You can whip up delicious homemade baby food by puréeing just about any kind of vegetable or fruit – ideal for weaning.
You’ll know exactly what your baby is eating and you’ll save money, too. Here’s our guide to the perfect purée.
At a glance
- Whip up delicious homemade baby food by puréeing vegetables or fruit
- You'll know exactly what your baby is eating and save money too
- Make sure you avoid salt as it isn't good for babies kidneys
Making the perfect purée
Now your baby is trying new flavours, you could try puréeing a whole range of delicious foods – these are just some of babies’ faves:
- Broccoli and potato
- Butternut squash and potato
- Sweet potato and cauliflower
- Apples or pears – pears are often so moist that you won’t need to add any water to your purée
- Rhubarb
Method
- Peel or scrub the fruit or vegetables and cut into pieces
- Cook by covering it with a little water and simmering gently until soft. You can also steam or microwave – whatever you find easiest
- When cooked, add a little of the cooking water to the purée (as this will contain dissolved vitamins from the fruit or vegetables), or your baby’s usual milk
- Push the soft, cooked foods through a sieve using the back of a metal spoon – this will remove any pips or tough fibres. A blender is great if you have one, but it’s really not essential
- Adjust the texture by adding more water or milk until you find a consistency your baby likes
Puréeing tips
- Use some herbs or mild spices for extra flavour but don’t add salt – salt isn't good for babies’ kidneys, and babies 0-12 months old should have less than 1g a day
- A hint of sugar – only use the smallest amounts to make sour fruit more edible
- Purée grown up’s food – simply purée some of the vegetables you’re cooking anyway, or cook stewed fruit for dessert and purée a bit for your baby. Just add any salt or sugar to your food when you have taken out your baby’s portion
- Frozen mini meals – create homemade food on tap by making buckets of mashed or puréed food and freezing it in an ice cube tray, defrosting a few cubes for each meal. Just make sure you thoroughly thaw and reheat the food before giving it to your baby. See our tips on weaning food safety.