When your little one is ready to start on solid foods, a whole new world opens up for them (and you). Sweet potatoes are a perfect first food for your baby to try. They're inexpensive, easy to cook, and mash up well. They're on the sweeter side, so most babies take a liking to sweet potatoes more than some other veggies. More importantly, sweet potatoes are filled with Vitamin C, potassium, beta-carotene, and fiber your baby needs as they grow and develop.
If you're making your own homemade baby food, there's no reason to stick to plain sweet potato puree only. Combine sweet potato baby food with a range of other foods for additional benefits to your child's diet and a wider range of taste options. We have nine ways to bring plain sweet potato baby food to life with flavors your baby will love.
If you're not a fan of premade baby food, it is easy to make your own sweet potato baby food. This way, you know exactly what's going into your little one's tummy. Use as many or as few sweet potatoes as you want, but be careful not to go overboard.
Making sweet potato baby food is that simple. Now let's check out plenty of ways to keep your tot loving sweet potatoes and maybe find a combination or two that you like, too.
Mix in any of these fruits and vegetables to make sure your baby's sweet potatoes go in their mouth and they don't feed it to the family pooch. Once you get the hang of it, go crazy and do three ingredient combinations and see how things taste.
For an even greater hit of that beta-carotene, add chopped carrots to the boiling water as you cook your sweet potatoes. Puree it all together for a delicious mixture that's even healthier than plain sweet potatoes.
You want to limit the amount of natural sugar your child is consuming, but if you find they're not taking to the sweet potatoes on their own, add a banana to make the mixture more tempting.
Just like with the banana, if you want your sweet potato mixture to be just a touch sweeter, add in mango. The great thing about mango is you don't need to cook it beforehand because of its naturally softer texture. Just peel and dice before adding it to your cooked sweet potato before you blend.
For a flavorful mash that you'll like yourself, add a peeled and chopped apple to your boiling water as you cook your sweet potatoes. No apples on hand? Swap the chopped apples for applesauce. Take the flavor up a notch and add a pinch of cinnamon. We wouldn't be surprised if you gave this one a try and your child loves it! Serve it warm for a delicious autumn treat.
Similar to the apple, just peel and chop the pear and then add it to the boiling water during the cooking process. This one would also be great with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled in.
Does your baby need a little more protein in their diet? If you've already introduced them to boiled chicken, add some of it to the sweet potato puree for a savory option. Just make sure the chicken is fully cooked and blended properly.
Another tasty way to go is to add cooked beans to the sweet potato before pureeing. You can use a variety of beans for this, including black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans.
If you're struggling to get some greens into your kiddo's diet, hide them in the sweet potatoes. During the last five minutes of boiling, toss in the spinach with your sweet potatoes, and then puree it all until smooth.
Want to get more vitamins A, B1, B6, C, and K in your little one? Mix peas with the sweet potato puree. Either cook fresh peas with the potatoes or use precooked peas and add them to the blender when you puree.
Making your own sweet potato baby food is relatively simple, and it only has two ingredients: sweet potatoes and water. Homemade baby food lacks preservatives, which is one of the benefits of pureeing your own. Unlike store-bought baby food, homemade sweet potato baby food doesn't have a long shelf life.
How long can you store extras of this food in the fridge? Homemade sweet potato baby food or any puree for your little one should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Only keep your baby's homemade puree in the refrigerator for 48 hours. It's also a good idea to reheat the sweet potato baby food before serving it, making sure to check the temperature before feeding it to baby. A tip for making your own baby food is to avoid making too much. Err on the side of caution and toss any homemade sweet potato puree that's been in the fridge past the two-day mark.
You can freeze homemade baby food, but make sure to date and label it before placing it in the freezer. Frozen baby food can stay in the freezer for three months. Once defrosted, you should heat it and feed it to your little one right away.
Like with your own meals, make it fun. Once your little one is six months old, safely play with various spices and seasonings. Experiment with turmeric, nutmeg, thyme, dill, and mild curry. Start with small amounts and see how that tiny tummy handles the spices before adding more.
Raising children who love to explore with their taste buds starts as soon as you begin feeding your infant solid food. Sweet potatoes are an excellent way to introduce them to a variety of new and exciting food combinations. With our nine ways to jazz up plain sweet potatoes, you'll be sure to find at least a few ways your little nugget (and you) will enjoy them.
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