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On this page I'll include some of my tips and tricks to make baby food.
Please feel free to contribute your own cooking tips -- I'll post the best ones so everyone can see them.
Tip 1: Fresh Home Made Baby Food
Please use as many organic fruits and vegetables as you can when making baby food. Fruits and vegetables not labled as organic will have levels of pesticides and other unwanted chemicals that babies shouldn't eat. Organic produce is farmed without processed chemicals and has improved vitamin and mineral content. You can find organic produce fresh, canned, and frozen.
Always wash your fresh fruits and vegetables!
Tip 2:Using Canned Foods
Canned vegetables should be checked on their labels to see if they are low salt or unsalted. Try to get unsalted. Canned fruits should be checked on their labels to see if they are unsweetened or canned in natural juice. Do not buy canned fruit that is canned in heavy syrup. The syrup contains too much sugar and will cause dehydration.
Check the texture of the canned fruits and vegetables to see if they are very soft (holds a form but breaks up easily with your finger). Some canned fruits and vegetables will have to be cooked over low heat or steamed until they are soft enough for your baby to eat. If you are blending or mashing them, they do not need to be cooked more and can be processed directly from the can.
Tip 3:Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
Frozen vegetables and fruit should be washed. Cook over low heat in a small amount of water or use a steamer. Frozen foods are good to use because the produce is picked at the ideal ripeness when they have the best flavor and the most nutrients.
Tip 3:Frozen Tip 4: Cooking Methods
Steaming is one of the best cooking methods to preserve vitamins and minerals in foods. Place the food in a steam basket, sieve, or colander above boiling water and cook in the rising steam.
Microwave cooking is another way to prepare foods, especially vegetables, which cook quickly in very little water.
Boiling or simmering fruits and vegetables is an acceptable cooking method but will result in loss of some nutrients in the cooking water. Be sure to use only a small amount of water and save the cooking liquid to thin the pureed food to eating consistency.
Since babies do not have a preference for salty or sweet, you should not add salt or sugar to their food. It's a good idea to keep your child from developing an early taste for such additions. Studies suggest that feeding babies too much sodium may trigger high blood pressure later in life in those individuals who are likely to develop high blood pressure.
Don't forget to visit the Baby Freebies and get some fun and free baby stuff.
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