I not only breastfeed but I make the majority of Avin's babyfood. The exceptions are his baby rice and oat cereal and his cereal puffs. I've been passionate about making Avin's babyfood since he was 4 months old. Jarred baby food contains a lot of ingredients that babies don't need like sugar and preservatives. They also lose lots of nutrients during processing and storage. Not to mention they are so expensive!!!
When I first started making Avin's babyfood I had no clue where to begin and ended up tossing out my first several attempts. I finally figured out how to cook a few basic items like sweet potatoes and peas. From there I expanded to several more vegetables but I still didn't know how to prepare meats or fruits. When I expressed interest in the Fresh Baby Cookbook, Fresh Baby surprised me with the opportunity to review their So Easy Baby Food Kit. The So Easy Baby Food kit includes 2 freezer trays, a cookbook, a how-to dvd, and a nutritional tip card.
When I opened the box the first thing I took out was the cookbook. I was surprised to find that it was a beautiful hard bound book. The cookbook is not your traditional recipe only cookbook. It is a combination baby record book, cookbook, and how-to guide. It has places for photos and notes about baby's first meal, first holiday, and first birthday. It also has a place to record the date each food was introduced and any notes or reactions involving that food. The first half of the book gives great information on the benefits of making your own babyfood and the process of actually making the food. The second half of the book contains the recipes. I was very disappointed to see that meats were not included among the recipes. The recipes explain how to select fresh produce and prepare single fruits or vegetables. Each recipe includes possible seasoning variations and suggestions of foods you could combine to make "medleys". Each fruit or vegetable also has an easy-to-read 1-, 2-, or 3-star chart that shows the nutritional content of that particular food. Recipes are broken down by months so you know when your baby should be starting new foods. The tip card that is included in the kit is a full color laminated 8.5 x 11 sheet that includes information on what to do if your baby is choking, baby food prep tips, first foods by age, common baby ailments and foods, and a list of the best sources of several different nutrients. Watching the dvd felt a little like watching a late night infomercial but it demonstrated how to actually prepare and store the food. I was surprised to find out you can cook all your babies foods in the microwave and that it is actually recommended over stove top methods. It is only 22 minutes long so you can watch it during your babies nap time or while he breastfeeds. One thing I disagree with is their suggested use of a traditional blender or food processor. I've tried using both and it is very hard to get a smooth creamy consistency using either one. I suggest using an immersion blender (some people refer to it as a stick blender).
The freezer storage containers are great! They come with a lid to keep your food safe from freezer burn and prevent spills. Each cube is one serving. The containers are dishwasher safe and BP-A and phthalate-free. Freezing babyfood is a great way to give you shelf life without losing nutrients or adding preservatives.
Visit Freshbaby.com to purchase a So Easy Baby Food Kit of your own or enter below for your chance to WIN one!!!
Contest open to US Residents 18 and older. Ends Friday, March 12, 2010 at Midnight CST. Winner will be chosen at random using Random.org. Please make sure you leave your email address in your comment. Please post one comment per entry (5 entries=5 comments). Winners will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
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