Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (2024)

by Meghan M | Jul 31, 2018 | Life with Baby | 9 comments

Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (1)

Is it Time for Solid Foods?

You have the go-ahead from your baby’s doctor and you are ready to start whipping up baby food!

Do you feel overwhelmed?

This step by step guide provides the answers you are looking for all in one convenient place!

I provide recipes and introduction schedules so that you don’t have to spend extra mental energy trying to figure out what and when!

Choose from 3 different introduction schedules including

  • introduction based on flavor profile: gentle flavors that will be easy on baby’s tummy and taste buds
  • Introduction Schedule based on season: So that you can shop at local farmers markets or from your own garden
  • Custom Introduction Schedule: You choose, when and what!

Get it now!

Have you been considering homemade baby food? Are you worried that you are already too busy to make your own? I understand your concern! Besides being a mom I am also a teacher! Believe me when I say I am extremely short on time these days! But let me tell you DIY Stage 1 Baby Food is a lot easier than it sounds! I’ve compiled4 easy stage 1 foods that you can easily whip up in your own kitchen in under 30 minutes. This food will last you weeks! Your baby will also love these quick easy recipes! Read on for directions!

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Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (2)Organic Apples

  1. Remove the core and skin of 4 apples
  2. roughly chop into large pieces
  3. place chopped applepieces into a pan with about an inch of water
  4. bring to a simmer on the stove top and cook until tender (approximately 5-10 minutes)
  5. blend apples and water until smooth
  6. Transfer apple puree into ice cube trays and freeze overnight.
  7. Store frozen pieces in a tightly sealed Ziplocbag for up to 6 months.

Makes approximately 18-1 ounce cubes

Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (3)Organic Carrots

  1. peel and remove ends of 5 large carrots
  2. roughing chop into large pieces
  3. place chopped pieces intoa steamerbasket with water
  4. steam until soft (approximately 5-10 minutes)
  5. blend carrots with some water (or breastmilk) until smooth
  6. Transfer carrot puree into ice cube trays and freeze overnight.
  7. Store frozen pieces in a tightly sealed Ziplocbag for up to 6 months.

Makes approximately 18-1 ounce cubes

Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (4)Organic Cantaloupe

  1. peel and remove pulp and seeds of 1 (very ripe) cantaloupe
  2. roughing chop into large pieces
  3. blend cantaloupe with some water (or breastmilk) until smooth
  4. Transfer cantaloupe puree into ice cube trays and freeze overnight.
  5. Store frozen pieces in a tightly sealed Ziplocbag for up to 6 months.

Makes approximately 18-1 ounce cubes

Organic Peas

Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (5)

  1. pour abag of frozen peas into microwave safe bowl
  2. add 1/2 cup of water
  3. microwave on high until peas are very tender (approximately 5 minutes)
  4. blend cooked peas until smooth
  5. transfer pea puree into ice cube trays and freeze overnight
  6. store frozen pieces in a tightly sealed Ziplock bag for up to 6 months

Makes approximately 18-1 ounce cubes

Quick Tips!

  • You can use any blending method you want! We prefer to use an immersion blender because it takes up very little space in our tiny kitchen, and its incredibly easy to clean. ThisAll-Clad Immersion Blender is the one we have and love!
  • Make sure to label your Ziplocbags with the date, Many of your homemade purees will look really similar so it’s helpful to also includethe type of food.
  • When trying to buy organic don’t forget to check out the frozen section of your local grocery store! Frozen produce is a better alternative to canned produce. Many essentials nutrients get lost during the canning process. However, frozen produce is flash-frozen at the peak of freshness which locks in those yummy nutrients. Another bonus of frozen produce? It’s often, already been peeled and chopped! Major time saver right there! Score!
  • If you are a stay at home mom it might be easiest to cook one food at a time every couple of days. It will take such a limited amount of time and you can freeze the extras. I preferred to prep food this way when I was still at home with my daughter.
  • If you work outside the home you might prefer to cook several foods at once! I was able to do the above 4 recipes in under 30 minutes.
  • A note on food allergies and prepping multiple foods at once. Remember when starting new foods only introduce 1 food at a time and wait 3-4 days in between! It’s a little extra work if you are prepping multiple foods at once because you need to thoroughly clean your food processor or blender between foods if the foods you are making are brand new to your baby. Want more info on food allergies? Read my post here!
  • Want more information on starting solids? Check out My Guide to Starting Solids
  • You can also check out my Product Guide for Starting Solids

Still on the fence about making your own baby food? There are 2 great reasons why you should consider it!

1. Cost!

The first is the cost! storebought baby food costs about $1 a serving! I was able to make 48 servings of ORGANIC baby food for around $11.00! That is a huge savings! Making homemade baby food is significantly cheaper than buying premade baby food!

2. Quality Ingredients

The second reason you might want to make homemade baby food is so that you can control exactly what goes into your baby’s food. You can choose fresh, organic produce and prepare it however you want! You won’t have to worry about added preservative or chemicals when you are making your own food!

Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (6)

  • 32 Recipes (enough for 2 food introductions/ week for 4 months)
  • Printable Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen list so you know which foods to prioritize buying organic
  • Information on Allergy Awareness
  • Tips for Introducing Purees
  • Baby Meal Prep Suggestions
  • Spice Suggestions so that you can develop your babies palate!
  • 3 Different Food Introduction Checklists Including
    • Food introduction by flavor profile (ie milder and gentler foods first)
    • Food introduction by season (to allow you to shop seasonally and locally)
    • A customizable introduction schedule. (You choose what and when!)

Get it now!

Launch Sale Ends Soon! Use Code: LAUNCH50

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  1. Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (7)

    Baby Travel Trendon August 10, 2019 at 2:46 am

    Right now it sounds like WordPress is the preferred blogging platform
    out there rikght now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you are
    usxing on your blog?

    Reply

    • Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (8)

      Meghan Mon August 26, 2019 at 5:22 am

      Yep!

      Reply

    • Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (10)

      Meghan Mon October 16, 2019 at 8:19 pm

      Thank you so much!

      Reply

  2. Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (11)

    Lorieon October 13, 2019 at 11:28 pm

    Have you ever considered writing an e-book or guest
    authoring on other blogs? I have a blog centered on the same topics
    you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my audience
    would value your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to
    shoot me an email.

    Reply

  3. Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (12)

    Victoriaon January 15, 2020 at 4:20 pm

    What do you do when you’re ready to serve the baby food? Jusy thaw it, or cook it?

    Reply

    • Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (13)

      Meghan Mon January 23, 2020 at 2:06 pm

      Hi! You can thaw in the fridge overnight or heat up in the microwave and serve! Baby will probably prefer for the food to be warm anyways!

      Reply

  4. Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (14)

    Catherineon January 22, 2020 at 2:44 pm

    Maybe a dumb question but I’m a FTM, after it’s been frozen, how do you serve? Do you give to baby frozen in stick form or thaw and put in bowl?

    Reply

    • Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (15)

      Meghan Mon January 23, 2020 at 2:05 pm

      Hi! You can thaw in the fridge or heat up in the microwave and serve! If you would rather not use the microwave you can cook in a skillet or small pan! Hope that helps!

      Reply

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Homemade Stage 1 Baby Food Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to puree baby food stage 1? ›

Add veggies or fruit into a high powered blender or a food processor. Blend and add liquid until you reach the consistency you desire. You can make the purees smooth and thin for young babies or thicker and chunkier for older babies.

How to make homemade purees for babies? ›

Preparing and cooking homemade baby food
  1. Step 1: to make pureed or mashed baby food, wash fruit and vegetables and peel any skin. Trim fat from meats. ...
  2. Step 2: steam, microwave or boil the foods until soft and cooked. Set aside some of the cooking liquids.
  3. Step 3: puree or mash food, adding cooking liquid if needed.

Is banana a stage 1 baby food? ›

Banana puree is a great stage 1 food for babies because it's sweet and has a smooth consistency. They are low on the allergy scale so they're often a safe choice to start baby on.

What is the first puree to give a baby? ›

1. Carrot Puree. With a sweet taste and smooth consistency, pureed carrots are typically one of the most well-accepted first baby foods from 4–6 months of age. High in beta-carotene (which turns into vitamin A in the body), carrots help keep little eyes healthy.

What is the best way to make homemade baby food? ›

Tips for making homemade baby food

Here are a few things to keep in mind when making baby food at home: Cook down fruits and vegetables in a pan, steamer or slow cooker, then mash up or blend the mixture until smooth. To thin the consistency of a purée, you can mix in water, breast milk, or formula.

Is applesauce a good first food for baby? ›

Applesauce is a great first food, but be sure to buy unsweetened applesauce or make it from scratch. Babies under 2 years old don't need added sugars in their diet. If you want to introduce your baby to new flavors, you can add spices like a small pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the applesauce.

When should babies stop eating purees? ›

Once your baby has reached about 10 months of age, he or she will likely be ready to move past baby purees and into the exciting world of self-feeding. Although meals can get more creative with thicker solids in the mix, the transition from Stage 2 to Stage 3 baby food can also be a…

What fruit should I give my baby first? ›

Bananas are mild, mashable and easy to chew. They're loaded with vitamin C, vitamin B6 and potassium, making them a perfect first fruit for baby,” says Jill Castle, M.S., R.D., childhood nutrition expert and co-author of Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters From High Chair to High School.

Is broccoli a Stage 1 food? ›

Yes. Broccoli, when steamed to a soft consistency, is a wonderful first food for your baby as soon as they are ready for solids. That is about 6 months old. It is very nutritious and the little buds on the florets make it a fun food for babies to touch and explore.

Do you need to add anything to homemade baby food? ›

Fresh-cooked vegetables and fruits can be pureed with no added salt, sugar, fat or other unnecessary additives. To minimize vitamin loss, boil fresh vegetables or fruits in a covered saucepan with a small amount of water. Or, steam them until just tender enough to either puree, mash or eat as a finger food.

Is it okay to make homemade baby food? ›

Making homemade baby food is a great option, but don't feel badly if you need to use store-bought food, as well. Family size, budget, and schedule all contribute to these decisions. Just remember to offer a variety of foods to your baby, and make every bite count!

What consistency should homemade baby food be? ›

Puree: At first, food should be completely pureed. As your baby grows and develops, move to mashing and then dicing into small pieces. Blend, food process or grind and strain until the texture is safe for your baby's stage of development. Add water, breastmilk or formula if needed to achieve the desired consistency.

What does Stage 1 baby food look like? ›

Solids that fall under the Stage 1 category are thin and smooth in texture — not much thicker than breast milk or formula — and contain a single ingredient. If you're making your baby's food at home, make sure it's blended to an almost-watery puree.

When can babies have Stage 1 foods? ›

Iron rich foods, such as iron-fortified baby cereal or pureed meats, and zinc rich foods, such as meats, beans and zinc-fortified infant cereals, are good first foods to introduce to infants 4 to 6 months of age.

What age can babies eat Stage 1 food? ›

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children be introduced to foods other than breast milk or infant formula when they are about 6 months old. Introducing foods before 4 months old is not recommended.

What is Stage 1 and Stage 2 baby food? ›

Defining the stages across the brands

Stage 1: 4 to 6 months (watery puree of a single ingredient) Stage 2: 6 to 9 months (thicker texture that is strained or mashed) Stage 3: 10 to 12 months (mush that has soft, chewable, small chunks)

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