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March 17, 2008
Baby Food 101
My dear aunt helped me make my first baby food today. We're still debating when we'll actually start them on it (they're around the corner from 4 months), but at least we'll have a well-stocked freezer.
Here's what we did (actually, I did a lot of watching and learning) step-by-step, with prices. It took about 3 hours start to finish.
We started with:
-10 lbs sweet potatoes (@ $.50/lb=$5.00)
-2 lbs. organic carrots (@$1.00/lb=$2.00)
-about 3 lbs. black-eyed peas (@$1.50/lb.=$4.50) (note: you can get these for much cheaper)
-5 lbs. apples (@$.50/lb=$2.50)
-50 1-cup containers (given to me by nice aunt)
-ancient food mill attachment on my grandma's Kitchenaid blender
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Total: $14.00
We kept the skin on most of the vegetables for the nutrients. The food mill took care of keeping solids out.
1) Black-eyed peas: did a quick soak (boil 2 minutes, soak one hour, rinse), cooked for about an hour. Mashed into smooth puree with cooking liquid. Total: 16 one-cup containers (about 10 lbs. weight)
2) Sweet potatoes: washed, halved, boiled in water until soft (about 35-40 minutes), pureed with some cooking water. Total: 21 one-cup containers (about 13 lbs.)
3) Carrots: washed, cooked in water until soft (about 30 minutes?), pureed with some water. Total: 4 one-cup containers (about 2.5 lbs.)
4) Apples: washed and cored, cooked with one cup of water for about 20 minutes until soft. Pureed all (including water). Total: 4 one-cup containers (about 3 lbs.)
After each was processed, we scooped them into containers to cool. Meanwhile, we labeled the dates and contents on each of the lids.
I came home with a crate of 46 very full containers, totalling about 28 lbs. of food. Especially in the beginning, it should last at least a month (even considering that there are two babies). Not bad for about $14.00, and an afternoon.
Here's the food (from left to right): sweet potatoes, black-eyed peas, apples, carrots.
I think it worked out to about ten cents for the equivalent of a jar of regular baby food (maybe less!), which seems like it will add up quickly--especially with two babies.
Plus, I can know exactly what's in their food. It'll be great when summer rolls around, and we can buy lots of local produce. I'm determined to find a local produce stand! And maybe after they get used to food, I can pull a DiBer and add fun spices to it.
cooking stuff | By Tim and Jo | 5:32 PM
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Comments
That's awesome, Joanna. We just found out we are expecting and I have been thinking about making baby food. It's so cool to see where someone has actually done it (and broken down the costs)!
Posted by: Lisa R at March 17, 2008 7:28 PM
Wow, you are so ambitious! You go momma.
Posted by: prairiemom3 at March 17, 2008 11:17 PM
What fun! I'm so impressed that I've added this page to my bookmarks! We start sweet potatoes in 2 weeks! You've inspired me to start cooking now!
Posted by: TS Megan at March 18, 2008 8:35 AM
I loved making Fuller's baby food. Since he had a reaction to carrots it made it more important to make his food since most prepackaged baby food starts with a carrot base. My favorite to make was the apples. And when he wouldn't really like something, I would add apples to it and he was gung ho.
Posted by: austina's sister at March 18, 2008 3:29 PM