Batch Baby Food Recipe with Acorn Squash
I mostly have done baby led weaning with my little one, but having baby food on hand is always helpful when I’m on the run or need a quick meal to drop off with Grandma to babysit. I particularly like it when I’m at a restaurant since letting him feed himself is messy. And I love making my own food not only because it’s healthy and I know it’s not laden with additives and preservatives, but also it’s so much cheaper! I had an acorn squash sitting on my counter, so I cooked it up and whipped up these four batches which i just freeze in a tray and pop in the freezer. What I love most is they all have such different flavors and they are tasty enough that I was happily testing them all and would gladly eat them. My baby deserves delicious food! So try these out. I made all four in an episode of Signing Time, so it’s certainly doable.
Here’s your shopping list:
- Acorn squash
- Apple (I used Fuji but whatever’s your fave)
- Tomato
- Small bag of baby carrots
- Bag of spinach (you won’t use it all, so have a green smoothie for yourself!)
- 8 ounces cooked chicken breast (I used leftover rotisserie)
- Greek or whole fat yogurt
- 1/2 cup oatmeal
- Small package of dried figs or raisins
- 1/4 cup pecans
- Spices
Spinach Carrot Squash and Chicken Baby Food
Ingredients
1/4 of an acorn squash
1 cup spinach
1/2 cup carrots
1/2 cup chicken
1 teaspoon Herbs du Provence (or sub with rosemary and thyme)
1 cup water, breastmilk, or formula
Apple Pecan Carrot and Squash Baby Food
Ingredients
1/4 of an acorn squash
1/2 cup carrots
1/2 an apple
1/4 cup pecans, chopped
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
1 cup water, breastmilk, or formula
Carrot Chicken Tomato and Squash Baby Food
Ingredients
1/4 of an acorn squash
1/2 a tomato
1 cup carrots
1/2 cup chicken
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 cup water, breastmilk, or formula
Apple Oatmeal Yogurt and Squash Baby Food
Ingredients
1/4 of an acorn squash, cooked
1/2 an apple, cooked
1/2 cup Greek or whole fat yogurt
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup dried figs or raisins (cook with oatmeal)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup water, breastmilk, or formula
Directions
To start, cook the squash, carrots, apple and oatmeal with figs/raisins. You can bake in the oven, boil, microwave — whichever is your preferred method. I prefer to microwave because it’s fast and easy, but that’s just me. Then for each batch, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth, adding liquid gradually (and adding more if needed to purée. Then pour into freezer cubes and store in freezer.
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