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Simply Pureed

One-ingredient Meals for Baby

By Donna Smith

Freshly made baby food purees can be kept in the refrigerator for about two days. "Any food left in a container that was used to directly feed the baby should be discarded within a couple of hours," O'Shea says. "However, many baby food purees are very easily frozen! This helps to preserve the nutrients and provides a convenient way to keep the foods on hand. Try freezing the purees in an ice-cube tray – they hold about one ounce of food, which is really quick and convenient! The cubes can be removed once frozen and stored in another container or plastic freezer bag for easy storage."

Some foods freeze better than others, however. "Banana, carrot, broccoli, berries and apples for example freeze much better than potatoes, citrus fruits, melon or tofu," O'Shea says. "Try to use the frozen cubes within a month, but some can be stored in a deep freezer for up to six months!"

Another way to freeze portions is to simply "plop" spoons full of food onto a cookie sheet, Swinney says. "Put the cookie sheet in the freezer and when well frozen, place them in a freezer bag," she says. "Make sure to label them, since foods often look the same color when frozen!"

And most of all, relax and enjoy watching your little one discover each new food. "Remember that eating solid food is a world of new tastes, textures and smells for your baby and he may not embrace it wholeheartedly at first!" Swinney says. "It may take many tries – even up to 10 – for a baby to realize he likes a food, so don't give up! Follow your baby's lead and when he shows you he is done eating, stop trying to feed him!"

One-ingredient to combination baby food recipes can be found here!

Want to see more?

• Goin' Bananas: Satisfying Baby's Sweet Tooth
• Say Ahhh-pples! The Appeal of Apples for First-time Eaters
• You're So Sweet Potatoes: The Perfect First Vegetable for Baby
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!

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