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When I heard that some people make their own baby food, I thought, "great idea, but not practical for someone who has little time to spare." Still, I gave it a try and am now a complete convert. It is simple to prepare and less expensive than the store-bought version of fresh baby foods, but the best part is the peace of mind it gives me to know exactly what my baby is eating.

There are lots of books about making your own baby food, but I used "So Easy Baby Food" by Ahlers & Tallman. I think is it best done in bulk (fewer blender cleanings!). You can make food for a few weeks in one sitting, and be able to offer your baby lots of variety. Once it is made, you just freeze it (there are special containers for freezing homemade baby food, but I just used ice cube or flexible muffin trays), then store the cubes in labeled freezer bags.

When you want some food, just get out a cube or two at the prior meal, and it will be thawed in time. Two caveats - First, I think this really only works for fruits and vegetable, not meats. Second, there are certain veggies (carrots, spinach, beets, collard greens and turnips) that may contain nitrates so some doctors recommend you use the store-bought versions of those varieties because manufacturers test for nitrates. Good luck!