To ensure you always have fresh baby food ready, you can fill the puree made from fresh vegetables into ice cube trays and freeze it. This way, you always have a portion on hand.
However, before you start freezing, many parents ask themselves the important question: what is better? Baby food from a jar or homemade purees? And if I cook it myself, how should I proceed and what is good and healthy for my child?
When should you start with puree?
When breast milk is no longer sufficient for the child, they are gradually switched to solid food. However, this transition should be gentle and with child-friendly food carried out.. In the first six months, the baby receives exclusively breast milk or formula. From the 5th to the 7th month, baby purees are gradually added. By their 1st birthday, the child will participate more and more in family meals. Important: season carefully and use salt very sparingly!
How can I make purees for my child myself?
Making baby puree yourself is not as difficult as you might think. Initially, children often receive a simple carrot puree. This consists of carrots (preferably the organic variety), potatoes, and a tablespoon of good cooking oil as well as a little juice. Since carrots naturally have the property of being constipating, you can just as easily switch to parsnips. This vegetable tastes similarly sweet to carrots.
First, the ingredients are washed, peeled, and washed again. Then they are boiled in water or, even better, steamed, then drained and pureed. Adding salt is not necessary, as vegetables already contain sodium. If you don't have time to prepare a puree every day, you can prepare a correspondingly large amount and freeze the purees in designated containers. This way, you have a good portion ready for the child every day. The child continues to receive milk for breakfast and in between, as a snack in the afternoon, and in the evening.
Can I also make milk-based purees myself?
Of course, most children love milk-based puree, which is usually given in the second month of introducing solid food as a substitute for milk in the evening. Chocolate and banana purees are particularly popular, yet at some point, one wonders if one can't quickly prepare these milk-based purees oneself.
For a milk-based puree, you ideally use whole milk with a 3.5% fat content. Small children draw their energy from fat, and brain development is also positively influenced by this. Reduced-fat milk should therefore not be on the table in the first years of a child's life. The question of whether the milk should be whole milk or shelf-stable milk is less decisive. This decision is up to the parents. Important: both types of milk do not really differ in terms of mineral and vitamin content. Raw milk, however, is less suitable because children often do not tolerate the germs as well.
What else should I consider when freezing purees?
Gradually, you can introduce different types of vegetables into the child's diet. However, your child does not need great variety, especially in the beginning, so you don't have to create new purees every day. Furthermore, you can quickly identify any allergies if you introduce different foods slowly.
The frozen puree can be kept for about 2 months at -18°Celsius, in the refrigerator the meal only lasts for one day.
Tip: All beginnings are difficult. Many parents despair when eating puree doesn't work out immediately. However, do not forget that the mouth, the tongue, and the child themselves have to adjust. Until now, only milk was an option as food for your child – your child might have difficulties with swallowing and coordinating in the beginning, might push the puree back out with their tongue, or simply not be used to it. Do not put pressure on the child or yourself. Your child will eventually get the hang of it and won't be able to get enough of their puree. It is all just a matter of patience and practice.
Read also:Â Recipe for a berry porridge from the 6th month
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
