Sweet potatoes are not only delicious, but they're also packed with nutrients that are essential for a baby's growth and development. Making sweet potato baby food at home is easy, healthy, and economical.
Why sweet potatoes?
Sweet potatoes are a nutrient powerhouse. They're an excellent source of beta-carotene, vitamin C, fiber, potassium, manganese and many more vitamins. Beta-carotene helps your baby develop strong vision while vitamin C boosts their immune system.
When Can Babies Start Eating Sweet Potatoes?
Babies can start eating solid foods between four to six months old as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). However,every child is different, so always check with your pediatrician first.
How to select fresh sweet potatoes
When selecting fresh sweet potatoes look for firm ones without any signs of sprouts or cracks on the surface. The color doesn't matter too much,but try going for lighter-skinned varieties since dark spots could indicate decay within the flesh.
Organic vs conventional
While organic produce has gained popularity in recent years due to its perceived health benefits,it's important to note that it might cost more than conventional products which don't necessarily make them healthier.In fact,Yale researchers have found no evidence indicating that organic products offer superior nutrition or safety.Here’s what you can do-If buying organic makes sense on account of other factors such as supporting farmers who use sustainable growing practices then go ahead.Otherwise,it’s perfectly okay to purchase regular sweet potatoes from your local grocery store!You know why? Because this article is about making your own nutritious homemade puree using whatever potato variety available!!
Preparing the Sweet Potatoes
Before cooking,sweet potatoes should be washed and peeled properly.Click herefor some simple hacks on the peeling process!Once you've peeled them,cut the sweet potatoes into small chunks which will ensure faster cooking.
Cooking Sweet Potatoes
When it comes to cooking, there are several methods to choose from. However, not all methods are created equal in terms of nutrition retention. Nutritionally speaking,the best method is Steaming or baking as these help retain and sometimes even enhance the nutrient profile of vegetables!
Baking Method
Baking sweet potatoes is a great way to preserve their natural flavors and nutrients.Below are the steps involved:
1 Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190°C).
2 Cut your peeled sweet potato into thin slices or small cubes.
3 Place a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie tray then arrange your cubed/sliced slices in one layer.This promotes quick,even roasting without sticking together!
4 Using extra-virgin olive oil,spray lightly over top of each piece.Make sure they’re coated evenly throughout since this introduces some healthy fat content for optimal absorption.What’s more? EVOO tastes amazing!
5 Into the oven this goes for about 30-40 minutes,removing halfway through or using tongs turn side down so that you get an evenly browned crust.Crunchy outside ,softie inside ..whoop whoop!!
Note:The baking temperature vary depending on size so check occasionally during cook-time.Fork-tender=perfectly cooked !
Steam method
Steaming involves heating water below boiling point,this makes steam rise up hitting food placed above.Instantpot lovers-this could be right up alley ! For easy steamed veg:
1 Peel,cube/slice sweet potatoe(s) accordingly(like removing skin off boiled egg…easy-peasy!!)
2 Next place them gentlyinto boiling salted water taking care not to burn yourself..safety first!(of course,you can use instantpots too)
3 Reduce the heat once all pieces are in and ensure you have a tight-fitting lid that lets no steam escape.Cooking should take about 10-15 minutes till Sweet potato is fork tender but don't let it go mushy!
4 Finally,drain off any excess water from pot or use tongs to pull out pieces.Next step would be blending them in a food processor/blender until smooth.You can also add some breast milk/formula if needed. Your homemade sweet potato baby puree is ready!!
Steaming vs Baking
Sweet potatoes cooked by baking tend to have stronger,firmer texture whereas steaming produces velvety, smoother ,mashed-y consistency! Now this depends on personal preference of course.Which one will your little one love most?
Storing and Serving Homemade Sweet Potato Baby Food
One great thing about making your baby's food at home is that you know exactly what goes into it. No artificial preservatives, additives or sugar,little sodium just natural whole Foods.However,it does mean having to store them efficiently for later consumption.To do so :
After cooling,you can safely refrigerate these batches in reusable air-tight jars/or freezer-safe containers.
Stored fresh mash expects to last up till days,to keep it fresher longer try using silicone trays labelled with date frozen/made as they hold small servings while minimizing freezer burn .
Thawed mash should be consumed within 24 hours unless sealed back within an air-tight container.Do not microwave reheat.Mum pro-tip:using cold stuff such as formula,puree etc especially when outdoors,sometimes act as instant pain-relievers Soothing tissues.funny how nature has us figured ; cold + soothe=pain relief…teehee!
When serving,place the desired amount of sweet potato baby food in a bowl and warm it gently over boiling water but be careful not to overcook as this degrades some nutrients. Also avoid reheating baby foods more than once.Trust me on this one!
Final Thoughts
Making your own sweet potato baby food is easy, healthy, economical and satisfying!It lets you experiment with different methods while keeping a check on the quality.Imagine turning simple wholesome potatoes into something delicious that can help improve vision,support strong immunity ,and nutritionally motivate growth .The wonders of mother nature never cease.Get cooking folks…your little gourmet deserves only the tastiest….Bon appetit mums !!