| Several days ago, I was thrilled to learn about making | | | | of fresh fruits and vegetables. |
| baby food from my good friend, Jessica. I've known | | | | There's no hassle to it. In the time it takes you to run to |
| Jessica for most of my life, but our busy schedules | | | | the store, you could be serving your little one fresh |
| make it almost impossible for us to meet up. We finally | | | | homemade baby food. You can plan meals for the |
| managed to have lunch together at Marcel's Bistro in | | | | week. Instead of a pile of jars filling your cupboards, |
| Raleigh where we reside. Since we both have | | | | make larger portions that will last longer than one meal. |
| newborns, our table talk circled around kids. After | | | | Homemade baby food saves time and is more |
| discussing a number of topics, we came around to | | | | nutritious for your baby, plus it helps develop good |
| baby's nutrition. I was interested to learn which product | | | | eating practices early on. The ingredients are fresher |
| of baby food Jessica chose. As it turns out, she | | | | and the end result is healthier. |
| doesn't buy commercially-prepared foods for her | | | | The process is simple. Begin by either steaming, baking, |
| infant. She prepares them herself. | | | | microwaving or boiling the food until it's cooked. Then |
| Like Jessica, I'm an avid cook. I look for new recipes on | | | | you let it cool before giving it a quick puree. It's that |
| the internet and like to try my hand at something fresh | | | | simple. Control the consistency by adding breast milk, |
| every week. But the thought of homemade baby food | | | | formula, or water. Whether you like it smooth, mushy, |
| had by no means crossed my mind. It seemed | | | | or a little chunky, you have absolute control. And you |
| impractical, but Jessica set me straight. She explained | | | | can prepare baby food out of anything, from apples |
| how homemade baby food is not only healthier for | | | | and bananas, to sweet potatoes and carrots. |
| babies, it can also conserve time for busy parents. | | | | Here's a recipe with apple and avocado, so nutritious |
| Commercial baby foods have preservatives and a | | | | and tasty! |
| number of additives that may not be good for your | | | | Creamy Avocado Mash |
| baby. Making baby food eliminates all those unwanted | | | | 1 apple, peeled and cut into small pieceshalf an |
| ingredients like dyes and concentrates. If you can't | | | | avocado, peeledlittle water |
| pronounce the ingredients on the food label, then it's | | | | With some water, simmer apple in a small pot until it is |
| probably not as healthy as those "all natural" claims | | | | tender. Now place it in a food processor and puree |
| would like you to think. It's a wonder more parents | | | | until smooth. Mash the avocado into the apple puree |
| don't realize that the healthier choice is a quick mash | | | | and serve. |