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First Foods - Pureed Baby Food Recipes
More accessories for making your own baby food If your puree doesn't come out with the consistency you'd intended, then don't miss our tips for thickening or thinning baby food purees. PLUS - learn how adding wheat germ to your baby's purees provides a huge nutritional boost! Should I peel fruits and vegetables for my baby? May I use raw fruits and vegetables for baby food purees?
NOTE FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS: British vegetable names are used in these recipes - if these are not familiar to you, the following translations may be helpful!
VEGETABLES Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Scrumptious Sweet Potato This has to be my all-time favourite first baby food. All my children have loved it, probably because of its subtle sweetness. And it is, by far, the easiest vegetable to prepare. Preheat the oven to 375 deg F or 190 deg C. Alternatively... you could peel the potato, then boil or steam it in cubes. But really, what's the point in giving yourself extra work when baking it in its skin is so much easier? One point to consider - one of my daughters loved sweet potato so much that I fed it to her a little too often - her skin took on an orange hue! It actually looked as if she had a healthy tan - so much so, that I considered trying the sweet potato diet for myself! So be careful not to over do it. Preheat the oven to 400 deg F or 200 deg C. One of the most popular first solid foods for baby - and possibly the cheapest! It makes you wonder why people are prepared to pay so much for jars of prepared foods, when you see how economical these are to prepare at home! Choose large, older carrots - these are actually richer in nutrients than baby carrots. Just trim the ends and slice. Then steam, boil or microwave and puree to perfection! Courgettes puree to a very thin, almost watery consistency. Introduce them on their own at first (as per the four day rule), then mix them with other vegetables that may otherwise be a little too "stodgy" in texture. Simply wash the courgettes, remove both ends, then slice. You can boil, steam or microwave them until tender, then puree them as usual. Swede is often neglected as a food for babies, yet it has a lovely, earthy flavour that my children have all enjoyed. Simply peel the swede, cut it into chunks and then boil, steam or microwave until tender. It is very easy to puree to a wonderful, smooth consistency. More about swede, including two yummy recipes  Our comprehensive guide to feeding your baby 
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Luxurious AsparagusA real treat for baby - and easy to prepare! Just trim the ends, cut into 2 inch pieces, then steam until tender. A gourmet delight for your discerning little diner! Standard potatoes can be peeled then boiled, but I prefer to bake them in their skins. Plain potato can be a bit bland for baby - I always preferred to "partner it up" with another vegetable, rather than serve it on its own. Green beans - top and tail, remove any strings, then steam, boil or microwave. Parsnips - follow the preparation method for carrots. Babies love the sweetness of parsnips. Green peas - use fresh shelled peas or frozen peas. Aubergines - peel, then steam or bake. Broccoli - wash, then boil, steam or microwave the florets. Don't cook the stems - they can give babies wind! Once you have safely introduced these different types of vegetables, then it's time to "mix 'n match". You can mix any number of vegetables in any combination you choose, but these are some tried and tested favourites of mine- Parsnips and grean beans You will need - cooked brown rice Use the quantities of each vegetable that best suit your baby's preferences - this can be a good way of getting him to eat a vegetable that he has previously refused! Prepare the vegetables, then steam them. Start the carrots off first, then the squash, as they take the longest to cook. Help! My baby won't eat vegetables
FRUITS Healthy and delicious, fruits make wonderful first foods for babies. Not all fruits are suitable at this stage, though - see pureed baby food recipes - foods to avoid , for more information. 
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Brilliant BananasI've never come across a baby who doesn't like bananas, perhaps the most nutritious of all the fruits. The taste, texture and ease of preparation makes them ideal for baby's first food. The method of preparation is so simple, there is no method - just mash a ripe banana and baby's meal is ready! For very young babies, you can add a little formula or breastmilk for a runnier consistency. Wash the fruit well, then cut an "x" into the side of the skin.  
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Apples And PearsTake a dessert apple, or a ripe pear. Pear baby food recipes, guidelines, tips and ideas! Perfectly sweet and juicy, your baby will really love this! You don't need to cook the melon, just puree it and serve for a refreshing treat! Avocado pear is highly nutritious, creamy in texture and a perfect baby food. Choose a ripe avocado, then simply peel and remove the stone. You can then mash the fruit with a fork - the consistency is similar to banana, so you won't need to puree it any further. More about avocado baby food, plus lots of tasty recipes As with baby's first vegetables, you can combine different fruits to create new flavours that your baby will adore. My children all enjoyed these combinations - Peaches and pears If you're in a hurry, you could use tinned fruit instead of fresh. But make sure that the fruit is in its own juice, and not a sugary syrup! Another idea is to stir a little fruit puree into some pure, non-flavoured natural yogurt (here's a recipe to make your own). It's best to use a sweet fruit for this, as the yogurt itself is quite "tangy". But don't be tempted to sweeten the yogurt with honey. Honey can be extremely dangerous for babies under one year of age. See
foods to avoid
for more information.
Baby's first cereal recipe
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Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Nutritious Avocado Pear
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