Those little jars of baby food in the grocery are so expensive! And really, not all that healthy for your little ones. It's so much healthier to just make your own baby food at home, and then go one step further to make it organic baby food!All you have to do is make sure you buy only organic fruits and vegetables. When you get them home, scrub them really well with a good vegetable brush. And it goes without saying that you should get rid of all the things that could choke your baby, like pits, seeds, and stringy stuff (can anyone say celery??).
Steam the veggies, it makes them easier to mash up to whatever consistency your baby likes. It's not necessary to add any salt or seasonings, the fresher the better! If you want to, you can add a bit of lemon juice -- it's a natural preservative as well as a flavor enhancer.
As far as storing, one tip I read was to use ice-cube trays! Freeze the baby food in the ice cube trays, then pop them out & put them into zip-locks for easy thawing. It's probably best to thaw out in the refrigerator, but if you are using a microwave PLEASE stir well and test it before you let your little one enjoy their meal!
You could also get your friends who don't make their own baby food to save their little baby food jars and pass them on to you. That would be another easy way to store and serve. Be sure to sterilize them before use, the old-fashioned way by boiling them in a pot of water on the stove, or you could put them in the dishwasher.
As far as what you need to get started making some healthy meals for your baby? Something to steam the veggies in; something to mash them up with (a food processor or potato masher); possibly some kind of strainer; and something to store them in.
Have fun and good luck!
