Homemade baby’s food — Nourriture bébé préparée maison
It’s wonderful the things we do for the people we love.
Prepare food, for example.
With Lulu, it started when she was still cozily nestled inside my belly. I remember thinking, every time I was putting food into my mouth, how much she would benefit from those foods. Comté, sole, rice pudding, carrots, zucchini, gratin, sweet potatoes, sweet and savory tarts, kale, peach, watermelon, apple, pear, blueberries, granola, veal, beef and milk — Oh the foods that I ate and enjoyed!
Then when Lulu was born, I started to nurse her, and then, when she was interested and had teeth too — did I tell you she has 8? — came the time to prepare foods for her.
It was somewhat intimidating, at first, knowing what foods to prepare for my baby. Trying to guess what she would like. What she would dislike. How would I know that she would love peaches and doesn’t care too much for bananas? That she’d love sheep milk yogurt and turns her head away from a piece of tofu? It’s a process I’ve learned. A world that I continue to explore, every day. Something that keeps changing too, with her. A life that I truly enjoy.
And somehow, along the way, I started to improvise fabulous food associations, combining vegetables with meats or fish, herbs and spices. Making the food nutritious and taste delicious. In fact, my rule is simple: if I like what I’ve prepared and want it for my lunch, then Lulu will have it! And hopefully she’ll enjoy it as much as I do.
Lulu is almost 10 months now — does time fly by for you too? She’s been eating many things. She loves quinoa buttermilk pancakes and anything that tastes like sweet potato — especially the Japanese white ones — and winter and summer squashes, cauliflower, broccoli and fennel. Yesterday, for example, she ate sole with Japanese white sweet potato, cauliflower and zucchini flavored with thyme and olive oil while dancing in her high chair to the tune of Charlie Winston playing in the background. And tonight, she had red quinoa to start, then winter squash steamed with fennel, chicken, sage and cumin. Not a single spoonful was left on her plate.
That alone never fails to make me feel warm inside. Happy.
- Japanese white sweet potato (3 oz; 90 g peeled and diced)
- 1.75 oz (50 g) cauliflower florets
- 1.75 oz (50 g) zucchini, diced
- 1.75 oz (50 g) sole fillet, diced
- 1 thyme twig
- Olive oil, to drizzle
Of course, it’s best to buy everything organic.
Steps:
- In the bowl of a steamer, combine the sweet potato, zucchini, cauliflower and sole. Add the thyme. Steam until the vegetables and fish are soft.
- Discard the thyme and puree the vegetables and fish with some of the water used to steam the vegetables (it contains many nutrients). When ready to serve the food to your baby, add a drizzle of olive oil.
- Red kuri squash (5 oz; 140 g peeled and diced)
- 1.75 oz (50 g) fennel
- 1.5 oz (40 g) chicken breast, diced
- Pinch of ground cumin
- 2 sage leaves
- Olive oil, to drizzle
Of course, it’s best to buy everything organic.
Steps:
- In the bowl of a steamer, combine the red kuri squash, fennel and chicken.. Add the cumin and sage leaves. Steam until the vegetables and chicken are soft.
- Puree the vegetables and chicken with some of the water used to steam the vegetables (it contains many nutrients). When ready to serve the food to your baby, add a drizzle of olive oil.
- Patate douce blanche japonaise (90 g pelée et coupée en dés)
- 50 g de chou-fleur
- 50 g de courgette, coupée en dés
- 50 g de filet de sole, coupée en dés
- 1 brin de thym
- Huile d’olive
Bien sûr, il est préférable d’acheter le tout en bio.
Etapes :
- Faites cuire à la vapeur, les légumes avec le poisson et le thym, jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient tous tendres.
- Enlevez le brin de thym et moulinez le tout en ajoutant l’eau de cuisson, qui contient des vitamines précieuses. Au moment de servir, ajoutez un filet d’huile d’olive.
- 140 g de courge musquée pelée et coupée en dés
- 50 g de fenouil
- 40 g d’escalope de poulet, coupée en dés
- Pincée de cumin en poudre
- 2 feuilles de sauge
- Huile d’olive
Bien sûr, il est préférable d’acheter le tout en bio.
Etapes :
- Faites cuire à la vapeur, les légumes avec le poulet, le cumin et la sauge, jusqu’à ce qu’ils soient tous tendres.
- Moulinez le tout en ajoutant l’eau de cuisson, qui contient des vitamines précieuses. Au moment de servir, ajoutez un filet d’huile d’olive.
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i love reading about her new food discoveries… it’s such a special time really. i suppose all the phases they go through are, but i remember solids fondly (not so much anymore!). she is such a lucky baby Bea! and yes, time flies!
Comment by Aran — On October, 15th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
One lucky baby! I love having my neighbors’ kids over and prepare some of the things my mother used to feed me. They seem to like that a lot and it’s something different for them. Different ingredients, different culture, etc…
Love Lulu’s tights!
Comment by Tartelette — On October, 15th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
She is going to be the rosiest, healthiest baby in the world!
Way to go, Bea! 
Your life is truly inspiring.
Comment by Jackie — On October, 15th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Love these recipes! What is it with babies and bananas? Ruby will wrinkle her nose at bananas, but happily chew away on a stalk of lemon grass (no teeth yet!)!
Comment by Kumi — On October, 15th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
Great post – bookmarking it for when I have a little one to feed.
Comment by Chanel — On October, 15th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
What a lucky little girl my granddaughter is! She is going to enjoy many more wonderful dishes as she grows up. Well done for taking the time to make these nutritious and delicious meals!
Comment by Patricia — On October, 15th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Wow, those photos! Such wonderful introductions to food. My little ones were refusing purees at this point and already eating what we ate. Vindaloo by 1!
Comment by Cheryl Arkison — On October, 15th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Pas de doute, ce bébé là est bien nourri !
Comment by Vanille — On October, 15th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
oh, lucky Lulu! our wee one has no teeth yet (almost 7 months), but i am waiting, eagerly for them. he does snatch things off my plate, like brussel sprouts! hurry, teeth!
Comment by Jennifer — On October, 15th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
oh que le temps passe vite !! je me revois 3 ans en arrière quand je préparais les petits pots des garçons !! Continue car après ce sont des enfants qui mangent de tout , pour le plus grand bonheur des parents !!
Bises Aurelie
Comment by aurelie — On October, 15th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
My daughter Lily is now about to turn two. I made all her food when she started to eat at 4 months – she came out hungry!!! It was very rewarding and though everyone says you won’t do it for the next, I would in a heartbeat. What is it about sweet potatoes that they love so much!! I have to admit, now, her love of food is dwindled to peanut butter and jam (homemade of course) toast or lately, avacados. hmm.
Comment by Heather — On October, 16th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Quelle chance tu as ma petite Lulu! Ta maman qui te prépare des repas délicieux et qui partage les recettes avec ses webfriends… tous les bébés du monde t’envient!
Comment by Dominique (De vous à moi...) — On October, 16th, 2009 at 1:59 am
what a great love
I used to prepared for my little one as well. Now he eats everthink icluding spinach meanwhile all of his friend eat just pasta&ham. Nowadays he is 3 years old and going a resto is not a problem for us. he eat japanese, african; indian food! Such a great privelege is on the way for you:)
Comment by beste — On October, 16th, 2009 at 2:00 am
lulu doit se regaler!!!!
Comment by julia — On October, 16th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Happy you! My daughter didn’t want to eat my creations. She’s 5 now and prefers the tomato soup made by grandma (or served in cafeteria in school
than my dishes, although she knows I could cook anything for her. I hope she will change her mind, I was exactly the same at her age.
Warm regards, Beatrice
Comment by Liska — On October, 16th, 2009 at 2:52 am
Merci pour toutes ces bonnes idées de recettes ! Quelle chance pour Lulu de découvrir toutes les saveurs de la vie avec les petits plats de sa maman !
Comment by CassandraJane — On October, 16th, 2009 at 4:03 am
Pas de doute, le fait maison est tellement meilleur pour les bébés!
Mes deux enfants, un petit peu plus grands aiment aussi les plats maison.
Comment by Encuisinectout — On October, 16th, 2009 at 5:27 am
I’ve been waiting for this post for so long! You style her food so beautifully, I think it’s wonderful (it will be such a great glimpse of her baby-hood for her). Every time I make something different for K I’m as excited to see her reaction as a kid waiting for Christmas morning. I will be bookmarking every one of these posts. Love the glimpse of her cheeks in that picture.
Comment by Hilda — On October, 16th, 2009 at 6:34 am
It’s so wonderful to see how you are learning so much from her too… Discovering new tastes thanks to your child … sharing with her all your ideas… it’s so nice…
Have a nice week-end!
Comment by L'Atelier Océane — On October, 16th, 2009 at 7:02 am
My grandsons LOVE to swing also:) I don’t have anything pink swinging:) But they have the same pose~
One of our daughters has never fed anything premade or packaged to her little boy..I think she has turned into an even better cook since her son was born..And he will eat anything:)..
You make it all look extraordinarily beautiful.
Comment by Monique — On October, 16th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Votre bébé a de la chance!!
Comment by Dinners & Dreams — On October, 16th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Je ne suis pas (encore !) super experte en bébés…et je ne pensais pas que si petits ils pouvaient déjà manger autant varié. Toutes ces découvertes doivent être super intéressantes, Lulu est vraiment chanceuse, j’ai hâte de pouvoir faire comme toi !
Comment by Clémentine — On October, 16th, 2009 at 9:42 am
ça donne envie:)
Comment by frichtidelasouris — On October, 16th, 2009 at 9:42 am
She must be the healthiest baby on this side of the ocean! It’s wonderful that you’re letting her discover something other than the classic strained peas and carrots. Most babies become picky about food by the age of two, so it’s good to expose them to different flavours before then.
Comment by Valérie — On October, 16th, 2009 at 10:00 am
If you have time please consider a baby cookbook! Judging from these recipes it would be amazing!!
Comment by April — On October, 16th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Lucky baby!
Too late for mine- I stuck with Gerber’s and they all grew up healthy. Guess we did something right!
Comment by Barbara — On October, 16th, 2009 at 10:27 am
L.L.L.L. Lucky and lovely little girl in leggings. cool!
Comment by Cobrizoperla — On October, 16th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Wow, what inspired flavor combinations! I have always made my own baby food, but tend to stick to bland veggies and meats. Somehow, my children still grew up to love (or at least eat) just about everything under the sun.
What I want to know is how in the world did you get your applesauce so divinely white!?
Comment by Lydia — On October, 16th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
These look delicious! And the pictures are marvelous! Quick question – where are those glass jars from? I love them!
Comment by Andrea — On October, 16th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Thank you everyone, once again. I have much to learn, but really truly enjoy the process and learning via Lulu. She is my teacher! We work as a team.
Quick answers. The glass jars are recycled from yogurts purchased. And the apple sauce had its color because of the variety of apples, Cortland, that I used. They are local and super delicious!
Comment by Béa — On October, 16th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
your photographs and words are beautiful! thank you for inspiring the chef in me. =)
Comment by erika — On October, 16th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
You are on the right track with your Lulu. I do the same for both my babies. Don’t assume that because she turns her head away today she will not like it tomorrow. I used to eat the rejected food myself and bring it back at a later date. My now 4 year old will eat anything. When we go out to eat – it’s to places that don’t have kid menus. He eats what we eat. I don’t believe in preparing separate food for children. I love your pictures. They tell a story. Who knew baby mush could look so gourmet:-)
Comment by Wizzythestick — On October, 16th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
so healthy, so yummy!
Comment by YOYO love cooking — On October, 16th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
You’re magic Béa! Avec toi tout devient beau, serein, gourmand, Lulu ne résistera pas à ce charme
Comment by Dada — On October, 17th, 2009 at 3:43 am
my ten month old son refuses to be spoon fed anything but yogurt anymore, but while he did i also enjoyed creating exciting puree concoctions. so now i am constantly trying to come up with nutritious finger foods and he is quite an adventurous eater – today for instance he munched happily on strips of grilled eggplant . . .
Comment by jean — On October, 17th, 2009 at 4:54 am
aww lulu is so lucky!
beautiful, beautiful pictures – i love the one with lulu’s feet – it is soo cute!
Comment by Nirvana — On October, 17th, 2009 at 8:17 am
Merci Béa pour ce post! Je suis aussi une nouvelle maman d’un petit trésor de 6 mois. Pour le moment, je lui fais des purées toutes simples, mais il me tarde d’être plus créative et d’introduire des saveurs. Tes recettes sont inspirantes. Encore merci pour ces idées!
Une copine (maman de 2 filles) m’avait offert un Magic Bullet pour mon anniversaire. Je ne savais pas trop quoi faire de cet appareil, mais depuis quelques semaines, je m’en sers tous les jours pour le bébé. C’est merveilleux pour les purées!
Comment by nathalie — On October, 17th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Lulu will be a little gourmet as she grows up
How wonderful that you pass on yor love for food.
Comment by Sini — On October, 17th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
What a wonderful blog!!! And I am so happy to find something about baby food!!!
In fact, my little son has passed 6 months old and I started introducing solids to him. Well, it has never yet happened to overcome all the portion but I can see what he likes and what’s not that yummy… I apply the same criteria – I taste and decide if it’s ok. But wanted to stop on broccoli – it’s very very nutritious and healthy but sole broccoli tastes awfully… I mixed it with pumpkin but my baby boy refused… What is your experience with broccoli?
By the way, at the moment we enjoy pumpkin-spinach puree.
Comment by Anouchka — On October, 17th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
What beautiful pictures! Can you please post the recipe for the vanilla courtland applesauce? I would love to make that for my grown-up self!
Comment by Leslie — On October, 18th, 2009 at 10:07 am
Dear Bea, would you be so kind and leave the recipe for the vanilla-flavored Cortland apple sauce her on the blog? It looks very tasty and I’m sure it tastes as well. Thanks!
Comment by susanne — On October, 18th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Dear Bea, thank you so much for these recipes! I love your blog and was delighted to read, about a year ago, that you were pregnant – I was too. My son is just a few weeks older than lovely little Lulu, and I am sooo happy to find your baby recipes here! Every two weeks I make a variety of baby foods for him (fish, veal, chicken, lamb with all kinds of vegetables and a tiny little bit of herbs) and freeze them, but I am always trying to find better combinations (I am sure I can´t find japanese white potato here though). The apple sauce looks great too, lucky Lulu! Thanks Bea
Comment by Miranda — On October, 19th, 2009 at 11:12 am
Bea, I love your comments in regards to baby foods. I have never understood the stigma of baby food tasting bad. If we wont eat it, why should we feed it to our children? You should put together a recipe book for children’s foods. Thank you for your wonderful blog.
Comment by Heather — On October, 19th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Yes, I made all the food for my first child. It was wonderful hearing (and seeing when I looked down) him smacking his teensy lips over a bowl of fresh apple and pear compote!
Comment by Madeleine — On October, 19th, 2009 at 1:45 pm
That post was one of my favorites…the words and pictures warmed me from the inside out. Sometimes I lose sight of why I cook – “it’s just food afterall”, I’ll think – but then, someone or something comes along and reminds me. Today, that was you. Thank you.
Comment by Michelle — On October, 19th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
You have a beautiful talent for writing … and for evoking such tender emotions. I too felt it so important to make my children’s food from scratch (and as organic as possible) with tons of fresh vegetables, meats, fish, fruits, etc. What I did not do though is add herbs so early on and reading through your post I regret it dearly. Not that they don’t eat almost anything I put in front of them but they would have had an even more natural liking to herbs and spices if started even earlier.
Comment by Maria — On October, 19th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Very cute
Comment by Juliana — On October, 19th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
This is one seriously lucky baby!
Comment by The Leftoverist — On October, 20th, 2009 at 12:23 am
What a beautiful post! I discovered your blog and love the balance between health and beauty
Comment by Olga — On October, 20th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Beautiful pictures and you are one awesome mama!
Comment by Mixing Bowl Mama — On October, 20th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I don’t have children, but if I did, I would know where to turn to for baby food ideas! Your baby is very lucky to have you as a mother, and will surely grow up to appreciate it…
Comment by Helen @ World Foodie Guide — On October, 20th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
What a beautiful post. love is an amazing force. and feeding people we love is so nurturing.
Comment by valentina — On October, 20th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Hello everyone! So sweet! Thanks so much for the kind words. It’s true that having a baby really changes things, and help focus in a much better way. So much love and joy!
Now as to the applesauce, it’s really simple. I steam peeled, cored and diced Cortland apples with a vanilla bean split ope and seeds scraped out. Then, once soft, I puree the apples and voilà !
And, a baby food cookbook idea. Well, I thought about it. I know I would love to do something like this. I find this extremely inspiring!
Comment by Béa — On October, 20th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Lulu is a very lucky baby …
Comment by tu anh — On October, 20th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I like so much the way you introduce the world to your little daughter, the way you show her your favourite foods, discover for her new tastes!
Comment by a_krol (rabbit's cookbook) — On October, 21st, 2009 at 1:35 am
Miam! I will be cooking these recipes up for the baby in short order!
Comment by Lucy — On October, 21st, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Very luck baby! My DH prepared all our baby’s food, she never experienced Gerber’s!
Comment by etirv — On October, 21st, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I can only say Lulu is a lucky baby!!!!!!!!!! What a great mom you are!
Comment by Mrs Ergül — On October, 21st, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I absolutely love your site, and your photography is so. incredibly. inspiring!
bon weekend,
xx
Comment by kimberly taylor — On October, 23rd, 2009 at 8:11 am
Many thanks again for stopping by and your comments!
Merci à tous de vos commentaires !
Comment by Béa — On October, 23rd, 2009 at 9:06 am
Thank you for posting on homemade baby food! I am due with my 1st child in 3 weeks and although she won’t be “eating” for quite a few months it is always helpful to have recipes and inspiration on hand. When I visited some friends near Aix this summer, she made all her own baby food too. I was raised on it as well and would love to do this for my daughter. Please post more ideas!
Merci
Comment by Kelli — On October, 23rd, 2009 at 2:06 pm
You will certainly reap the rewards of exposing her to lots of different tastes and cuisines. Tres bien fait…
Comment by Lorraine — On October, 25th, 2009 at 3:29 am
Hi Bea…A question: No salt, not even a pinch in your baby recipes?
Comment by anushruti — On October, 27th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Anushruti,
I started without salt and after tasting the food, thought it didn’t need any. But then, for certain things, like when I cook quinoa or rice, I just make what we eat, and she gets a little of ours.
Comment by Béa — On October, 27th, 2009 at 6:59 am
Bea, great post on baby food! My curiousity drew me in to click on the Charlie Winston link you provided (I figured he must be really good if Bea likes him). He is so awesome! I can’t wait to get a CD. When my son was born I was really looking forward to giving him healthy and interesting things to eat; he would have no part of it! His food choices were so limited. He was very picky until he was in high school even though many things were put on his plate and offered to him. It’s very odd because we have always been adventerous eaters and home cooks (my husband is Indonesian). He now eats everything and is an aspiring French chef living in Amsterdam. Thank you again for your wonderful posts and a colleague of mine was also amazed with Charlie!
Comment by Eleanor van Overdijk — On October, 27th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
[...] probably recall that I recently wrote about making nutritious healthy baby food. What I didn’t tell you then, I realize, is about the utensil I actually use to prepare meals [...]
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