Homemade baby food

Try making some homemade baby food with the fresh, ripe ingredients you have at home. It doesn't have to involve a lot of effort or trouble; a simple meal of mashed banana, ripe avocado or sweet potato is ideal, and portions can be frozen providing enough food ahead of time if working mums find it difficult. It's very reassuring to know that your baby is eating fresh homemade baby food as an alternative to convenience, pre-cooked shop food which sometimes has months of shelf-life. You will encourage your baby to learn about the wonderful variation of tastes and aromas that exist in homemade baby food, as well as provide him with the very best ingredients for his health.

Poor nutrition can cause problems for babies and children which can last for the rest of their lives, but making baby food with the fresh ingredients you have at home gives baby the best nutrition, helping him gain strength and maintain good health. An additional benefit to making baby food is that it often works out much cheaper, so you can save a bit of money while providing him with really wholesome nourishment.

Make sure you provide an adequate supply of calories too. Although you may want to eat low-calorie, high fibre foods, it's not appropriate for your growing baby to do so. He needs the whole variety of dietary components homemade baby foods can offer, including the calories we would rather forego! Remember to always serve small amounts and never force your baby to eat, even if you think he is not getting enough. Their stomachs are tiny and cannot hold large amounts of food at once.

You can get lots of information on baby nutrition at The Baby Shows including practical advice from food guru Annabel Karmel and you can also buy baby food and equipment from specialist companies. Exhibitors at The Baby Show include:

Read on for baby food tips