When you cook your baby's food at home, you can rest assured that only the purest ingredients are making it into the meal. According to Kimberly Rider, author of "Organic Baby: Simple Steps for Healthy Living," pureed carrots are one of the best foods for your baby because they are nutritious and can be prepared fresh. You can make combinations of different foods to keep your baby interested in trying new tastes and textures and to provide her with additional nutrition as she continues to grow and develop.
Step 1
Wash and peel the carrots. Cut the carrots into small pieces and place them in a steaming basket set over a large cooking pot. Set the peas out on the counter to thaw.
Step 2
Fill the pot with about 2 inches of water and place it on the stove. Bring the pot to a boil and then lower the heat to medium. Steam the carrots until they are very soft, about 30 minutes.
Step 3
Add the peas to the carrots and allow them to heat through, about three minutes. Set the steamer in the sink to allow the carrots and peas to cool.
Step 4
Put the cooked carrots and peas into a blender or food processor and blend until very smooth. Add water a tablespoon at a time until the baby food is the texture and consistency of mayonnaise, recommends Eileen Behan, author of "The Baby Food Bible: A Complete Guide to Feeding Your Child, From Infancy On."
Step 5
Store the food until your baby is ready to eat it. If you plan on feeding it to him within 24 hours, you can store the carrots and peas in airtight containers in the refrigerator. If the food will not be eaten within 24 hours, place it into freezer containers and freeze until ready to use.
Tips and Warnings
- Steam the carrots and peas to retain as many vitamins and minerals as possible, suggests Rider. You can use as many carrots and peas as you want, depending on how much food you wish to make at one time. Many baby stores sell specially designed baby food cube trays that allow you to portion the food and freeze it in individual serving sizes.
- Wait to give your baby a combination of peas and carrots until he has tried each food separately. Rider cautions you to refrain from adding spices or salt to your baby's food because his taste buds are still very sensitive.
Things You'll Need
- Fresh carrots
- Frozen peas
- Cooking pot
- Steamer
- Storage containers
References
- "Organic Baby: Simple Steps for Healthy Living"; Kimberly Rider; 2007
- "The Baby Food Bible: A Complete Guide to Feeding Your Child, From Infancy On"; Eileen Behan; 2008
