People just change once a baby becomes a part of a household. Women who have never cared about the source of drinking water in their house start to boil the water twice at least, before drinking it. People wash their hands so many times that the skin almost starts to peel off, and the food to be eaten becomes a subject of ultra special concern. It ought to be like that, because an infant's health is rather vulnerable during those formative years, and one has to be careful, no matter what. So, why not make your own baby food as well? This decision can actually shield a baby from a number of unwanted health hazards. Reasons for Preparing Baby Food at Home Besides the fact that you will be saving oodles of money, given that a baby's health is of utmost importance, you will be catering to the well-being of your baby.

• Since you know exactly what the preferences of your baby are, you can cook accordingly. This means that you can keep away all things that do not react well with your baby. Allergens, for example.
• You will be keep your baby away from harmful fillers or preservatives that are present in market-available baby food, and thus, keep your baby protected from subsequent health hazards.
• You can use organic fruits and vegetables of your choice, which are beneficial in multiple ways. Even if you go for regular items, at least you will choose the freshest of the lot, and then clean them satisfactorily.
• All the home appliances that you use can be sterilized to your satisfaction, so that you keep out the maximum number of germs.

All these factors can only be controlled when you make your own baby food within the comforts of your home, and as they say, a mother alone will go the extra mile to keep her baby safe. Useful Tips

• Before you start with the cooking process, make sure that every nook and cranny of you kitchen is spanking clean. Sterilize all the utensils you will be using, and finally, wash your hands properly using soap and lukewarm water. Also, secure your hair tightly in a bun to avoid any hair fall in the kitchen.
• As a rule, never feed a child below the age of 6 months with beets, carrots, collard greens spinach, and turnips, in any form whatsoever. This is because, these veggies sometimes carry large traces of nitrates, which, as per the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), can trigger a special and strange kind of anemia in babies below that age.
• Refrain from buying canned fruits, veggies, or any other food item altogether. Clean the fruits and vegetables for a minimum of 15 - 30 minutes under running tap water, and make sure you remove all the seeds, stalks, as well as peel the items properly. Even if you buy organic baby food items, wash thoroughly before using.
• While one must avoid shellfish for babies altogether, fin fish varieties such as cod, flounder, haddock, and salmon can be fed to a baby. As for meat, the fat must be completely clipped away, as it is in the fatty tissues where pesticides tend to accumulate. Buying antibiotic free organic meats is the best thing to do. Always buy fresh AA grade eggs, and then refrigerate them in the main section of the fridge.
• Using honey is an extremely bad idea. This is because, a very potent bacterial toxin produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum is generally found in certain spores of honey, which can not only cause acute food poisoning called botulism, but also attack the central nervous system of your baby. Adults are more or less shielded against it, but babies are not.
• NEVER buy unpasteurized milk or milk products, as you will then be inviting certain bacteria to come and attack your baby openly.
• Avoid feeding your child leftover and refrigerated food. Always vote for freshly-made food that can be immediately fed. No food item must be allowed to remain in temperatures between 40° F to 140° F for more than 1½ hours. In case you have to store something in the freezer for later usage, but definitely for 1 day only, then store in clean glass containers, and then reheat at a minimum temperature of 165° F.
• Make it a point to drill it into your system that your child must, under no circumstances, be fed uncooked or partially cooked food. Keep even soft-boiled eggs away. Everything you feed your kid MUST be fully cooked.
• Finally, refrain from using salt, pepper, sugar, various condiments and lubricants like oil, butter, and lard in your baby's food as much as practicable.

Recipes Chicken and Corn Soup This recipe is parfait for a baby aged between 6 to 9 months and will not need more than 20 minutes of your busy day in the kitchen. You will need:

• Chicken breast, 1 (skinned and boned, cubed to ¾" chunks
• Sweet corn, 1¼ cups ( washed and drained)
• Water, ⅓ cup
• Potato, 1 (peeled and cubed)
• Breast milk, 2 tbsp.

Procedure Simply, steam the chicken chunks and the corn in the given amount of water. Boil the potatoes separately and then run all the three ingredients though a food mill or purée sieve. Now add the breast milk to this and stir to get a uniform and smooth thick soup. Banana-Pumpkin Purée Rich in vitamins and minerals, pumpkins are perfect for making baby food. You will need:

• Pumpkin, ½ cup (puréed)
• Bananas, 2 (small)

Procedure Cut the bananas into chunks and pour the purée over them. Then run the two ingredients through a food mill, and you're done. Refer to this feeding chart to understand what to and how much to feed. Also, see to it that you feed your baby while she is in a sitting position, as that will ensure proper and immediate digestion of the food.