Stage One and Single Ingredient Homemade Baby Food Recipes

Single ingredients are great for babies who are just starting solid foods. While single foods may not seem exciting and adventurous right now, this doesn't mean that your baby will be eating bland and boring foods forever. While you may think that a meal of pureed carrots isn’t exciting, your baby’s clean palate and taste buds will be delighted with the new taste of carrots and with every new taste and texture that comes on a spoon or is plopped on a tray. I have always thought that it’s important to have kids become accustomed to individual food flavors so that they will learn to love each food as it is, in all its delicious and healthy glory.

Once your baby has had a few single-ingredient meals, then you can start to add herbs and spices and combine and mix those foods together to create new flavors and textures. This initial “stage one” experience will be far from bland and boring, you’ll see!

Many of these recipes are ideal for first foods and are wonderful to offer as your baby becomes a more experienced eater.  Nom Nom!

Stage One Baby - Fruits

Slow Cooker Cherries – Hooray

My kids were never big fans of cherries. They were, however, big fans of smooshing and swirling and finger painting with cherry sauce. Now that they’re older, they love cherries and especially spitting out the pits, which we try to […]

Easy Slow Cooker Apricots for Baby

Easy Slow Cooker Apricots for Baby If you’ve never cooked apricots into a jam or a sauce, you will be surprised at how sticky these little fruits are as they simmer.  This stickiness also carries over to when you try […]

Slow Cooker Apples and Applesauce – Not Just For Baby Food

Slow Cooker Apples and Applesauce Using a slow cooker to create a wide variety of apple dishes is a big tradition in my house, especially during the fall.  The smell of apples and spices cooking fills the house with deliciousness and makes […]

Blueberries for Baby Food Stage 1 and 6 Months of Age

The Super Food Blueberry – A great Stage One Baby Food Blueberries are often referred to as a “Super Food” because they have a whole host of amazing nutrients contained within a tiny package.  Blueberries are high in antioxidants and are […]

Stage One Baby - Veggies

Whole Butternut Squash Slow Cooker Baby Food

Butternut & Acorn Squash in the Slow Cooker – The Whole Darn Thing

Can You Cook A Whole Butternut or Acorn Squash in the Slow Cooker? Okay, you are going to read this recipe and think one of two things: Either this lady is totally insane, or this lady is the most clever person […]

Butternut & Acorn Squash in the Slow Cooker – Diced

Butternut and acorn squash were much loved by all three of my boys. Whenever I cook it, I think of my grandma, who always had butternut or acorn squash at the Sunday dinner table, no matter what the season was. Food is […]

Pumpkin – A Slow Cooker Recipe – Baby Food & Beyond

I have to admit, pumpkin is one of my very favorites of all foods to make into baby food!  It’s relatively easy to do and the puree you end up with can be utilized for many, many types of dishes […]

Savory Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe for Babies

The hustle and bustle of the holidays is about to begin! I just love the spirit of the holidays and especially the cooking!  When it comes to holiday menu planning, there really is no reason to plan a separate holiday […]

Stage One (a): Four to Six Months Beginners

Grains: rice, oatmeal

Fruits: apples, avocados, peaches, pears, bananas, plums

Vegetables: butternut (winter) squash, sweet potatoes, pumpkin

Dairy: None

Stage One (b): Six to Eight Months

Grains and Seeds: rice, oatmeal, barley, kamut, flax, quinoa

Fruits: apples, avocados, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums

Vegetables: butternut or any winter squash, carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, peas, legumes (such as lentils, kidney beans, butter beans, etc.), parsnips, pumpkin, white potatoes, zucchini and summer squash

Dairy: yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese (no soft cheeses such as Brie until after twelve months)

Meats & Proteins: egg yolk, chicken, beef, pork, salmon, cod, tofu

Herbs & Spices: cinnamon, vanilla, basil, rosemary, oregano, thyme, mint