Every parent wants to give their baby the best, especially when it comes to their dietary needs. Providing them with wholesome, nutritious meals is now easier than ever with many food stores stocked with healthy and organic baby food ranges.
While this is certainly a convenient option, a growing number of parents are also choosing to make their own baby food, ensuring their child has the nutrients it needs and allowing them to cater to the unique tastes and requirements of their child.
This can be an enjoyable and relatively simple process but one that requires parents to practice food safety and proper hygiene to ensure their baby’s health and well-being. If you are looking to try your hand at preparing meals for your baby, this article will outline some tips to ensure it is safe for your little one.
Wash Properly
Babies’ immune systems are still developing making them more susceptible to bugs and bacteria. To avoid any potential contamination make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with warm, soapy ward before beginning your preparations, using a clean dish cloth or hand towel to dry your hands. Additionally, make sure all utensils, cooking equipment and countertops have been thoroughly cleaned to avoid contamination.
Separate Raw and Cooked Food
Bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli can grow on raw meat and eggs. If they come into contact with cooked food they can cause foodborne illnesses. To prevent any cross–contamination make sure to use separate chopping boards and utensils for raw foods and cooked foods.
In addition, ensure that raw foods are kept sealed and separate from cooked foods in the refrigerator to prevent any drips or spillage. If you plan to use meat in your baby food, ensure it has been cooked to the recommended temperature to kill any harmful bacteria which may be present.
Use Fresh Ingredients
Your baby deserves the best so make sure to feed them high quality, fresh ingredients. Not only does this ensure their meals are packed with nutritional value but also ensures their safety. While supermarket-bought baby food has undergone inspection using equipment like this TDI Packsys machine for canned food detection, it’s still important to inspect your own ingredients for any mold, smells, spoilage or discoloration and make sure to discard any ingredient that seems questionable.
Fruits and vegetables should be ripe and in good condition, free from blemishes or bruises and meats, dairy products and poultry should be stored in the refrigerator at the correct temperature. It is also advisable to check the expiry date of any ingredients before adding them to your baby’s meals, ensuring it is well within its safe consumption period.
Final Tips
Having prepared your ingredients and safely cooked your baby food, remember to follow these tips to ensure your baby’s health and safety:
- Puree food properly, ensuring there are no bones, seeds, vegetable peels or other items that they could choke on.
- Allow hot meals to cool down to a safe temperature for your baby to consume.
- Unlike adults, babies do not need extra salt or sugar so stick to pure, unseasoned foods to ensure their meals remain healthy.
By putting these tips into practice, you can feel confident you are serving your baby safe, nourishing and nutritious meals.
