Mid-Summer Baby Food Recipes

August 07, 2024

One of the most exciting things about being mid-way through summertime is enjoying all of the fresh, organic produce that is abundantly available this time of year! This is the perfect time of year to stroll your local farmer’s market with your little one in tow. Not only is this a great outing opportunity for your family, but it allows you to shop for in season and locally grown fruits and veggies that can be used to nourish your growing baby! Here are a few produce items in specific that you can search for and then use to make some easy at-home baby food recipes. We will also share a yummy recipe especially for parents to enjoy as well!

 

Choosing In Season Produce

First up, let’s pinpoint the produce items that tend to be tastiest in the summertime. While your local produce may vary depending on where you live, typically the following organic fruits and vegetables are best enjoyed this time of year:

Fruits

• Berries
• Watermelon
• Stone Fruits (peaches, plums, nectarines)
• Melons

Vegetables

• Cucumbers
• Peppers
• Tomatoes 
• Zucchini
• Peas

Supporting Local Farms & Harvesters

While you can likely find many of these produce items in your favorite grocery store, there is something special about purchasing these types of food items from local growers in your area when possible. The reason being is that this ensures you are getting these foods fresh from the garden or fields they were grown in! Many items sold at local farmer’s markets are harvested just a day or two before the sale, and sometimes they may have been picked earlier that very morning. This means they likely had the most favorable growing conditions and spent less time traveling on a truck or being shipped after picking, which leads to peak nutrient values for the consumer upon eating them. Another great reason to support locally grown produce is that there is less impact on the environment when growers don’t have to worry about shipping their produce items far away. Factors such as less travel time for their items means less impact on the air quality during transportation, as well as less of a need for extra packaging. Lastly, supporting the growers near you helps to give your local economy a healthy boost! 

 

Using Your Produce to Feed Your Family

Here are a few recipes you can follow to get those freshly harvested fruits and veggies into your little one’s belly! We also included a special recipe especially for Moms & Dads to enjoy. Keep in mind that before you use any of your produce for the following recipes, we recommend washing them well. You will also want to have on hand a peeler, knife and food processor or blender.

Cucumber Melon Baby Food

This recipe will produce a bright green hue and it is packed full of hydrating nutrients, as well as being rich in Vitamin C & Vitamin K! 

To make, gather:

• 1 cup melon, peeled and cubed with seeds removed
• 1 cup cucumber, peeled and cubed with seeds removed
• Mint or Basil leaves to taste if desired

To Blend:
Wash, peel and remove seeds from the cucumber and melon. Chop them up and measure them out to one cup of each. Then add them to a food processor and pulse until desired texture and consistency is attained.

Berry Pear Baby Food

For this recipe, feel free to use any berries you can find. We especially love this recipe though with blueberries! It makes for a beautiful, purple color once prepared and the flavor of the blueberries balances out well with the pears.

To make, gather:

• 1 cup of berries, washed and dried
• 1 cup of pear, washed, peeled and cubed
• 1/2 cup organic coconut water

To Blend:
Combine all ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth!

Toddler Tomato, Pea & Carrot Soup

This recipe is perfect for toddlers who are accustomed to eating foods that require chewing.

To make, gather:

• 2 cups tomatoes, washed and diced
• 2 cups of peas, washed
• 2 cups of carrots, washed, peeled, boiled and diced (To boil, simply wash, peel and dice carrots. Boil pot of water until bubbling and then add the carrots and allow them to boil for 4-5 minutes or until soft)

To Prepare:

• Blend tomatoes in food processor until smooth
• Add in peas and carrots 
• Serve with organic bread slice or crackers if you choose

Peach Milkshake

This recipe is a fun spin on typical baby food recipes. It is best served on a hot day as it is best enjoyed when chilled.

To make, gather:

• 1 cup organic prepared formula, chilled in the refrigerator. Toddler formula, such as HiPP Combiotic 1 Year & Up or stage specific Holle Organic Infant Formula in U.S. | Most Recommended Baby Formula - Organicbabyfood.shop are all great options
• 1 cup of peaches washed, peeled and cubed

To blend:

• Combine ingredients in a food processor. For older toddlers, you can leave it a little chunkier and you could add in a spoonful of whole, organic yogurt for extra taste and texture. For younger babies not yet used to thicker textures, puree until fully smooth.

 

Infused Water for Parents

Using fresh produce to add into your drinking water is a great way to enjoy the benefits of nutrient rich hydration! Simply pour yourself a pitcher of fresh water and choose a couple fruits or veggies to infuse into it. Feel free to experiment based on your taste preferences and even add in sprigs of mint or basil to taste. Here are a few combination ideas to infuse into your water:

• Cucumber and basil
• Berries and melon
• Watermelon and mint

To, make:

• Pour one pitcher of water (up to a gallon)
• Gather 2 cups of fruits &/veggies of your choice, washed & chopped
• Place the fruits and veggies into your water pitcher and allow the mixture to sit for a few hours or overnight. 
• Pour yourself a glass and enjoy some naturally flavored water

Tips & Tricks

• Prepared purees can be frozen for up to three months while fresh purees can be stored in the fridge for 24 hours. Once they have been thawed however, be sure to use them within the next day and do not refreeze purees once they have been thawed.
• Do not store purees that your baby has already started eating. If they do not finish their whole serving during feeding time, it is recommended to discard it. 
• To thaw stored purees, heat a bowl of water and place the packaged puree into the bowl until thawed. Do not heat the puree directly in the microwave as that can zap nutrients as well as cause dangerous hot spots. 
• Always consult with your baby's care provider when introducing new foods. 

Read More

Interested in more baby food recipe ideas?! Check out these posts below:
The Importance of Sugar Free Baby Food & Formula
Quick & Easy Baby Food Recipes
Food Allergy Prevention - Organicbabyfood.shop
A2 Formula: Why it is chosen as the best pick for babies

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