By Katelyn Lutman

As a new mom, I’m constantly trying to find ways to care for my son (10 month old Owen) and entertain him without breaking the bank. It can sure be a challenge, but with a little perseverance and creativity I’ve managed to uncover a few gems. So, when your lovely Saverqueen invited me to share some of my mommy wisdom (term used loosely) on a topic of my choosing, I was honoured to oblige, and knew just where to start.

Making your own puréed baby food
My number one money-saving parenting tip is also an planet-saving one. It really isn’t that earth-shattering, yet I’m surprised at how few parents actually do it: preparing your own purées for your baby’s meals. I started doing this for the nutritional benefits, but once I realized just how marked-up prepared baby foods are (as with any other packaged stuff), and how much waste it produces, that’s when I cemented my practice.

Buying pre-made baby food is shockingly more expensive than making your own. For the price of 2 Heinz fruit blends (79¢ each) I can buy a whole cauliflower and make up my own containers of veggie purée that lasts me a week or so. Those two Heinz jars? Gone in one snack. Sundays at my place consist of my husband and I going to town puréeing in season or on sale produce for the up-coming week. We have reusable, freezable containers and a few dry erase markers, and the process is really so simple. This week Owen’s been enjoying butternut squash, zucchini, broccoli, mangoes, and applesauce. We simply peel and steam any vegetables that require it, add a little broth or leftover cooking water, and purée in a bowl using an immersion mixer (which I bought - on sale - for about $15). Then we scoop out individual servings for freezing. Easy shmeezy! Fruit is even easier: peel and mash in most cases! Bananas, kiwi, raspberries are insultingly fast, and they mix so well with one another, too. Add some yogurt or oatmeal and you’ve got insta-breakfast for your little one, and all for the low low price of… what… 75 cents?!

*Side note: Remember, as the Saverqueen has repeatedly advised, to buy in bulk.  I bought a 200g baggie of oat-bran from St. Lawrence Market for 19 cents! A 227g box of Heinz oatmeal cereal costs $3.69. You do the math….*

Now, being that I am not a perfect person, I do have my days where I run out of pre-made purées and I grab a standby package from the cupboard. I’m not above it, but I do my best to buy that stuff on sale, and make sure that it is without artificial flavours, colours or preservatives. My favourites are Baby Mum Mums (individually wrapped rice rusks that babies can feed themselves on the go), and Sweet Pea Baby Foods (frozen ice-cube-like veggie purées). These products have saved my behind many times and I always have them in stock as back ups or for traveling. They’re great, but not terribly cost-effective, so I truly only use them in a pinch.

It can be a lot of fun coming up with new and tasty recipes for your child(ren), and it is so satisfying to know that they are getting the most natural, healthful foods you can provide. Here are a couple of recommendations for books I’ve read that can get you started, or if you’re already a purée fan, to give you some new ideas that you maybe haven’t thought of:

• Deceptively Delicious, by Jessica Seinfeld (geared more to parents of toddlers and older kids who are fussy eaters)
• Naturally Healthy First Foods for Baby, by Jacqueline Rubin (my go-to reference book)

Happy Puréeing!!

~smallblogger