Feeling guilty about all those little baby food jars racking up your grocery bill and gathering in your recycling bin? Cooking for your baby at home is both cost-efficient and a great way to make sure your tot gets all of the nutrition they need while instilling in them an early love for homemade food. Whether you’re taking the first steps in feeding your little one solids or your toddler is craving news tastes, try one of these inspired new cookbooks for fresh ideas. And then check out the websites at the end of this post for additional recipes and cooking tips!
201 Organic Baby Purees by Tamika L. Gardner. If you’re interested in starting your baby’s life with organic fruits and veggies, check out this exhaustive volume. It covers every puree combo imaginable and provides the nutritional benefits of each. ($11.53; amazon.com)
The Baby and Toddler Cookbook by Karen Ansel and Charity Ferriera. This handy cookbook grows with your child. Along with recipes, it offers tips on the best times to introduce new foods, organized by your child’s age. ($14.10; amazon.com)
The Baby-Led Weaning Cookbook by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett. This book takes a different approach to your baby’s diet: let your little one take charge. The idea is to allow your baby to explore the food on his plate on his own, without being spoon-fed. If that sounds like a method that interests you, check out the 130 recipes and extensive advice in this book. Plus, many of the recipes are suitable for the whole family so you don’t have to make a separate meal for everyone at the table. ($10.85; amazon.com)
Superfoods: For Babies and Children by Annabel Karmel. You’ve heard the buzzword “superfood” applied to grown-up foods, but babies and kids can also reap the benefits of nutrient-packed meals. This book includes recipes for children as old as five along with handy menu charts that help busy parents plan ahead. It also shares tips on avoiding food allergies and other food-linked problems like constipation and colic. ($14.98; amazon.com)
The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet by Karin Knight. This popular volume shares everything you need to know about making and storing baby food at home and is perfect for busy parents. It includes a nutritional analysis with each recipe, as well as cooking options for stovetop or microwave, depending on how much time you have. A handy snowflake icon indicates recipes that are perfect for freezing. ($11.99; amazon.com)
Sage Spoonfuls: Simple Recipes, Healthy Meals, Healthy Babies by Liza Huber. Written by one of New York Family Baby’s regular contributors, this book features simple and nutritious recipes for babies and toddlers, as well as meals the whole family can enjoy together. You’ll also find up-to-date information on allergies, shopping for organic food, and infant CPR. ($24.95; sagespoonfuls.com)
Great Baby Food Recipe Websites
Wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com. Find a wealth of information on every stage of your baby’s dietary life, plus lots of healthy recipes.
Weelicious.com. Check out video recipes and meal ideas–ranging from baby purees to one-pot family dinners–on this colorful website.
Nurturebaby.com. Discover new recipes, nutrition facts, and the best baby food cooking tools here.
Homemade-baby-food-recipes.com. Got a surplus of zucchini on hand? The recipes on this handy website are organized by ingredient, so you can find one to match whatever is in your fridge.
“Yummy Delicious” on www.newyorkfamily.com. New York Family’s own food blog, written by local chefs and foodies, is stocked with recipes for the whole family–including babies and toddlers.
