Crunchy, Hold the Granola mom
- #SMOM
- Jul 22, 2018
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 24, 2018
You meal prep for yourself. Why not do it for your little ones!? It is so much easier than you know.
So as it turns out, I am actually a pretty earthy mom.
I wanted to breastfeed Sloane up to the age of two...I made it to 15mths. And yall know how I feel about #Crystals.
However, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY believe in vaccinations. I do believe in medicine, but I also believe in natural ways of healing the body.
So I like to think of myself as a Crunchy, Hold the Granola Mom.
When it came to the food the #MiniMe eats, I knew it would be no different.
Making your child's food is so much easier than you think. Most times, I throw the food in the #StockPot to steam and watch a movie, clean, or #blog :-)
Betty Crocker, I am not...BUT I can make a mean puree or Squeeze Pouch...
YEARS before the #MiniMe came along, I had already made a decision that IF I were to have children, I wanted to make their baby food. I loved the idea of knowing exactly what my baby would be eating...aka...holding onto as much control as possible lol:-) Guess I was always meant to be someone's mom.
A lot of people have been impressed by the fact that I made and continue to make my daughter's food. Here's the thing...it is not "posh" nor difficult.
As a matter of fact, before modern technology, pretty much everyone had to make their own baby food. Additionally, it is common in many places around the world.
Also, I read the news. I get the alerts. I do believe, and, so does science, there is a tie between diet and various medical illnesses and conditions.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/10/25/these-baby-foods-and-formulas-tested-positive-arsenic-lead-and-bpa-new-study/794291001/
When making your baby's food, you get to put what you want how you want into your child's food...again...controlling as much as you can.
Parenthood is completely and utterly UNpredictable. This is my way of having some predictability and another way to provide healthy nutrients to the #MiniMe.
Little Rules Before Beginning:
1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing foods to baby at 6 months. I followed this rule. Yes, it was exhausting, but you can make it. For more information, click on the link below:
https://services.aap.org/en/search/?k=introducing%20foods
2. Be weary of any allergies that run in the family, the same could apply to your child. This could be tested the following ways:
a) If you are breastfeeding, pay attention to how your baby reacts to the food you eat, this could be a sign of things to come. However, some food allergens do not surface until
baby actually takes the food in.
https://www.parents.com/baby/health/allergy/introducing-solids-to-prevent-allergies/
b) My doctor recommended putting the food on the baby's skin and waiting 24 hours to
see how baby will react.
3. ALWAYS ALWAYS TALK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN. They are there to answer your questions, address concerns, etc.
I am not a DOCTOR, but these are all rules I followed.
The Supplies
Stock Pot
Steamer
Blender
Family and friends knew this was something I wanted to do and my sister was kind enough to get me, I mean Sloane, the #BabyBulletTurboSteamer for Christmas.
What was Cooking before Google?
Honestly, what was cooking, parenting, functioning before Google!?
Anyways...
Here is the site I used to find recipes: https://www.parents.com/recipes/baby-food/homemade-baby-food-recipes/
Also, my #BabyBullet came with a book of recipes that I used as well.
Also, once I got the hang of making her baby food, I began to make the food free hand. It is how I make her Squeeze Pouches now.
Fave Recipes of the #MiniMe
Go-go Yogurts: I have tried this recipe. I do not like yogurt, BUT this is yummy.
Organic French Vanilla Yogurt
Organic Vanilla Coconut Milk
Organic Pineapple
Organic Watermelon
Organic Strawberries
Georgia Peach
Organic Peaches
Cinammon
Local Honey
I would also like to add, these are recipes I came up with ON MY OWN :-) Proving that mom knows best lol.
"Ain't Nobody Got Time For That..."
If you are like many human beings on this Earth, you are busy. Sometimes, you need to give your child food that is easy and can even be taken on the go. While perusing #Amazon, I found a Squeeze Pouch maker.
Allow me to introduce you to the Infantino Fresh Squeezed Squeeze Station.
To my surprise, it was super cheap...like under $25 cheap.
This has been a game changer for me, especially now that the #MiniMe is able to feed herself. Also, we are on the go A.LOT. I do not always want to grab fast food. I have made enough pouches to last us the remainder of summer:-)
Things of Note:
1. Make sure the food is whipped to the creamiest consistency. If not, it will NOT go into the squeeze pouch.
2. With anything, there is an expiration date. Another cool thing about the #Infantino Squeeze Station, it comes with a guide on how long to keep pouches in the freezer, refrigerator, how to thaw frozen pouches, etc. This guide is a magnet, so it can be easily placed in plain sight.
3. BIG WARNING: this product is best hand-washed. I learned the hard way what even the top shelf of the dishwasher could do. Fortunately, #Amazon was kind enough to send a replacement.
Life Made Simple
I also make meals for the week. So, I make chicken to be used in meals throughout the week. Biscuits to warm up for breakfasts. Sweet Potatoes to do a little stir fry. Basically, anything to make the work week easy on this #SMOM and my #Minime.
I hope you all see just how easy it is to make your baby's food, but know that it is also perfectly fine to buy these items from the store. I do not make everything the #Minime eats, but I TRY to make as much food as possible:-)
Comments