Looking for a Book on How to Make My Own Baby Food

Agree with "Super Baby Foods" by Ruth Yaron. Her guidelines are mostly good for beginner foods, although watch out for the early introduction of things like nuts -- she recommends them, and also is a vegetarian so she never includes meats in her menus. Other than that, the "how to" portion of her books, complete with how to choose, cook, and store veggies and fruits has been very helpful for me!

First Meals by Annabel Karmel is a great book and probably exactly what you are looking for. I used it all of the time when my first starting eating solids (about 3 or 4 years ago). In fact, I often make meals for my two boys now since it includes fun recipes for toddlers/young children too.

Cook fresh veggies (carrots, peas, green beans, etc) and just grind them up in a food processor or for about $10-15 you can buy a hand crank baby food grinder, which was what I used and was very easy. In a couple seconds I could make cooked carrots or whatever into fresh baby food. Then you can spoon it into ice cube trays, freeze, and once it's frozen put them in a ziplock to store in freezer. Set out a couple a day in the fridge to thaw, or microwave as needed. No seasoning when you cook the veggies. I hate to work in the kitchen and it was super easy, very cheap, and much better than baby food from stores! Can also grind up bananas and other fruit. Add a little water while grinding if needed. I think the baby food grinder comes with a recipe book.

First Meals by Annabel Karmel is the best. Also check out http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com. that is a great site.

I also have a really good hand-out if you want me to fax you a copy. It's a good way to start because it's not intimidating AT ALL. Starts you out nice and slow...

you don't need a food processor. I made all my own baby food with a blender and a food mill for things like peas ($10 at babies r us). I would also mill ripe banana and avocado together, but honestly, you can use a fork on bananas and avocados since they are so soft.

we even blended chicken, pork, steak, and fish in the blender. My husband and I had that process down to a science! :)

Super Baby Foods is a great reference. It has recipes and how to tips not only for fruits and veggies but also cereals. It also has an index of foods, how to prepare them and when to introduce them. I think the lady who wrote it is a little over the top on some things, but otherwise it's a really helpful book.

I used it to make my son's baby foods. It was super easy and I think he had a much broader diet as a result. You can buy a little food mill at Babies R Us or use your blender or food processor. You can then store stuff in the fridge or freeze it in individual servings using an ice cube tray. It cuts down on costs too especially when you want to focus on giving your child organic food. The jarred stuff adds up in cost over time. Making your own food in the end I thought saved me time and money. Plus, it was fun.

The Book "Super baby Foods" is supposed to be great! ( I am doing self -feeding so I dont make my own pureed foods but have friends that do!)
Also--check out these website--also very helpful when feeding your kids!

http://wholesomebabyfood.com/cereals.htm

http://babyledweaning.blogware.com/blog/GettingStartedFin...

Making your won or doing self-feeding is really great--that way you know every thing that goes into your baby comes from your hands.

Good luck!

Not sure where you live, but the City of Roanoke has a class on preparing baby food. Perhaps, other city's offer similar classes, too. I know in this instance, you don't have to be a resident of Roanoke to participate.

Also, Babies R Us sells a fantastic purifier for foods. ANd its very inexpensive.

Good luck!

I did what Michele did and used the ice cube trays. Meat is harder to do if you don't have a food processor or grinder. But otherwise you can use a blender to puree and the ice cube trays. It's easy! Have fun!