IMPORTANT FOOD SAFETY RULES TO FOLLOW

NEVER ADD HONEY OR CORN SYRUP TO A BABY FOOD RECIPE FOR BABIES UNDER A YEAR. HONEY CAN CONTAIN “BABY BOTULISM’ (BOTULISM SPORES) AND COULD MAKE YOUR BABY FATALLY ILL.

Special care should be taken when preparing foods for babies because they have an immature immune system and are more vulnerable to germs than we are.

Always use fresh ingredients, especially fresh, washed meat.

Always remember to wash hands and cooking material thoroughly before preparing baby food.

Raw food contains bacteria. Never let cooked food come into contact with raw food.

Do not use wooden cutting boards. These can harbor bacteria.

Do not let the baby food sit at room temperature for more than two hours. It will act as a petri dish giving bacteria a “culture” to grow in. Refrigerate or freeze baby food as soon as possible. (See storage tips below for proper storage.)

Beets and spinach are high in nitrates, which can reduce the ability of the baby’s hemoglobin to transport oxygen. Use them sparingly or avoid until the baby is over 12 months.

Babies sometimes choke on small foods. (Popcorn, Hot Dogs, Nuts, Seeds, Candy, Raisins, Potato Chips, Olives, Corn, Grapes & Raw Veggies are all known hazards.) Make sure the food is not big enough to get caught in the baby’s throat. Use foods that are soft or that easily soften in baby’s mouth.

Never leave a baby or toddler unattended while eating.

Do not overfeed baby. Not only can this cause gas, vomiting and upset stomach; it can lead to a lifelong weight problem. Do not make your baby eat it all-unless the baby wants to.

Throw out any uneaten baby food. The saliva can break down the food and make it watery, plus it can be unclean.



Kitchen Equipment

Make a Choice

*Handheld Mixer (Easy to clean & used to puree single serving)

*Moulis (The manual grinder, handy for grinding food & removing skins)

*Wire Mesh Strainer (Cook food thoroughly than force it through the strainer using the back of a spoon)

*Food Processor

*Blender

Other Kitchen Items
(Most of these items you probably already have in your kitchen)

Two Cutting Boards (Plastic is best. It can be easily sanitized between used.) Use one for Meats & the other for Fruits & Veggies.

French or chef’s knife for chopping

Paring knife for paring fruits & veggies

Measuring spoons for measuring out ingredients

Liquid measuring cups for measuring out liquid ingredients

Dry measuring cups for measuring out dry ingredients

Cooking spoons for mixing

Rubber spatula for scooping out purees into containers

Can opener

Mixing bowls

Steamer basket

Thermometer (Meat, oven & refrigerator/freezer thermometer)

Small & large saucepans & medium skillet with lids

Glass dish with lid (Use for microwave cooking)

Strainer

Plastic Containers for storing extras



Preparing Baby Food

Washing hands & cooking material thoroughly. (I use anti-bacterial soap for hands & quick wash-the dishwasher for the cooking items.)

Prepare fresh fruits & veggies by scrubbing well, peeling & removing pits or seeds.

Remove all bones, skin, gristle & trim fat from Meats.

Do not use leftovers.

Cook food in small amounts of water until tender.

Use the cooking water if the recipe calls for liquid. It contains the “leaked” nutrients from the veggies or meat.

By steaming or baking you help preserve the nutrient content.

Use sugar, salt or seasoning sparingly or omit from recipe.

Most health & childcare professionals recommend against using a microwave oven to warm baby food or formula. Use extreme caution if defrosting or heating in a microwave oven. Microwaves are known to heat a food unevenly & form hot spots. One spoonful maybe cold, yet the next spoonful scalding.

Package & label containers when storing.



How to Store Baby Food

It is easier & usually more economical to make several servings at one time, but it is very important to store these carefully. Follow these rules:

For baby-on-the-go you can store baby food in a thermos for up to 3 hours.
Airtight bowl, baggie or cleaned baby food jars are good containers for refrigerator storage.
Cooked fruit & veggie recipes can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. After that it must be thrown away.
Recipes using meat or raw veggies can only be stored for 24 hours.
Freeze the food in ice cube trays. When it is frozen, transfer to freeze bags & label. These can be stored for up to one month. You can also us airtight containers.



Reheating Baby Food**

To serve, heat in a small dish set in a pan of hot water. (You do not need to heat the food too much to get it hot enough for the baby.)
Stir the baby food well before serving.
Always sample a small bite for yourself.
(Make sure it is just lukewarm for baby’s meal. Hotter than this can cause severe burns.)

**WARNING: Most health & child care professional’s recommend against using a microwave oven to warm baby food or formula. Use extreme caution if defrosting or heating in a microwave oven. Microwaves are know to heat a food unevenly & form hot spots. One spoonful may be cold, yet the next spoonful scalding.



When to Start Solids

Cereal:

Around 4-6 months
Weighs 12 pounds or more.
Baby can sit up.
When placed on his or her stomach, lifts head & supports weight on forearms.
Sucks on fingers, fists & toys.
Rice cereal is a good cereal to start with. (Then, you can add Mixed, Oatmeal, Barley, etc.)

Vegetables & Fruits:

Around 6-8 months
Sits well without support.
Rolls from back to front.
Creeps forward.
Has mastered eating with a spoon.
Has tried a variety of single-ingredient foods.
Uses tongue to move food to the back of the mouth.
Swallows without gagging.

Good to use: Broccoli*, Cauliflower, Carrots, Green Beans, Potatoes, Squash, Sweet Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Peaches, Pears, Plums, Mangoes. *May Cause Gas.

Meats, Eggs, Cheese & Yogurt:

Around 8-10 months (Milk after 12 months)
Mashes food with gums.
Begins using fingers to feed.
Can drink from a sippy cup.
Has favorite foods.

Good to use: Beef, Chicken, Dried Beans, Egg Yolks, Turkey.