Babies love sweets, but limiting the amount of sugar they eat is important to maintaining a balanced diet. One good way to give your baby something sweet to eat that is also nutritious is with apple baby food. Apples are naturally sweet and also a good source of nutrients and both soluble and insoluble fiber, which can aid in your baby's digestion, notes Wholesomebabyfood.com. With just a few kitchen utensils and a little time, you can make apple baby food in your own kitchen.
Step 1
Choose the best apples possible. They should be firm, with no soft spots and should not have any cuts or bruises, advises Wholesomebabyfoods.com. Store them in the refrigerator until you are ready to use them to guarantee freshness.
Step 2
Wash the apples before peeling to remove any pesticides or dirt, suggests Clemson University Cooperative Extension. Peel, core and cut the apples into chunks. Rinse the chunks thoroughly in cold running water.
Step 3
Place the steamer basket in the cooking pot with a small measure of water in the bottom of the pot. Place the apple chunks in the steamer basket. Cover the pot, and bring the water to a simmer. Wholesomebabyfoods.com notes that steaming apples helps retains most of their nutrients.
Step 4
Steam the apple chunks until tender. Remove the apples from the steamer basket, and place them in the food processor. Puree the apples until smooth.
Step 5
Rub some of the pureed apples between your fingers to test the consistency, states The University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Add a little apple juice to the puree to thin it out, if necessary.
Tips and Warnings
- Add baby cereal to the apples to thicken the baby food, if desired, reports the National Network for Child Care. You can add cinnamon and vanilla to enhance the taste of the food, notes Wholesomebabyfood.com, but check with your pediatrician first.
- If you heat your apple baby food, always test the food before feeding it to your baby to ensure it is not too hot.
Things You'll Need
- Apples
- Cooking pot with lid
- Steamer basket
- Food processor
- Apple juice
- Spoon
