Monday, September 15, 2014

Organic, Non-GMO Baby Food

How Can You Guarantee That Your Baby is Eating Only the Best?

As a mother who has dedicated over six months of her life so far to exclusively breastfeeding her child, when it comes to introducing something new, I find myself more hesitant than Charlie's pediatrician recommends. The only way I feel confident in giving her something new is by preparing it myself (or ourselves).




My fiance Josh, myself and Charlotte took a trip last Saturday up to Oak Glen (locally known as the "Apple Orchards") as a part of the Inland Empire Food Bloggers group, on behalf of the website I am proud to work for, IEShineOn. All three of us had an amazing time making new friends and enjoying the beautiful staff and scenery at Willowbrook Apple Farm. We enjoyed an exclusive tour of the farm, which was full of towering apple trees that are over 100 years old.




One of the many perks of the farm was its option to pick your own apples. Our little family picked a five pound bag of an assorted variety of signature apples. Upon leaving, I realized that these beautiful GMO-free, organic apples could serve as Charlotte's first serving of fruit! We had such a great time in Oak Glen, and we are so excited to share our super simple baby recipe for organic apples.


Baby's First Apple Puree Recipe


19 Servings of Preservative-Free, GMO-Free, Organic Baby Food for Less than $4

At about six and a half months, little Charlotte is hungrier than ever. Organic locally grown apples served as her first fruit. Her reaction was not what we expected. She ate the entire tablespoon we gave her to try, but she was unsure the entire time, most likely because it was her first time experiencing something slightly sour. This recipe (like all baby recipes) is super simple and easy-to-follow. Don't forget to wash your hands, all surfaces and tools before prepping the food. Nothing is more important than cleanliness in the kitchen.

Ingredients:
3 Small Apples
1 Cup Water

Tools
Vegetable Peeler
Blender (I use the Baby Bullet)
Silicon Spatula
Glass Cup/Bowl
Baby Food Storage Containers


First. Wash, peel and cut apples into small-sized chunks, removing the core and stem. Then, add the apples to a little over one cup of boiling water.




Second. Once the apple is soft enough to break apart easily (this took around seven minutes), remove it from the heat, and pour a cup of the boiled water into a glass measuring cup (The boiled apple water contains a lot of the nutrients!). Cover ingredients, and allow them to cool.

Third. Add the cooled apple and water into the blender. Puree the ingredients until they are at the proper consistency, adding additional water or fresh breast milk to achieve the desired texture.




Fourth. Portion out your baby's food accordingly. Store properly; Food keeps for three days in the fridge or 30 days in the freezer. Thaw frozen food by moving each serving to the fridge a day prior to feeding it to your baby, or if necessary you can defrost it by placing the container in cold water.




Preparing Charlotte's food with my fiance as she watched was really rewarding. Not only did we get to see where the apples were coming from, but we got to learn about Willowbrook Apple Farm, and we were able to pick the apples ourselves. She might not be too sure about apples quite yet, but at least I feel confident that what she is eating is safe. 

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