Buying those little jars of food at the grocery store may seem like a rite of passage as your baby grows, but it doesn't have to be. You can save money and be sure of the nutrients your baby is getting by making your own baby food at home. Even working moms and those who don't have a lot of time can make healthful foods for baby at home - it's easier than you think. The meat, vegetables and fruit you cook for your family make a fine meal for your baby as well. Just save out a portion of what you cook for the family before you season it, and you can cook it longer to soften and mash for baby. Your child's pediatrician will probably recommend starting with vegetables, and the best way to optimize nutrition is to cook with very little liquid - steaming and microwaving are perfect. If you need to boil veggies or fruit, save out a bit of the liquid - where some of the vitamins may have leached - and add as you grind, mill or mash the food. Other liquids, such as formula and breast milk, work fine, too.
There are many inexpensive food mills and grinders on the market that can make the job easier, but a regular blender or even just a fork can mash food perfectly. Nutritious veggies to try include broccoli, sweet potatoes, beans, and turnips. It's important to buy the best produce you can afford - organic is best, but not necessary. There are a few vegetables that can put your baby at risk for certain blood disorders, due to the presence of nitrates. It's best to buy jarred carrots, beets, spinach, green beans and squash because baby food companies test for nitrate levels. Serve foods at room temperature, and when microwaving, stir food well and allow it to sit and distribute heat evenly. Babies may be sensitive to seasonings at this age - but fresh herbs can add flavor -- and don't need extra salt or sugar in their diets. Other foods to steer clear of until they turn one year old are honey and corn syrup, which may carry botulism. Allow your baby to enjoy the different textures of the food you eat, and he may just become an adventurous eater!