Baby Food

So when Mr. Happy (as I will from now on refer to my son, since, as my husband says "He's the happiest person I've ever met!") turned 4 mos old the doctor said he could start eating solids. While some things I read encouraged exclusive breastfeeding until 6 mos., Mr. H (for short) was a chunk and seemed to not only need more but really be ready for solids (he could hold his head very well, hold a spoon well, swallow without the tongue thrust, etc.)

At that point I started researching baby food, and discovered some websites that encouraged families to make their own because its cheaper and possibly healthier. One I like is www.wholesomebabyfood.com. It has recipes and tips - such as freezing the food in ice cube trays then storing in plastic freezer bags so that you have easier perfect portions on hand.

So far I've made sweet potato, butternut squash, beets, carrots, peas, potato and pears. Last week I finally ordered a Foley Food Mill (found it cheapest on Amazon) - before then I'd been using a mini food processor that I already had. It did ok on some things, but for most it can't get a really smooth consistency. The food mill arrives tomorrow and I've loaded up on lots of things to make once it arrives: broccoli, cucumber, spinach.

It takes some time, but if I spend one day cooking I can have enough for over a month. I just ran out of the squash that I made in mid-march. We've definitely supplemented with jarred baby foods because its easy when travelling and provides a little more variety (e.g. I haven't been able to find organic peaches so he's only had those in jars). I save some of those glass jars and use them to heat the frozen cubes that I make - sometimes I'll mix the two together even.

It has not always been a success - the video of Mr. H trying lentils and spinach for the first time is hysterical. Because he's perpetually happy, instead of fussing and getting upset about it (not sure if it was the taste, texture or what) he just wouldn't close his mouth and started singing instead. What a nut.