As a new parent, you may feel overwhelmed with the idea of feeding your baby. With so many store-bought options available, it can be tempting to just grab a jar of baby food and call it a day. However, making homemade baby food not only allows you to have control over the ingredients and nutrition, but it can also save you a significant amount of money in the long run. In this blog post, we will provide 48 frugal recipes for homemade baby food on a budget.
Making your own baby food may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple ingredients and some kitchen tools, you can whip up delicious and nutritious meals for your little one. The first step is to invest in a good quality blender or food processor. While it may seem like an expensive purchase, it will pay off in the long run as you can use it for other purposes as well.
Now, let’s dive into the recipes! We have divided them into three categories: purees, finger foods, and meals. Each recipe yields approximately 1 cup of baby food, unless otherwise stated.
Purees:
1. Sweet Potato Puree
Ingredients:
– 1 sweet potato
– Water or breast milk/formula (for desired consistency)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Wash and prick sweet potato with a fork.
3. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until tender.
4. Let cool, then remove skin and puree in a blender or food processor.
5. Add water or breast milk/formula as needed for desired consistency.
2. Avocado Puree
Ingredients:
– 1 ripe avocado
– Water or breast milk/formula (for desired consistency)
Instructions:
1. Cut avocado in half and remove the pit.
2. Scoop out the flesh and puree in a blender or food processor.
3. Add water or breast milk/formula as needed for desired consistency.
3. Banana Puree
Ingredients:
– 1 ripe banana
– Water or breast milk/formula (for desired consistency)
Instructions:
1. Peel banana and mash with a fork.
2. If needed, blend in a blender or food processor for a smoother consistency.
3. Add water or breast milk/formula as needed for desired consistency.
4. Carrot Puree
Ingredients:
– 2 large carrots
– Water or breast milk/formula (for desired consistency)
Instructions:
1. Peel and chop carrots.
2. Steam or boil for 20 minutes, until tender.
3. Let cool, then puree in a blender or food processor.
4. Add water or breast milk/formula as needed for desired consistency.
5. Pear Puree
Ingredients:
– 2 ripe pears
– Water or breast milk/formula (for desired consistency)
Instructions:
1. Peel, core, and chop pears.
2. Steam or boil for 10 minutes, until tender.
3. Let cool, then puree in a blender or food processor.
4. Add water or breast milk/formula as needed for desired consistency.
Finger Foods:
1. Roasted Chickpeas
Ingredients:
– 1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
– Olive oil
– Spices of your choice (such as garlic powder, paprika, or cumin)
Homemade Baby Food on a Budget: 48 Frugal Recipes
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Pat chickpeas dry with a paper towel.
3. Toss with olive oil and spices.
4. Spread on a baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes, until crispy.
5. Let cool before serving.
2. Cheesy Broccoli Bites
Ingredients:
– 1 cup steamed broccoli, chopped
– 1 egg
– 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
– 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a bowl, mix together all ingredients.
3. Form into small balls and place on a baking sheet.
4. Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown.
5. Let cool before serving.
3. Mini Vegetable Frittatas
Ingredients:
– 1/2 cup chopped vegetables of your choice (such as bell peppers, spinach, or mushrooms)
– 4 eggs
– 1/4 cup shredded cheese
– Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, cheese, and salt and pepper.
3. Grease a mini muffin tin and add chopped vegetables to each cup.
4. Pour egg mixture over the vegetables.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until fully cooked.
6. Let cool before serving.
4. Whole Wheat Pancakes
Ingredients:
– 1 cup whole wheat flour
– 1 egg
– 1/2 cup milk
– 1/2 cup applesauce
– 1 teaspoon baking powder
– 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Instructions:
1. In a bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, and cinnamon.
2. In a separate bowl, beat egg and add in milk and applesauce.
3. Slowly mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients.
4. Heat a greased pan over medium heat.
5. Pour small amounts of batter onto the pan to make mini pancakes.
6. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side.
7. Let cool before serving.
Meals:
1. Chicken and Vegetable Casserole
Ingredients:
– 1 cup cooked chicken, shredded
– 1 cup steamed vegetables of your choice
– 1 cup cooked quinoa
– 1/4 cup chicken broth
– 1/4 cup shredded cheese (optional)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a casserole dish, mix together chicken, vegetables, quinoa, and chicken broth.
3. Sprinkle cheese on top (if desired).
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until heated through.
5. Let cool before serving.
2. Lentil and Vegetable Soup
Ingredients:
– 1 cup cooked lentils
– 1 cup steamed vegetables of your choice
– 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
– 1/4 teaspoon cumin
– 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions:
1. In a pot, mix together lentils, vegetables, broth, and spices.
2. Heat on medium-low until heated through.
3. Let cool before serving.
3. Turkey and Sweet Potato Mash
Ingredients:
– 1 cup cooked ground turkey
– 1 cup mashed sweet potato
– 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
– 1/4 teaspoon sage (optional)
Instructions:
1. In a pot, mix together turkey, sweet potato, broth, and sage.
2. Heat on medium-low until heated through.
3. Let cool before serving.
4. Mini Cheese and Vegetable Quiches
Ingredients:
– 1/2 cup chopped vegetables of your choice
– 4 eggs
– 1/4 cup milk
– 1/4 cup shredded cheese
– Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cheese, salt, and pepper.
3. Grease a mini muffin tin and add chopped vegetables to each cup.
4. Pour egg mixture over the vegetables.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until fully cooked.
6. Let cool before serving.
Making homemade baby food on a budget doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. By using simple and affordable ingredients, you can provide your little one with nutritious and delicious meals. Plus, you can save money in the long run and have peace of mind knowing exactly what is going into your baby’s food. So don’t be afraid to get creative in the kitchen and try out these 48 frugal recipes for homemade baby food.