Homemade Baby Food Cooking International Guide
Homemade Baby Food Prepared With Sanitary Dishes And Utensils
By Julia Taylor-Fernandez
Homemade baby food is an excellent alternative to salt, sugar
and chemical preservative packed commercial foods. Making fresh
baby food full of healthy ingredients has to be good for your
baby, right? Wrong!
Bacteria and unwanted ingredients can sneak into your baby’s
meals without you even knowing. There are lots of easy baby food
recipes out there using a variety of ingredients, but there are
some rules that you should adhere to, no matter what kind of home
made baby food you make.
Baby Food In An Airtight Container
First of all, when freezing baby food, review your options and
use an airtight container, preferably a new or very well cleaned
one, or use ice cube trays. Once frozen, pop out the cubes, store
in a sealed plastic bag, and use within two months.
Another rule you should stick to is discarding unfinished meals.
Saliva from the baby’s mouth provides a breeding ground for bacteria,
so it’s best not to serve leftovers.
Use Fresh Ingredients With Sanitary Dishes And Utensils
The "one new food a week" rule is helpful because it
allows you to pinpoint potential allergies. Most parents opt to
introduce solid foods in the form of fruits and vegetables before
feeding their baby meat.
We all know that homemade baby food should be made with fresh
ingredients using sanitary dishes and utensils, but there are
some things that parents can do that could inadvertently hurt
their baby.
Keep Out Salt, Sugar And Spices
First of all, don’t add salt, sugar or strong spices to home
made baby food. Their little tummies can’t handle it and it’s
bad for their health over the long term. Salt, sugar and spices
can come hidden in canned fruits, vegetables and meats, thus fresh
or frozen a better option.
When you introduce your baby to fruits, don’t use highly acidic
fruits, such as oranges, tangerines and pineapples. For a baby
under one year, the acid can be harsh on their immature digestive
system.
Clean Everything With Soap And Very Hot Water
Now that you know what ingredients should and shouldn’t go into
baby food, it’s time to get cooking. Cleanliness should be your
top priority. You’d be amazed by how easy it is for bacteria to
find their way into your foods.
Cracks, joints and scratches in dishes, utensils, cutting boards
and pots and pans are wonderful places for bacteria to hide. Make
sure that everything that comes in contact with your baby’s food
has been thoroughly cleaned with soap and very hot water.
Wash Your Hands Often
Cooking with meats, especially poultry and eggs, requires extra
care. Don’t use the same knife to cut meat and produce unless
it’s been washed and make sure that the cutting board is also
cleaned. Be sure to refrigerate or freeze unused foods immediately
and don’t forget to wash your hands!
Freezing baby food is very common and is a great way to make
the most of quick baby food recipes. However, make sure that you
use well sealed containers and bags to prevent food from getting
contaminated.
Do not store ground or prepared foods in the refrigerator or
freezer longer than the recommended times. Food should not be
used after two months. Freezing homemade baby food is a great
idea if you want to make your favorite baby food recipes in bulk
so that they’re always on hand.
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?
Having a baby make the switch from milk to solid food can induce
some panic in new parents. How do you know that the baby food
you are buying at the store is really safe and is truly healthy
for your child?
Even if the package says "organic" you do not know
if that is actually the case. That is why many parents are turning
to homemade baby food recipes so that they can control what their
children eat. It is far easier to make the baby food than you
realize.
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