Product Review - The Healthy Baby Meal Planner

Since I decided to make my own baby food my pediatrician recommended I get a book from the library because certain foods have to be cooked differently. I went to my local library and I got a couple of books. They were ok but they didn't really have very much information besides making basic baby food. When I went to Buy Buy Baby I came across The Healthy Baby Meal Planner by Annabel Karmel.

I flipped through the book at the store and I really liked how much information it had. Since the book was so expensive there, it was $25, I decided to look for a cheaper place to get it. I found it for $5 on eBay, shipping was free. I love this book! It has such great information. It goes over all the vitamins your baby needs and explains each stage of the weaning process. The recipes are very simple but they taste great, I always taste the food I make before I give it to my daughter. They have lots of great puree blends so it makes mixing different veggies and fruits much simpler. It has a sample meal menu you can follow for each stage. It also explains when you can start switching to meats and giving your baby finger foods. It's not just for infants it also has plenty of great recipes for your toddler too. If you plan on making your own baby food I recommend this book, it's the only book you need. Just make sure you get it on eBay because it's much cheaper there!

Baby's First Rice Cereal

My daughter is ready to start solids and I wanted to give her homemade baby food. My pediatrician recommended that I start with baby rice cereal mixed with breast milk. I found this great recipe in my Mothering magazine that I wanted to share.

Toasted Rice Baby Cereal
short-grain brown rice
salt
water
breast milk or formula

1. Place rice in a fine-mesh strainer, rinse, and drain
2. Place the washed rice in a large skillet on burner and toast on medium heat, stirring constantly, until the rice is dry and gives off a nutty aroma (5-8 mins)
Hint: To save time I usually toast 2 cups of rice on the weekend when I have more time and I store the rice in airtight containers to be used for the rest of the week.
3. Grind toasted rice
Note: Ground grains begin to lose nutritional values within 24-48 hours. For the best nutrition grind rice just before using.
4. Mix together 2-3 tablespoons ground rice, 1/2 cup water, and a pinch of salt in a small pot.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 5 minutes.
6. To get the right consistency I mix the cooked cereal with freshly pumped breast milk until I get the consistency I want.
Note: For babies just starting solid foods, cereals should be the consistency of thick milk or thin soup. As the baby gets older, thicken the consistency.

I usually taste the cereal before I mix it with breast milk to make sure its not to salty. My daughter loves this cereal and best of all it only takes me 5 mins to make it.

Getting Baby Started on Solid Foods

I got some great information from my breastfeeding support group on solids that I wanted to pass along.You should start your baby on solids at 6 months old. Some babies are ready sooner but don't start any earlier than 4 months. How will I know if my baby is ready for solids earlier? If your child pushes food out of their mouth with their tongue when offered food then they are not ready for solids. You can place an empty spoon in your child's mouth. If they push the spoon away then they aren't ready yet. You can wait a week and then try again.

It's important to remember that solids don't take the place of breast milk until the end of the first year. Usually babies start with cereals because they are iron fortified. Start with a small amount once daily and then increase the amount and frequency slowly. The solids should be given in between feedings. Never replace a feeding with solids. When baby is taking solids they should be given some water to help with digestion. You could also use diluted juice, 1 to 2 oz a day.


Start with one solid at a time. Wait for three days to see if your child has an allergic reaction to the solid they were given. If they didn't have an allergic reaction then you can introduce a new solid. Don't start these high allergy foods until after the first year: strawberries, citrus, egg whites, corn, soy, cow's milk, wheat, chocolate, tomatoes, shell fish, and nuts. You can give small amounts of cheese and yogurt after baby reaches 8 months. It is best to wait until your child is 3 years of to give peanuts and peanut butter.

I found this great video that gives a simple demonstration on how to make your own baby food.