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Saving Money on Baby Food
I bought the hand-grinder, (around ten dollars) and used it every day. I would save out single ingredients (before mixing/seasoning, and so on: for example, if I was making chili, I would save some plain ground beef for the baby, as well as a few plain kidney beans). I was careful to read labels, and bought items with less salt, etc.) I didn't use salt, sugar, or other unnecessary ingredients.
I also kept a bag or two of plain veggies in the freezer, so I could have some veggies for her if we were having salad, or the like. For the "starch", I often used pastina or nuked a potato, and fork-mashed it.
I had a Tupperware divided dish that I used and made double quantities, so I could save some for the next day's lunch.
I did the ice cube tray thing early on, when we were just introducing foods, so that they might be eating all squash for a week. Later I did it occasionally so that I always had a convenient back up.
My father-in-law thought the grinder was the neatest thing he ever saw, when I first whipped it out at Thanksgiving dinner to grind some turkey and carrots. (She also had mashed potatoes that I gleaned from the kitchen before the butter and milk were added.) My mother-in-law tended to cook like I did--without salt, etc.; so it was always easy to get what we needed.
As a pediatric occupational therapist, I also believe the varied textures of the foods made the adjustment to "real" foods seamless. My kids would eat anything I offered them.
One thing (speaking as a therapist): parents, please be reminded that it can take your baby up to 12 times to try a new food before they will accept a new flavor. Don't offer it once or twice, then stop, because they didn't accept it! (That is how we get kids with a repertoire of four or five things they'll eat!)
By Jilson
By Anner2001
When he got a little older, I bought 100% Juicy Juice and mixed it with a little water instead of paying almost $3.00 for little bottles of "baby juice". I also bought MOTT'S no sugar added applesauce in different flavors instead of baby applesauce.
When he graduated to finger foods, instead of buying Gerber Graduates I bought single serving size veggies at Wal-Mart (they come in little one serve containers like Jello) and then I rinsed them very well and just put them on his high chair tray. I also feed my son some of whatever we are having for dinner if it isn't too spicy or hard to chew. He has had no allergic reactions to anything. He also ate things like cottage cheese or chunks of banana.
By Cindy S.
I probably have at least 10 books that I own, purchased at Half Price books and given to me. The Internet is also a resource for ideas.
Use a blender, cheap grinder or a fork. Remember, your infant doesn't need any food other than breast milk until he is at least 6 months old. And, he doesn't need any teeth. Don't continue to feed an 8 or 9 month old baby only finely pureed foods; it isn't necessary.
Google: making homemade baby food. If you truly want/need to save money, don't waste it on convenience foods.
By Grannie
By Subhamitra
By Michele
Related: 
Saving Money on Baby Food
By
08/12/2009
Only my first child ate baby food of any kind. My second child got only breast milk for the first 6 months, then he got some real food from the time he was 6 months old. He started with bread cubes and unsweetened cereals like cheerios. Later, foods that we were eating, he ate - potatoes and carrots are easy to mash with a fork, meats were just cut very small or shredded (these he didn't get until he was quite a bit older, though). He also really enjoyed frozen peas - they were great when he was teething. But still, for the first year it was mostly breast milk. By the time he was 1, he was capable of handling more foods. We never pureed a thing for either of our two youngest children. The youngest had texture issues and wouldn't touch the pureed stuff.
Ripe bananas, avocados, and peaches need only be cut into small pieces. Any veggie can be cooked and cut into tiny pieces. Keep in mind that for the first year, their calories should be coming from breast milk or formula. Solids are just for practice. By the time they should begin to get calories from solids, their bodies are able to handle more foods. Purees really aren't necessary at all for most babies.
By Megan (Guest Post)
02/15/2009
I love the idea of using aluminum ice cube trays from ebay, thanks!
By
11/07/2008
I wanted to add that an ALL-NATURAL way to preserve baby foods, if they are being stored for any length of time, is to mix in some lemon, lime, or even orange juice.
This is already done in 'natural' store-bought baby foods and many 'organic' adult foods, because lemon and citrus juices are high in ascorbic acid, which is Vitamin C! The acidity prevents many common molds and bacteria from growing in the stored food.
Just a drop or two per tablespoon should help keep foods fresh - as an added bonus, it will also help keep colorful foods vibrant, as it will prevent oxidation.
You can even use freshly squeezed lemon juice, as long as you make absolutely sure there are no seeds or large pieces in it.
By
11/07/2008
I wanted to add that an ALL-NATURAL way to preserve baby foods, if they are being stored for any length of time, is to mix in some lemon, lime, or even orange juice.
This is already done in 'natural' store-bought baby foods and many 'organic' adult foods, because lemon and citrus juices are high in ascorbic acid, which is Vitamin C! The acidity prevents many common molds and bacteria from growing in the stored food.
Just a drop or two per tablespoon should help keep foods fresh - as an added bonus, it will also help keep colorful foods vibrant, as it will prevent oxidation.
You can even use freshly squeezed lemon juice, as long as you make absolutely sure there are no seeds or large pieces in it.
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