These homemade baby food ideas are simple to make and gluten-free, too.




Pea purée
Makes 4 portions





Steam or boil 100g frozen peas in a saucepan over a medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes until very soft. Purée the peas using a stick blender. Pass the purée through a fine mesh sieve to remove any pieces of skin. Make the purée thinner by adding a little formula or breast milk, if desired.

Suitable for babies who are just starting on solids.

TOP TIP:
Peas are surprisingly full of protein, as well as being rich in fibre and a good source of omega 3s.




Cauliflower purée
Makes 4 portions





Chop one-third of a head of cauliflower into florets and steam or boil over a high heat for 8-10 minutes or until very soft. Purée the cauliflower using a stick blender. Pass the purée through a fine mesh sieve to remove any chunks. Make the purée thinner by adding a little formula or breast milk, or a little of the cauliflower cooking water, if desired.

Suitable for babies who are just starting on solids.

TOP TIP:
Up until now, your baby has only consumed sweet-tasting milk. As a result, he or she is likely to be more interested in fruit purées than vegetable ones, but it’s important to provide more savoury options than sweet in order to develop a taste for non-sweet foods.




Plum purée
Makes 4 portions





Halve, stone and then quarter 6 ripe plums. Place into a small saucepan and add just enough water to cover them. Simmer over a medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes until very tender. Drain the plums, reserving a little of their cooking liquid. Purée the plums using a stick blender. Pass the purée through a fine mesh sieve to remove any pieces of skin. Make the purée thinner by adding a little of the cooking water, if desired.

Suitable for babies who are just starting on solids.

TOP TIP:
Sugar in food and drinks, even at this early stage, will lead to tooth decay in the future and pave the way to developing a sweet tooth. Avoid adding any sugar or honey to your homemade baby food.




Beef, carrot and tomato purée
Makes 4 portions





Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a small pan over a medium-high heat. Add the carrots and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add 200g lean minced beef, 2 chopped tomatoes and 180ml water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer gently for 18-20 minutes. Remove from the heat and purée to a coarse consistency using a stick blender.

This is a chunkier purée, suitable for babies who have already been on solids for at least 3-4 weeks.

TOP TIP:
Beef is a good source of iron and protein.