How To Make Your Own Baby Food
Recipe: Baby's First Cereal
Rice is easily digested and has low allergen aspects, so it is commonly recommended as the first food you introduce to your baby. This recipe is perfect for infants, but by adding a few "extras" it will tempt the taste buds of kids and adults.
Ingredients:
3 cups of brown rice, cooked according to package directions
12 ounces breast milk, water, or infant formula
Directions:
Place the cooked brown rice in a blender with the breast milk/water/formula. Purée until completely smooth–you can't make it too smooth. Pour the cereal into ice trays, cover and freeze overnight. Once frozen, pop the cubes out of the trays, place in a freezer bag or container labeled with the date and return to the freezer. Lasts up to two months.
To serve:
Defrost the cubes, and add breast milk or formula to develop a smooth consistency. For babies just starting solids, thin the cereal to a semi-liquid consistency. Warm the cereal, if desired. You can also change the flavor by adding fruit or veggie baby food, once your baby has started to eat those foods.
Extras for the older crowd:
Ground nuts and maple syrup
Cinnamon, nutmeg, raisins and honey
Fruit preserves
Cinnamon sugar and dried fruit
Meet our experts:
Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters, the mothers of five children and founders of Fresh Baby (freshbaby.com). They are the creators of the award-winning So Easy Baby Food Kit and Good Clean Fun Placemats.
