Baby Food Cooking International Guide
Baby Food With Fresh Ideas
By Julia Taylor-Fernandez
Many parents are opting to make homemade baby food instead of
buying commercial foods, and many easy baby food recipes can be
found online.
There are lots of benefits to making your own, such as eliminating
additives and preservatives, and you will know the ingredients
are fresh. It’s also less expensive. However, without proper
preparation, you can inadvertently contaminate the food with health
threatening bacteria.
Cleanliness is critical to making fresh baby food, so start by
washing your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap. Make sure
that you review your options and thoroughly clean any tools or
areas you use such as countertops, utensils, pots and pans, cutting
boards and blenders or food processors.
Always Clean Produce And Utensils Before Cooking
Running dishes and utensils through the dishwasher is preferable
because the heat will kill germs and bacteria. You should have
a separate cutting board for meat so that there’s no risk of contaminating
fruits and vegetables with bacteria. Using a wooden cutting board
is safer than plastic.
It has been shown that bacteria are easier to remove from wooden
cutting boards. Always be sure to thoroughly wash and cleanse
the fruits and vegetables that you will be using to make your
baby food. Even if you are not using the peels or skins, and even
if you buy organic, you should always cleanse produce.
Use Fresh Produce And Fresh Meat In Your Cooking
With regard to healthy recipes for your baby, always shop for
fresh produce and meat instead of using canned foods. Many canned
meats and vegetables contain lots of added salt, sugar, preservatives
and fat.
Fresh is always best, and there are some foods that are particularly
good for babies. Bananas, always a favorite when introducing solid
foods, are packed with protein, calcium, iron, potassium and several
vitamins that babies need. Pears and plums are also a good choice.
Remove Anything That Could Cause Choking
Beef, pork and chicken are excellent sources of protein, calcium,
essential fatty acids and important vitamins. Vegetables bring
beneficial fiber, minerals and vitamins into your child’s diet
without adding any cholesterol.
When introducing your baby to solid food, it’s imperative that
you remove anything that could cause choking. This is why peeling
skins, and pitting or removing seeds is important prior to cooking.
Some of the most common choking hazards include raisins, grapes,
nuts, popcorn, hot dogs, peanut butter, raw carrots, raw peas,
raw apples and corn kernels.
Honey Can Harbor Bacterial Spores
As well, honey can harbor spores of Clostridium botulinum, which
causes botulism. An adult’s intestinal tract can prevent the growth
of these spores, but in a baby the spores can grow and produce
life threatening toxins.
Money is one driving force behind deciding to make homemade baby
food. Just as it costs less to make a meal at home than dining
out or ordering in, food for baby made from quick and easy recipes
costs less than jarred food.
Introducing Bananas To Your Baby
For example, bananas are often one of the first solid foods that
babies eat. A 2.5-ounce jar of commercial bananas costs about
fifty cents. However, for the same cost, you can buy a pound of
bananas that the whole family can eat.
You’d need to buy six and a half jars of baby food to equal one
pound of bananas. Recipes can be found in lots of cookbooks and
online, so have fun cooking up a storm for your bundle of joy.
About the Author:
Julia Taylor-Fernandez has written a number of articles on baby food,
cooking and dieting including
General Nutrition,
Meal Plans,
Teapot Cake,
Low Carb Cheese Cake,
Fresh Fruit,
Nutritional Information,
Healthy Appetizers,
Low Carb Dinners,
Health Food Store.
Keep a lookout for more of her articles on this website.
Did You Know?
Natural foods does not mean organic. It is a common marketing
term and often misleads consumers into thinking the product they
are buying is organic.
More often than not, natural foods are ones that have fewer additives.
An organic food can be labeled as “natural” but it
will also have the organic sticker attached that certifies the
product.
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