Super Parents Talk

More parents are turning to making their own fresh, homemade baby food for many reasons: promoting eating organically, providing a broader variety of food choices, controlling what your baby eats, meeting special dietary requirements and needing more healthy options. Plus, parents take pride in preparing the food themselves. The experts at Ball have some easy tips on how to make and store your own baby food using the freshest and highest quality ingredients for your child.

How to step-by-step
• Wash, chop and cook (using microwaving or steaming methods) the freshest vegetables or fruits you want to use.

• Blend cooked veggies and fruits with liquids in blender or food processor until pureed.

• Ladle the puree into “freezer safe” jars. Two great, reusable options for storage in the freezer:

o Ball Regular Mouth (4 oz) Quilted Crystal Glass Jelly Preserving Jars. These jars have straight sides which make them safe to use in the freezer and since these jars are small in size, they are perfect for individual portions.

o Ball Plastic (8 oz) Freezer Jars. These plastic jars have twist-on lids to prevent spills and stack on top of each other for more efficient storage.

• Leave 1/2 inch headspace between the top of the food puree and the rim of the jar. This space allows for the upward and outward expansion of the food during the freezing process. When using the plastic freezer jars, there is a fill line to indicate where 1/2 inch headspace is located.
 
• Run a spatula between the food puree and side of the jar to remove any air bubbles or air pockets. This will allow you to fit more in the jar and allow for the highest quality end product. 

• Apply the cap to the jar. When using the glass jars, you may want to use plastic storage caps which are great when freezing.
 
• Label each jar or storage container with the name of the food puree and the date the food was prepared before freezing. Use a permanent marker when labeling.

• Store in the freezer at or below 0°F for up to two months.
 
• Thaw in the refrigerator before use.

Tips on Preparing Baby food

• Always select the freshest, highest quality fruits and vegetables as they will have the highest nutrition content. Local farmers’ markets are a great place to find produce during peak season.

• Be sure to thoroughly wash produce before use.

• Freezing is the only recommended preserving method for longer-term storage of homemade baby food. Home canning is not a recommended method due to the fact that pureed vegetables and meats are too thick for proper heat penetration.
 
• We recommend that parents consult their family physician for more information on preparing homemade baby food.

Used With Permission