Top 100 Baby Purees

by Annabel Karmel

Making your own baby food is not only more economical than buying commercial brands - you can be sure that your baby has only the best-quality ingredients. This essential collection of Annabel's best ever purees features 100 quick and easy recipes that will make for a healthy and happy baby. From sweet and smooth apple, apricot, pear and vanilla, through savoury purees such as sweet potato with spinach and peas, to the autumnal delights of peach, pear and blueberry, all the recipes are suitable for babies aged 6 months and above, and are so tasty you will want to eat them yourself!

Genres: Cookbooks, Parenting, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Nutrition, Reference

Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Karawan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book shortly before I started my son on solid foods (6 months old). I liked the idea of making his food myself, seeing all the individual ingredients with my own eyes, instead of buying Gerber jars. (Lest anyone think I'm one of those holier-than-thou moms, I totally get pressed for time and give him jarred baby food. But I like to cook for him whenever I can. Consider my mothering a work in progress, like everyone else's!)

At the end of the day, I think I might like the idea of this book better than the book itself. I enjoyed getting some ideas about what foods to offer first and how to prepare them. I appreciate that she included some facts about nutrition and suggestions about foods that go well together. The illustrations were nice. But once we got started on solids I didn't depend on this book too much. I just followed my own intuition about what to give Gavin, or mashed up whatever my husband and I were eating. Luckily he isn't a picky eater at all, and your experience may be different, but I didn't need this book in the end. Although having it made me feel better in those anxiety-filled days BEFORE we started the solids. I might have done better to look for it in the library than to pay for my own copy.

One important thing... this author is British, and it seems that American pediatricians might have some different opinions. She does use some things like butter and berries earlier than the recommendations I have heard. I don't happen to think this is a big deal. My son had dairy, eggs, and some berries by 9 months with no problems. But if your child has food allergies/sensitivities, or you have a family history to suggest that your child is susceptible to them, this might not be the book for you.

[Tatum Damman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting recipes and laid out in an easy to follow way. Chapters are based on when to introduce what foods at what months. I really enjoy the mix of puree’s lots of new and different mixings I wouldn’t have thought of.

[Nick Ingram · Rating 1 out of 5]

This throwback to 1950's culture is a waste of time. My wife spent valuable time making purees for our son to eat but he just simply didn't enjoy eating by having spoons thrust into his mouth. It was distressing at best. One day, after many days of exasperating tear-filled meals, we put the puree to one side and cut up bits of what we were eating, laying them out in finger sizes on his high chair tray - bits of normal food that took no additional preparation time. It was a catalyst for change - little Arthur started happily picking up food and eating (sucking at first). He was happy so my wife was happy and I was happy. A few weeks into weaning and the boy began to reach for the spoon. Now he's 7 months old he picks up his beaker, eats pretty much anything we give him and enjoys a healthy variety in his diet.

I can imagine how it works for some people, but it didn't work for us. This Karmel woman must believe in it, but it's not for everyone.

[Kassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book because it gives me the opportunity to know exactly what's going into my baby's diet. Not only does it provide recipes which use grocery items that me and the husband already buy, but it also includes informative nutrition information about the phytonutrients in the food.

However, be warned that the cheese sauce calls for milk, which due to its high number of proteins can cause an allergic reaction in children under the age of 2. A way around this is to follow the recipe for cheese sauce except leave out the milk and flour - it blends just as well.

[OxoNewbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Top 100 Baby Purees.

PEDANTIC ALERT! I have gone through the book a few times and I can't count 100 purees. Even (generously) counting each recipe as one individual puree in the 'No-Cook Baby Food', 'Simple Vegetable Purees', 'Simple Fruit Purees', and 'Instant No-Cook Purees' sections, rather than regarding all recipes in those sections as one puree, I counted 92 purees. I didn't include the Basics section as technically, they are not purees.

This book is split into the following chapters: First-Stage Weaning (6 Months); After First Tastes (6-7 Months); Second-Stage Weaning (7-9 Months); and Growing Independence (9-12 Months).

First-Stage Weaning: Tried 6/11 recipes. Parsnips and butternut squash weren't in season at the time otherwise I would have tried those recipes. Simple and easy to do. I still regularly make the Apple and Pear with Cinnamon puree to go with my baby's yoghurt.

After First Tastes: Tried 4/35 recipes. Lots of ideas in this chapter. Some recipes I didn't try because swedes, leeks and pumpkins were not in season. A lot of the recipes featured banana and therefore not recommended for freezing so I avoided those as I don't have time to make purees which can't be produced in batches for later consumption. My baby loved Chicken with Sweet Potato and Apple. The recipes for Apple, Strawberry & Peach puree and Peach, Pear & Blueberry are fantastic by themselves or served with yoghurt (they are so easy too and makes me realised how much money I have wasted buy Muller Fruit Corners).

Second-Stage Weaning: Tried 3/26 recipes.
Growing Independence: Tried 4/20 recipes.
The recipes in these sections are more complex requiring more ingredients and making your own stock. I don't have time to make my own stock so I just used water. Good for introducing your baby to more sophisticated flavours.

If you are lacking in creativity and needing inspiration, I would recommend this book. I found it more useful in the early stages and some of the recipes in the later stages were too complex for me to want to attempt.

4 stars.

[Aubrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my newborn wasn’t gaining weight I obviously became so worried - what did I do wrong? Why is he not thriving? I was so confused and depressed - I became engulfed in making sure he would grow and thrive. I did my research and decided to purchase this book. At two months old my baby was so behind on weight his pediatrician wanted me to start him on solid food. I became obsessed with buying him the best ingredients I could find - sourcing food from local farmers and family. This book helped me through one of my darkest periods with confidence. Once my baby began eating and experimenting with food - recipes made straight from this book - he began to flourish! He had such a quick turn around and he’s tackling life with no fear! He now is almost 2 and is the 75 percentile of his age. He loves to eat and try new things! I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in making their baby food.

[Penguin Gunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Negaidiet neko daudz vairāk no grāmatas, kas saucas 100 receptes. Tai pat laikā tā patīkami pārsteidz ar nelielu ievadu par zīdaiņu uzturu un piebarošanas sākšanu kopumā, sniedz dažus padomus, idejas. Iesācējam iedvesmojoši.
Grāmatas sākumā atzīstot, ka ir vairums bērnu ar govs piena alerģiju vai intoleranci, varēja tomēr ieturēt līniju līdz galam un receptēs, kas paredz, piemēram, siera mērces, ieteikt alternatīvas.

[Marianna Sharktooth · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it is full of good ideas and tasty combinations, the doctor did not approve some of the additions e.g. butter, juices, etc. I like the philisophy -homemade food for the baby, let them have variety- but it is only suitable for some, not all.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very straightforward informational book with yummy recipes.

Most important takeaway, be sure to include iron rich foods after age 6 months.

I may purchase her app for lots of fun recipes.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

TOP 100 BABY PUREES by ANNABEL KARMEL (get book again at 7-9 months for recipes)

go slow at first, baby doesnt know how to use tongue.
choking? dont fish out this may further lodge food: lower head and slap on back.
ok to cook with cows milk
need to thicken? add baby rice cereal or mashed banana
vary fruits/veg/fibers always include fats
at 6 mo. baby's iron store is depleted. need iron foods (red meat, tofu, dried apricots (make sure they are not treated with sulfur dioxide (to preserve color, brown are better), lentils (hard to digest, not too concentrated or too early), prunes, dark green leafy veg.)
constipated? stop rice and mashed banana, up fluids and fiber
only water and milk from bottle. juice from cup to prevent tooth decay (from comfort sucking) dilute 5:1 water:juice
peeling peaches tomatoes and nectarines (plunge in boiling water for 30 sec, then cold water)

BAKING: 375 for an hour or tender, mash with milk/butter
BOILING: use minimal water and puree with it. dont overcook
STEAMING: best to preserve taste and nutrients
STEWING: cover in heavy bottomed saucepan with water.
FREEZE: for 6 weeks, dont refreeze
REHEAT: until piping hot to kill bacteria

START WITH:
apples/pears (cook with minimal water for 4-8 min till tender and puree. has pectin, helps stimulate bacteria in the gut to help bowels start processing solids efficinetly)
carrot (more nutritious when cooked and with a little fat (pat of UNSALTED butter) carrots are a good organic buy bc they absorb a lot of chemicals from the soil)
sweet potato,
banana (mash with milk, dont cook. good for both diarreah and constipation)
avocado (mix with milk, dont cook)
papaya (good vit. c and bowel function)
rice cereal (sugar free with iron)

broccoli/peas/spinach (if baby doesnt like, mix with something sweet: sweet potato, pumpkin, or butternut squash (bake with OJ)

THEN:
full fat yogurt and cheese
red meat
chicken (has B12 which is not in plants. with sweet potato and apple) (dark meat is more nutritious: 2x as much iron and zinc)
berry and citrus kiwi (may upset stomach)
fish and shellfish (with cheese sauce and veg) (orange juice and cheddar)
nut butters
eggs (fully cooked)

cheese sauce (1 tbs. unsalted butter, stir in 1 tbs. flour for 1 min., gradually add 1 c. milk,bring to boil and cook until thickened and smooth. stir in 1/3c grated cheddar)
carrot/leek/potato or chicken/leek/potato or peas/leek/potato
peas (frozen are fine. combine with carrot,potato or sweet potato)
spinach (remove stems combine with potato,sweet potato, butternut squash)
tomato (sautee with butter until musy and puree. combine with potato cauliflower, zucchini and grated cheese melted into tomato)
zucchini ( beta-carotene is in skin: cook and eat with skin)
pumpkin or butternut squash with chicken (with butter, leek, chicken stock (homemade only bc of sodium))
blueberries (saucepan with 1 tbs. water until they start to burst)
tomato cauliflower carrot with basil and cheddar

FINGER FOODS (7-9 MONTHS)
(also can make thicker chunkier purees now)
(when baby starts grabbing the spoon, let him hold another spoon. when he can get it into his mouth, give him food that will stick to spoon, like oatmeal)

peeled apple, pear, banana
seedless grapes
dried fruit: raisins or apricots
steamed or raw veggies
cubes of cheese
fingers of toast
mini sandwiches
rice cakes

baby muesli (mix 2 tbs rolled oats, 1 tbs. finely chopped dried apricots, 1.5 tsp. raisins 1 tbs. ground almonds with blender. pour in 1/4c. apple orange or pineapple juice and soak for 5 min. when softened, blend to make a finer texture, then stir in .5 small apple, peeled, cored, and grated.)

2 apple and .5 c mango with 2 tbs. apple juice or water (mango may help tummy trouble bc it is highly alkaline and can balance out acidity in stomach)

WAIT FOR:
1 year: honey (also at a year drinking from a cup is better for teeth)
5 year: whole nuts (choking hazard)
salt
sugar
unpasturized cheeses
gluten (6mo)

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

We got this book from my sister-in-law, and she said that she loved it. I'm very glad that we had it during my son's first year. First, I should say that it's been very helpful when we weren't sure what to put together for our little one. He's now 14 mos. and we have stuck to a diet of non-processed foods partly with the help of this book. However, we did find that many of the recipes seemed overly complicated, especially for the little babies. When we're in the puree stage and testing out foods, this was great as far as helping us to know what we could try and how long to steam things for, but more often than not we simply pureed a series of vegetables and froze them individually, mixing a couple together at meals.

Another issue I'm noticing now that my son is older is that the recipes for older babies/toddlers in this book are very redundant. Most incorporate pasta or veggies (onion, garlic, carrot, potato, tomato) with a cheese sauce. The cheese sauce and these veggies seemed like the base for nearly every recipe in the older child section, and I found that a little off-putting. Also, the variety of veggies that get tried is limited. Like I said, there is a definite focus on just a few veggies, but to be fair, they are certainly things that are easy to find in the grocery store.

I liked this book because it helped me know what to introduce at different times in my baby's development, as well as how. It gave cooking instructions and help with pureeing and freezing. The freezing notations in each recipe are especially helpful (this can/can't be frozen). It also provided inspiration as my son's tastes developed. I would recommend this book as a beginning, but with the caveat that homemade baby food and purees can be even more simple than this book makes them out to be.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who is interested in making their own baby food. I was a little skeptical about whether I would have time to make baby food from scratch; this book makes it very simple and easy and I am happy to say that my baby hasn't yet eaten anything out of a jar or package (I've been feeding her for about a month and a half). The recipes are great. My baby has liked everything so far and some of the concoctions smell so delicious (like chicken with sweet potato and apple) that my husband asks for a taste. I gave this book four stars instead of five because I think the how-to tips could be better and the portion size seems to always be wrong. I usually get at least three times the amount listed (I'd much rather have too much rather than too little, but it would be nice to know how much to expect).

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I plan to purchase this book. I could see myself making 97% of these recipes. Two of the recipes include lamb chops, and one includes chicken liver, neither of which I would eat myself out of preference, so I will not be preparing them for my child. Other than that, I really like this book. It includes tips on nutrition, facts about some of the ingredients, information about allergies...pretty much has it all. The recipes are simple, organized by age, and include different cooking methods (for example, not everyone has a steamer so there are boiling or microwave instructions). The recipes tell you how long they take, how many servings they make, what age they are for, and whether or not they are safe to freeze. Great source.

[Heather M L · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overall, the book is helpful and has some great recipes. There's some good info at the front. I think the book: The Best homemade baby food on the planet is a better book. It has more recipes, and more health information for baby, and for making food. This book has those things too, just less of them, and is not as well done. There are some really cool recipes like Baby Bolognese, and many short quick recipes as well. There's not an indicator on each recipe that indicates which ones can be frozen so you have to figure that out on your own which is easy once you know. If you're only going to start with one book then this would not be the one to start with, but it's a good supplementary book with additional recipes.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I perused this book quite a bit before my son was born and before he really started to eat solids, but I never actually followed any of the recipes. I have found that I just put together flavor combinations that sound appetizing to me and pureee them up for my baby. This book would definitely be good for those who have trouble thinking up combinations on their own. One thing the book doesn't mention is the AAP's recommendation that you should not prepare carrots, turnips, spinach and a few other vegetables for your baby yourself because they may contain levels of nitrates too high for babies.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good starter book for new parents who want to know what their kids are eating and simple ways to do it. It does give clear guidelines in the beginning for when you should start your baby on solids, nutritional needs, importance of milk in a baby's diet, best first foods, foods to avoid, how to cook/puree/freeze baby foods, and food allergies. The book is divided into weaning stages, i.e. 6 months, 6-7 months, 7-9 months and 9-12 months. I liked the fruit/veggie purees, but the meat puree combos all sounded a bit yucky. It definitely got me thinking about my baby's future and what I want him to eat, which is a good thing.

[Asha Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, the author gives busy parents a ton of ideas on cooking and freezing meals for your kids so that you are able to serve them healthy and fresh food all the time instead of commercial store bought food. She also provides economical recipes which are quick and easy to prepare suitable for kids from the ages of 6 to 12 months. The author recommends that newborn are fed formula or breast milk till the age of 6 months before they are introduced to solids such as rice cereals of pureed fruits and vegetables while pre-term babies should start solids between 4 to 6 months of age.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all fairness, I have not yet made any of these recipes because my baby is not yet born. However, there are many things I like about it:

~ It's clear and easy to read.
~ It's very well organized.
~ The recipe format/ design and images are appealing.
~ A variety of healthful ingredients are used.
~ The food combos are appealing to me as an adult, so I would be comfortable feeding them to my baby.

[Ramya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good way to start making one's own puréed baby food. Begins w/ goof nutritional guidance and information about allergies & food intolerance.

Chapters divided by months up to 12 months.

British author so interesting food combos at times but tasty. A lot more cheese & milk products used then often used in baby diet in USA. Also, a lot I interesting meat choice like liver & lamb! Watch each bay's tolerance closely & would certainly not do liver in young baby!

[JoAnne Widmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes me feel like a gourmet baby chef. I love making food for Maeli and this book has a lot of useful recipes and tips. The pictures are beautiful and it has helped me stay motivated to feed her homemade food. My only complaint is that some of the recipes have ingredients I wouldn’t introduce at as young of an age as the author does.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great starter book for learning to make my own baby food. It gave me great ideas on what foods to combine and how to cook & prepare them. I bought a few other books and they were all really the same. I would definily get one of the baby food books to learn about how to cook but otherwise it is up to what fruits and veggies you have access to and what you want to feed your child.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been my puree bible since introducing solid foods. As a first-time mom, I really needed a guide and recipes until I grew more confident. The recipes are easy and nutritious. I've had a copy out from the library for ages, but I would happily spend money for a copy and will be buying it for friends who become parents.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very simple cookbook of baby purees. Its recipes are all purees and are divided into four sections: 6 months, 6 to 7 months, 7 to 9 months, and 9 to 12 months.

Each recipe has a sidebar with the age, number of portions, cooking time, and suitability for freezing at the top and food facts and cooking tips below.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had bought this book instead of the one I have (The best homemade baby food on the planet). The recipes look delicious even to adults! And they are easy. One thing to note is since the author is British she follows a different timeline as to when to introduce what food when. I do wish this book included nutritional information though.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am making my own baby food- had to buy this book because I loved the pictures and all the recipes sounded so good. I have made a few of the recipes and thought maybe everyone should have baby food for dinner!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it! It was a great first step at some ideas for baby food making! This book, in addition to my Beaba Cook, are perfect for the first time parent to get started with creating home made baby food!

[Hanako · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think some of the recipes in here will be great to try in a couple months when we start solid foods. would prefer a few more without cheese sauces, but hey - i've never had a cookbook that i liked all the recipes in.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made all of Colton's baby food primarily using this cookbook and loved it! It encourages using spices and herbs with the purees and I contribute this to Colton being great at eating "adult" food now.

[Ulyana Makareva]

excellent resource for moms who cook at home for babies and toddlers! recipes are quick, diverse and tasty, my kids love the dishes from this book. great source of inspiration to try something new on your own.

[robin marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most early baby purées don't really need a recipe however I really liked the later chapters which covered adapting normal meals to be baby friendly and the idea of introducing new spices and seasonings.