Homemade Baby Food-Isn't that a lot of work?

Well, making your own baby food is certainly more time consuming than, say, buying it at the store, but really, it can be quick and easy.

I made all of Ladybug's baby food, though she didn't eat it for very long, and I'm making all of Baby Duck's too. How much time it takes and how much work and money you have to put into it is dependent on your methods and the quality of your ingredients. 

My sister started, and I help run with her, a baby food making Facebook group you can join, and if you join us, you'll find a warm community with lots of conversation and tips and support. Here, though, I'll give you a quick and dirty rundown of my top tips for getting started. 

Organic can make a difference! I know it costs more, but I think about the pesticides that are sprayed on our food, and I don't want to risk the negative effects on myself if I can help it, let alone my sweet littles. If you can't afford to buy everything organic, here's a tip! Focus on the Dirty Dozen, the Environmental Working Group's list of the current worst offenders. This list changes, so check here.. As of now, the list is:

You'll also see the Clean Fifteen there- those are the cleanest fruits and veggies- the ones you don't need to bother buying organic! Bonus! 

Consider what's in season!  You're going to spend less and get tastier and more nutrient rich food when you buy as much of your produce as you can from what's currently in season. There are so many lists available online of what is available when, and I'd encourage you to look at what's in season local to you-because local is fresher-but here's a list to get you started:

Get the gear. Now, I have a Vitamix I use to make Baby Duck's food, but what I used for Ladybug's was this Ninja Master Prep and it was fantastic! I highly recommend the food processor bowl for baby food making. 

Another essential in my arsenal is ice cube trays. You can use these trays , or if you want something a bit nicer, this kit. Some mamas prefer silicone trays like these because the food pops out easier. These trays will allow you to make food in advance for a week or two at a time, or even longer. 

First foods. This is totally up to you, but I recommend masked avocado first, and follow with sweet potato after baby has tried that a few times. After those, I introduce veggies one at at time for three days, and then fruits. You're the mama, and really, other than no honey before they turn one (because botulism can develop), there's no hard and fast rules. 

Get cooking. How to cook the foods is up to you-steaming () veggies in many cases is a great way to keep the nutrients in, and you can use the water to thin the purée if needed, and my sister also likes to use the slow cooker(You can find lots of ideas and recipes in our Facebook group.)

Important note- not all babies are ready for solids at the same time, and that's perfectly okay! The AAP recommends babies are breastfed (or formula, no judgement!) exclusively until at least 6 mos, but not not all babies are ready for solids at that age. Neither of mine were! Just offer the food, and let them experience it as they are able. Keep it fun, and no stress, mamas! 

Happy baby food making! Please let me know if you have questions I can help with! 

Elderberry syrup

I've been using this elderberry syrupto boost Ladybug's immune system since she was about 15 mos old, and recently a friend mentioned she usually makes her own. My first thought was, "Wow! I wonder if that's any less expensive than buying it!"  And...I promptly forgot about researching it, because, y'know, mommy brain. Then I came across this post that has tons of info on the benefits, instructions, and a recipe! I finally looked into the cost of the berries, and found that I could make a batch of the stuff for about 1/8 the cost of what I was buying pre-made, using these elderberries.

Yesterday, i made the syrup, and boy was it easy! It took about an hour, but most of that time isn't hands-on time, so it was easy to manage, even with little ones. Here's a photo of the bubbly goodness in progress: 

And here's my pretty purple jar of finished product: 

It tastes fantastic, and is Ladybug approved! Just today, someone shared

this post with me, and I'm eager to incorporate some of these ideas! 

What about you? Have you used or made elderberry syrup? What's been your experience with it and how has it helped you?