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Oh, those long-lost summer months, how I miss them. How I loved buying huge bags of fresh produce or ransacking my parents' fruit trees to make Alice's baby food. And then the inevitable winter sank its relentless teeth into my fresh fruit and veggie supply. Still, I was determined to try to make my own baby food as much as possible. Here are some thoughts for making one's own baby food in winter.
1. Winter veggies. There aren't many of them out there, but if you keep your eyes "peeled," you can find some good options. I often find sweet potatoes on sale. Carrots and bananas are usually fresh, cheap and tasty year-round. Citrus fruits are at their peak in winter, but be sure your baby is old enough to eat these first...I think they have to be a year old, at least. Winter squash such as acorn and butternut are good options, if you can find them for a good price. I have even found decent avocados for a reasonable price. Every time you go to the grocery, look around and see what is fresh and affordable. Chances are, you can find good options for your baby, even if you'll have to supplement with canned and frozen foods.
2. Canned foods. These are not the first choice when you have other options, but I've found they've worked out just fine for me during winter. Some of Alice's favorite canned fruits are no-sugar added peaches, pears, and canned pumpkin (not canned pumpkin pie filling, just the plain canned pumpkin). I puree the peaches and pears before freezing and storing. The canned pumpkin is good to go as is, but it is good to stir it before freezing, as this greatly helps smooth the consistency. Older babies also enjoy the fruit tidbits from a no-sugar added fruit cocktail.
3. Frozen foods: Older babies enjoy small pieces of veggies, so canned Veg-All or frozen bags of small veggies such as peas and carrots are good options. Alice has recently started eating little pieces of waffles, too. The store-brand frozen kind is very handy...just cook what you need and serve.
4. Cereal and other snacks: Babies love picking up little pieces of cereal, but you don't have to buy the expensive type that is marketed specifically for babies. Alice loves Cheerios, Kix, Chex and any other cereal that is not heavily sweetened. She also enjoys Nutri-Grain bars, cheese crackers, Ritz-type crackers, and animal crackers. She also likes rolls, biscuits, pieces of pancakes, etc. She really enjoys having a variety of snacks available, so I try to keep in interesting.
5. Pasta, beans and other dry goods: Alice likes beans and pasta, but she is still too little to eat a whole bowl of it, so I share mine when I cook it. She likes black beans and peas especially. These are good for babies, as they are loaded with protein and vitamins. I have also purchased potato flakes for mashed potatoes, but she still finds this a little too heavy. Still, I think it will be a good option for her later.
6. Dairy: Thank God for dairy products! Alice loves string cheese, milk, and yogurt, and is now old enough to eat eggs. Dairy is super good for older babies. It can be difficult to get baby interested in whole milk, especially if they are in the process of being weaned from the breast and are not used to cold beverages. Just be patient, and baby will come around. I've found that Alice is more comfortable when she uses a cup with a straw rather than a sippy cup.
As your baby gets older, they will be able to eat more and more "big person" food. Alice is showing interest in what mommy and daddy eat. Sometimes I will give her a bite to see if she is interested in adding to her food repertoire. I've been surprised by the things she likes, so I have learned to keep an open mind, be imaginative, and watch for her developing tastes.
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