Although I was not ready for him to grow so quickly, I do enjoy preparing homemade baby food for my son. When he turned six months old back in April, I already had a freezer full of nutritious and delicious fruit and vegetable purees ready for my son to explore. One of the earliest fruits that I fed him was blackberries.
Blackberries are very low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Although high in natural sugars, the fruit is a good source of vitamin E, folate, magnesium, potassium, and copper and a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and manganese. Blackberries are also high in antioxidants, tannins, and bioflavonoids.
To make my homemade baby food, I started with a small container of blackberries and some fluoride-free baby water. After washing the blackberries, I combined the fruit in a glass bowl with some water and then cooked the mixture to tenderness in my microwave. I then allowed the cooked mixture to cool slightly before spooning the blackberries and some additional water into my Baby Bullet. I then blended the mixture into a thin puree. (For older babies, use less water for a thicker mash.) Once puréed, I spooned the baby food into freezer containers and ice cube trays for easier freezing. After the puree froze, I moved the frozen cubes into freezer safe baggies for easier storage. Now as my son needs food, I simply thaw a few cubes in the refrigerator or microwave.
Does your child like blackberries? Do you make your own baby food?
Image Credits
Baby Water and Blackberries © 2015 Heather Johnson
Raw Blackberries © 2015 Heather Johnson
Cooked Blackberries © 2015 Heather Johnson
Homemade Blackberry Baby Food in Silicone Ice Cube Trays © 2015 Heather Johnson
