The new baby in your family shouldn’t have to miss out on all the great food at Thanksgiving! Give some of these homemade Thanksgiving baby food recipes a whirl (in your food mill) so baby can see what all the fuss is about!
The following recipes are for babies who are eating solid foods, but are not yet ready for finger foods. As with introducing any foods, check with your pediatrician before giving any of these foods homemade baby foods to your baby. Also, remember that babies don’t need the added salt, sugar, creams, and fats we often put in our Thanksgiving feast, so pull your babies portions out before the final salting and seasonings.
Also, I recommend using a food mill to make your baby’s food. Unlike a food processor or blender, a food mill automatically separates any skins or strings from food. Food mills are also easy to use, transport, clean, and store. I use the green sprouts Baby Food Mill, Green ($12.29 Amazon)which is inexpensive and works great. If you want a more high tech version the Baby Brezza One Step Baby Food Maker ($99 Amazon) is pretty awesome.
Finally, Baby’s First Thanksgiving Recipes:
Baby’s First Turkey Dinner
Pediatricians are recommending babies as young as 6 months have pureed meats to boost their iron intake, so take a portion of iron-rich thigh meat and run it through a food mill with a few chunks of sweet potato or white potato. Thin with applesauce, breast milk, formula, or water until the mixture is thin enough for baby to eat.
Sweet Potato and Corn “Cassserole”
Process equal amounts of sweet potato and corn kernels through a food mill. Hold the marshmallows please! Thin with applesauce, breast milk, formula, or water until the vitamin-A rich mixture is thin enough for baby to eat.
Duo of Potatoes
Put equal amounts of sweet potatoes and white potatoes through a food mill. Thin with water, breast milk, or formula.
Apple ‘N’ Onion Stuffin’
Process cooked apples (or use applesauce) and cooked onions in a food mill. Blend with prepared rice cereal or single grain bread soaked in breast milk or formula and passed through a food mill. Season with a dash of sage or thyme.
Green Bean Casserole
Grind a portion of cooked green beans and cooked onions in a food mill and mix with prepared brown rice cereal or another grain cereal that your baby enjoys. Thin with water, breast milk, or formula.
Baby’s Pumpkin Pie
Reserve a couple of tablespoons of unsweetened pumpkin puree from your pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread recipe. Mix with a little prepared oatmeal and a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice.