Foods for 4-6 Months (Veggies)

Green Bean Puree-

1 pound of fresh green beans or frozen

Steps:

1. Clean & snap green beans (Skip if using frozen.)
2. Steam until tender
3. Place into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing. Use a sieve if needed to get rid of the hulls.
4. Add water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency (If freezing, do not add water, when veggies freeze, they change in structure and can become more watery after they are thawed. Add water AFTER thawed if need be.)
OR
5. Cook frozen green beans (watch for salt) according to package directions

*I use frozen especially because green beans are out of season and frozen are just as good as fresh. Frozen veggies are picked at peak ripeness and then steamed and flash frozen to retail optimal nutrition.

Butternut or Acorn Squash Puree
1 acorn or butternut squash


Steps-
1. Cut acorn or butternut squash in half, scoop out seeds
2. Place halves face down in a pan and cover with an inch of water
3. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 40 minutes to 1 hour - be sure the “shell/skin” puckers and halves feel soft then scoop squash “meat” out of the shell
4. Place squash "meat" into your choice of appliance for pureeing and begin pureeing.
5. Add water as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin consistency. Again, if freezing, skip this step.


Sweet Potato Puree-

Baking Sweet Potatoes for Baby Food:
1. Wash and poke holes in sweet potato with fork then wrap sweet potatoes in tin foil - do not peel for baking/microwaving.
2. Place in a 400 degree oven and bake for 30-60 minutes or until soft
3. Remove skins by slitting the sweet potato lengthwise when cooled then scoop out the "meat". Use a liquid from your preferred source to puree or thin the sweet potatoes.
*I prefer to bake it, it's less work, less time and produces just as good of a results as boiling or steaming.

Boiling/Steaming Sweet Potatoes for Baby Food:

1. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into small chunks
2. Place chunks into a pan with just enough water to slightly cover potato
3. "Steam" boil until tender, be sure to check on the water level.
4. Reserve any left over water to use for thinning out the sweet potatoes if desired. Once again, do not add water if freezing.

Don't be afraid to use spices either! A little cinnamon in your pureed squash smells tasty and will give your child a new flavor experience!! Other good choices for spices are nutmeg, ginger, and curry. A pinch or two is just enough.

Also, remember the rule for introducing new foods is to feed the same thing for 4-5 days to make sure there are no adverse effects. http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/4daywaitrule.htm

This also gives your child time to get accustomed to eating the solid food. And remember, it make take your child up to 15 tries to actually like something, so don't give up right away! Our son gagged a little at 1st but we were persistent in him trying things, and now he loves a lot of different things, even asparagus (eww) and spinach!

There is NO need to add salt or sugar to baby food either!!!