Making your own baby food is another great way to save money. It's also is a great way to avoid preservatives, dyes and chemicals that go into the production of commercial baby food. Unlike some people may lead you to believe, making baby food does NOT have to involve buying a $100 or more baby food appliance and various (and unnecessary) accessories. All you need is some ice cube trays (either the fancy ones with lids or the run-of-the mill trays topped with some plastic wrap) along with either a food processor or a blender (or even hand-held potato masher) and you are set.
Firmer fruits like apples and pears should be peeled, cored, and sautéed in a covered pan with some water until soft before blending while vegetables should be steamed or baked until soft. When blending, add either plain water or water the fruits/veggies were cooking in until the desired consistency is reached. You may also add breastmilk or formula to creamier foods such as mashed potatoes. Soft fruits such as banana, avocado, and mango do not need to be cooked prior to being mashed/blended.
Once you have your baby food made, it's time to store it. The cheapest and most convenient way of preserving baby food is to freeze it in baby food freezer trays (or plain ice cube trays). By doing this, the baby food is frozen into perfect, one ounce portions, allowing for either a little bit of food to be reheated or a lot. Once the baby food is frozen, transfer the cubes into a zip lock bag so the trays can be used again.
A huge advantage to the freezer trays is that they don't need to be put away once your baby grows up and that they can be used for all sorts of things. Lately I've been using them to freezer my toddler's favorite meals. She loves soup and anytime I make one of her favorites, I freeze a bunch in the trays. That way, when we have a meal that isn't so toddler-friendly, I can reheat something for her that I know she'll love.
Don't have a baby? You can save money with freezer trays! Other things I have used the freezer trays for include homemade pesto, herbs, and various sauces. Store bought pesto is very expensive and for the same price of a small container, I can make enough to fill 3 freezer trays (36 ounces). Having one ounce cubes of pesto makes cooking a breeze. All I do is microwave a cube or two then pour over cooked pasta or ravioli. For freezing herbs, like cilantro where it's common to only need a little bit per recipe, finely chop and place the herb into a freezer tray then add just enough water to cover. Once frozen, I transfer to a freezer bag and write "Cilantro: 1 cube = 2 Tbsp". Using frozen herbs is best for soups, sauces and dips and if you wish to use a frozen herb like you would fresh herbs, I recommend you defrost the cube thoroughly, drain out the liquid, then pat dry before use.
split pea soup placed in freezer trays
lids in place, stacked, and ready for the freezer
4 ounces of chicken corn chowder
chicken corn chowder after being brought back to life
I am a mother of twins and I could not live without the Wean Meister freezer pods. I loved their modern design, but they were super functional! The whole tray is silicone, including the lid, so no freezer burn. They have 9 pods, so 9 meals, each 2.5oz. These trays are BPA free and use a grade of silicone that is actually higher than the FDA grade, making them safer for babies. The food pops out very very easily, which was a huge problem with some other brands. You can get them here: www.nurturedsprouts.com
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