Baby food is expensive, and somewhat wasteful with all that packaging, so I decided to make my own.  Even though I know my way around the kitchen, I was totally worried about making something that wasn’t safe for my babe. But, after doing a little research, I discovered that making your own baby food is quite simple, safe, and saves tons of money.

All you need is a decent sized pot with lid, a blender, ice cube trays, and a couple plastic bags.  After you get the hang of it, there are tons of combinations you can make for your wee tot.  It’s a good idea to stick with one ingredient for babe’s first foray into solid food to ensure she doesn’t have any food allergies. You can also mix pre-made food with a little breast milk or oatmeal cereal to thin it out.

I discovered a basic recipe for super simple baby food using 2-pounds of the fruit or vegetable of choice and 1-cup water.  You might need more water for denser items such as sweet potatoes, but the process doesn’t take very long, and IS really easy.

I started out with peas. I figured peas are sweet and tasty – and they’re green! How fun is that for baby! To make the pea baby food, I used a 2-pound bag of frozen peas. I  poured them into a nice sized pot and covered them with 1-cup of water.  I slapped on a lid, steamed on medium heat for a couple of minutes, and then blended away. Instant baby food! How easy is that?!

So, what to do with all the leftovers? I put the remaining mushy peas in ice-cube trays and froze overnight. Then, I put the cool green pea cubes in plastic bags and dated and labeled – even though I’m pretty sure I’ll remember they’re PEAS. And the frozen baby food can hang out in the freezer for up to 3 months.

You can re-heat the frozen cubes in the microwave or in a small sauce pan. I usually pull out  two or three and place them in a dish on the counter or in the fridge for a couple of hours. I figure one cube is about 1-ounce, so you can determine the right amount for your kiddo.

Once you and your babe have mastered the single ingredient baby food, you can get creative with different combinations. My daughter’s pretty partial to apple, pea, and carrot. Super sweet and super yummy. Sometimes I even add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the mix to tingle her taste buds.

Don’t be afraid of making your own baby food!  It is easy, healthy, and loads cheaper than buying your own!  It is also very eco-friendly with out all that packaging to deal with!