Thrifty Tips--Baby Food

Even though I do not have children of my own, I found it interesting to learn that many new mothers are choosing to make their own baby food instead of opening up a jar from the grocery store.

According to Sick Kids dietitian, Daina Kalnins: "Generally speaking, preparing vegetables and fruits is much more economical than buying ready-made baby food. It's about half the price compared to commercial varieties." She stresses the importance of following food safety measures such as keeping cutting boards used for raw meats away from ones used for fruits and vegetables and using only fresh produce.

Consider the following tips...

• Start with small batches.
• Use fresh, frozen or dried fruit and vegetables.
• Cook fruit and vegetables before blending or pureeing.
• Cube cooked meat to decrease blending or pureeing time.
• Blend 3/4 cup cooked vegetables with 3 to 4 tablespoons of water for one to two minutes.
• Blend 1/3 to 1/2 cup cooked fruit with 2 teaspoons water for 15 to 45 seconds.
• Process 1/2 cup cubed cooked meat with 3 to 4 tablespoons of water or milk until smooth.
• Keep baby food in the fridge for no more than three days.