A yam is a root vegetable with a reddish skin and an orange flesh. In the U.S., the terms yam and sweet potato are interchangeable even though, in other parts of the world, these terms refer to different vegetables. Because of their sweet taste, the American versions of yams and sweet potatoes are a good option for baby food. Making your own baby food may be less expensive and more nutritious than buying it from a store. Yams are a good source of calcium, folate, potassium, vitamin A, beta carotene and vitamin E.
Baking
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a fork to poke holes in the yam. You do not need to peel the yam.
Step 2
Line a baking dish with aluminum foil. Place the yam on the foil.
Step 3
Bake the yam for up to an hour. The peel should fall off in the baking process. Mash the yam with a fork or run it through a blender.
Step 4
Serve the baked yam to your baby once it has cooled completely.
Boiling
Step 1
Peel the skin from the yam completely and chop it into 1-inch pieces.
Step 2
Place the yam pieces in the pot and cover them with water. Boil the yam pieces for 10 to 15 minutes, or until soft.
Step 3
Remove the yam pieces from the pot, but do not discard the water.
Step 4
Place the yam pieces in a blender and blend on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add a small amount of leftover water from the pot if necessary to reach desired consistency.
Step 5
Serve the mashed yam to your baby once it has cooled completely.
Tips and Warnings
- Add apples, peaches or rice to your mashed yams for more flavor.
- Refrigerate baby food that is not being used so it doesn't spoil. Do not add spices, salt or sugar to baby food.
