How to Make Organic Baby Food

Has your baby tried solids yet? Most babies are ready to try solid food at about 6 months of age. Many pediatricians recommend starting solids when your baby can sit up by themselves and begin showing increased interest in the foods you eat.

It's easy to make organic baby food at home for your little one. For your baby's first taste of solid food try organic brown rice or a smooth organic vegetables like sweet potato or squash. Cook organic brown rice as you normally would, omitting additional ingredients like salt and perhaps adding a bit more water than usual. Puree the rice to a smooth consistency with a food processor or manual baby food grinder, adding water, breastmilk, or formula as needed.

To prepare organic sweet potato or squash for your baby's first food, steam the vegetable until soft and puree as above. You can add the cooking water, breastmilk, or formula to adjust the consistency.

Remember to introduce new foods slowly and look for signs of allergy. Try one new food several times and be sure it causes no reaction before introducing a new food. Combine foods only when you are sure each food does not cause an allergic reaction.

As your baby gets the taste for solid food try experimenting with new tastes and textures. Older babies, around 7-8 months of age, are usually ready to get more food in their bellies and less all over the place!

New foods to try now include organic soft fruits like bananas, peaches, pears, and avocado. To prepare these foods simply mash with a fork or puree until smooth.

Most organic vegetables, like carrots, green beans, and potatoes, can be steamed as described above or boiled until soft. Mash with a fork or process with a baby food grinder.

Beans, lentils, and other legumes are a wonderful nutritious food to try now. Canned organic beans can be mashed until smooth and thinned with water or other liquid. Make your baby lentil soup by simply simmering organic brown lentils until soft and adding water if necessary.

If you'd like to introduce your baby to lean meat and eggs, wait until your baby is at least 8 months old. Meats to try first are organic free-range chicken and turkey. Use a food processor, adding liquid to assist in pureeing until smooth. Once your baby shows no sign of allergy you may combine meat with veggies or rice for meals.

Eggs can be a common allergen for babies, but egg whites are the main problem. Avoid egg whites until your baby is one year old. Organic hard-boiled egg yolks easily mash up into a highly nutritious food. Thin mashed cooked egg yolk with liquid until it is the right consistency. If your baby objects to the taste try combining egg yolk with a popular food.

According to the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, wheat, soy, cow's milk, eggs (mainly egg whites), peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish are responsible for 90% of all food-allergenic reactions. Wait until your baby's first birthday, at least, to try these foods. Any food has the potential to cause an allergic reaction. Pay close attention for any sign of allergy when introducing foods that are allergenic to family members.