. Have fun with it and your baby will have fun too! Everyone has their own rules and regulations about when you should give babies solids and if it should be fruits, vegetables or cereal. I'm only on baby #3 now, but I feel like all the rules and regulations can be thrown out the window ... what is right for one baby is not right for another. They are all different and when they're hungry for food, they will let you know.

I tend make baby food once a week and make it last all week long. This cuts down a lot of the time in making it. I will steam a bunch of carrots, apples, sweet potatoes, etc. and have different bowls of cooked foods set up so that I can quickly make different combinations easily and in less time! Work smarter, not harder and remember to have fun!

Here's a few tips that have helped me along the way:

• Do whatever is easiest for you. Steam, boil, roast or if you have a VitaMix or strong blender, mix your purees raw for even more nutritional value!
• Mix up your fruits and vegetables. Babies don't have to have a meal of just fruit or just veggies.
• Add quinoa or a grain to any recipe. I always have pureed quinoa cubes in the freezer to add to a recipe if needed or if my baby is super hungry and I want the meal to go a little further!
• If they don't like something, don't give up. Wait a week and try again. Then wait a little more and try again. They may come around and it's worth it!
• Your freezer is your friend. I love the little silicone freezer trays, baby food pops right out of them!
• You can use a food processor, but the food doesn't give you a nice baby food consistency. You can use a fancy baby food maker too but those can be expensive. I have found that a simple Immersion Blender (around $30 for a Cuisinart) is all that I need to get the perfect baby food!

15 Easy Peasy Baby Food Purees

*Cook all of your vegetables until they are soft, reserving the water that you have cooked them in and add that or vegetable stock to get the consistency that your baby is ready for. Berries and other fruits don't need to be cooked. I usually only cook my pears, apples and other hard fruits.

Baby's First Meal

Equal parts banana and avocado

Tropical Dreamcicle

Equal parts mango and avocado
- a few orange slices

Berry Blast

Equal parts mixed berries and tofu or yogurt

The Orange Apple

Equal parts carrots, sweet potatoes and apples
-Spice with ginger or cinnamon

The Sweet Beet

Equal parts beets and apples or pears
-Spice with ginger or cinnamon

Pumpkin Pie

Equal parts pumpkin puree and tofu or yogurt
-Spice with ginger or cinnamon

Orange Triple Threat

Equal parts oranges, carrots and sweet potatoes

Cheesy Peasy

1/2 c peas
2 T parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
Splash of lemon
dash of salt and pepper

Carrots & Parsnips

Equal parts carrot and parsnip
-Spice with nutmeg

Savory Pumpkin

Equal parts pumpkin puree and tofu or yogurt, add a few sauteed leeks

Cheesy Broccoli Cauliflower

Equal parts broccoli and cauliflower
-Spice with nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese

Get Your Greens

3/4 zucchini, 1/4 kale
-Spice with garlic powder and nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese
-Add a cooked pear

Curry Cravings

Equal parts carrots, apples and sweet potatoes. Add tofu for creaminess
-Spice with curry

Spinach Burger

Equal parts spinach, cananelli beans and sauteed mushrooms
-Spice with nutritional yeast or parmesan cheese

Baby's First Pizza

Tomato, spinach and a little mozzarella or tofu. Add a grain of your choice to get your babies consistency
-Spice with fresh basil