Delicious Homemade Vegan Baby Food Recipes
11 Delicious Homemade Vegan Baby Food Recipes
If you're a new parent, you're probably aware of how costly buying endless jars of baby food can be.
So, instead of spending money, why not make your own? The methods for learning how to prepare your baby food are very simple, and all you need to get started is a household blender or food processor.
If you have a high-powered blender, that's fantastic! They'll make the procedure go much more smoothly and quickly, but they're not essential if you make your own baby food.
The nicest part of creating your baby food is that you may feed your child with various natural ingredients from the kitchen.
Sweeter vegetables, such as squash, pumpkin, bananas, and carrots, can be used as a base for sweets, muffins, oats, and smoothies.
Broccoli and peas, for example, offer a great base for soups and stews made from scratch. What's even better?
It's much easier than you think to make your baby food. Here are some pointers to get you started:
Choose Your Baby Food Ingredients Carefully
Before making homemade vegan baby food, determine what ingredients you want.
Carrots, green beans, green peas, broccoli, winter squash, and sweet potatoes are all good places to start.
If you're producing fruit, bananas, prunes, and apples are some of the simplest and least expensive options.
Depending on your time and room, you can make as much or as little as you like. If you're unsure, buy a pound of each item you'll be using to see how much you'll need and how long it will last. Afterward, you can determine what will work best for you and your child.
Consider Using Add-Ons To Your Baby Food
It's best to keep your baby food recipes to one ingredient, but if your baby is old enough to digest grains like rice or oats, you can use them as add-ins to make your baby food more nutritionally sound.
Nuts, seeds, beans, high-fat items, salt, and seasonings should be avoided. You may use unsweetened almond or soy milk as a base, but keep the rest of your ingredients basic and use water.
Start Preparing Your Homemade Baby Food
All you have to do now is mildly boil your baby food rather than pure it fresh to ensure maximum digestion.
Steaming rather than boiling your baby food components is also preferable. This allows them to retain more nutrients while preserving most of their water content.
If you add oats or rice to your baby food, prepare them as usual and set them aside. If you're short on time, you may use your slow cooker.
Best Ways To Store Homemade Vegan Baby Food
After creating baby food, you can usually keep it in the fridge for up to one week. Are you short on time? Baby food jars can be frozen for up to one month.
Then, take the jars out of the freezer to thaw and warm them to room temperature before serving.
After pureeing the newly cooked baby food, you can store it in ice cube trays to reheat later. If you opt for the freezing technique, date your baby food.
Homemade Vegan Baby Food Recipes
1. Homemade Vegan Banana & Orange Oat Bites
Try this homemade vegan baby food recipe for 9- to 12-month-old kids.
You can make delicious and healthful snacks for kids with only three easy ingredients. Great for toddlers and weaning babies with a few teeth!
Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Total time: 15 minutes | Servings: 11 bites
Ingredients
- Ripe banana: 1
- Rolled oats: 75 g
- Orange juice: 40 ml
Method
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (170°C) and prepare a baking pan with parchment paper or a nonstick silicone sheet.
- Mash the banana with a fork in a bowl. Mix in the orange juice thoroughly. Then, stir in the oats until everything is thoroughly mixed.
- Place one tablespoon of the oat mixture on the baking tray as a round biscuit. Carry on with the rest of the mixture. This yielded 11 bites for me.
- Bake for 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cooling on a wire rack.
2. Blueberry Porridge Baby Food
Try this homemade vegan blueberry porridge baby food recipe for 9 to 12-month-old babies.
The antioxidant content of blueberries is the highest of any fruit. This tasty purple porridge for breakfast will give your child a lift. Use a dairy-free spread or vegan butter.
Prep time: 2 minutes | Cook time: 2 minutes | Total time: 4 minutes | Servings: 2
Ingredients
- Blueberries: 25 g
- Porridge oats: 25 g
- Dairy-free spread or vegan butter
- Apple: ½, peeled and finely diced
- Calcium-fortified almond milk: 150 ml
Method
- In a saucepan, melt the vegan butter or dairy-free spread.
- Cook for 2 minutes after adding the apple.
- Mix in the rest of the ingredients. Stir constantly over high heat until the blueberries have softened.
3. Homemade Carrot Hotch Potch Baby Food
Carrots are simple to cook, using only two ingredients: organic carrots and water. Furthermore, they are far superior to store-bought infant food in terms of taste.
Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 40 minutes | Total time: 50 minutes | Servings: 12
Ingredients
- Carrots: 1 lb, peeled
- Water: 2-4 tablespoons
- Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
Method
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Toss the carrots in the olive oil and spread them evenly on a wide baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes, then toss and bake for another 20 minutes or until golden brown and tender.
- Blend appropriate water and roasted carrots until smooth in a high-powered blender or food processor.
4. Rice Avocado Mix Bowls
The Rice avocado mix bowls are a delicious supper for the whole family and a fantastic method for the baby to practice his pincer grasp! Beans, avocado, and brown rice are all nutritious foods for you and your kid.
Prep time: 10 minutes | Total time: 10 minutes | Servings: 1½ cups
Ingredients
- Cooked brown rice: ½ cup warmed
- Haas avocado: ½ medium, chopped into small pieces
- Black beans: ¼ cup, drained and rinsed
- Cumin: ⅛ teaspoon
- Cooked corn: ¼ cup (make sure it is organic and non-GMO)
- Cilantro: 1 teaspoon
- Grated vegan mild cheddar cheese: 2 teaspoons (optional)
Method
- Combine rice, beans, corn, cilantro, and cumin in a large mixing bowl. Toss in the avocado chunks gently. If you want, you can add some cheese on top.
- Allow your child to feed himself or herself by picking up the food with his or her fingers. If your baby isn't ready for finger foods, purée the mixture in a food processor or blender with a little water or low-sodium vegetable stock until it reaches the desired consistency.
5. Pasta Salad Baby Food
Simple recipes often become firm favourites with babies, and this pasta salad meal is no exception.
Ranch dressing is used in this dish, but you may use olive or linseed oil, vegan mayo, or even vegan yogurt instead.
Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes | Servings: 10
Ingredients
- Stelline pasta: 10 oz
- Frozen mixed vegetables: 10 oz
- Vegan yogurt: 1 cup (or vegan ranch dressing)
Method
- Cook al dente pasta according to package specifications. Turn off the heat and stir in the defrosted mixed vegetables right away.
- Allow 2 minutes for vegetables and pasta to soak in boiling water before draining. Transfer the pasta and veggies to a large mixing bowl after they have been well-drained.
- Stir in the yogurt dressing until all pasta and vegetables are covered evenly. Season with a pinch of salt if desired.
6. Spring Vegetable Risotto Baby Food
This recipe is ideal for babies who enjoy bland but flavourful foods. Vitamins, folic acid, and fibre are all in the vegetable blend—one of the most popular Homemade Vegan Baby Food Recipes for 8-month-old kids.
Prep time: 15 minutes | Cooking time: 9 minutes | Total time: 24 minutes | Servings: 1 cup
Ingredients
- Spring onions whites: 2 tablespoons, chopped
- Rice: 2 tablespoons
- Garlic: 1 teaspoon
- Oil: 1 teaspoon
- Chopped onions: 1 tablespoon
- Grated vegan cheese: 1½ tablespoons
- Grated carrot: 2 tablespoons
- Small broccoli florets: 1 tablespoon
- French beans: 1 tablespoon, chopped
- Pinch of salt
Method
- To create a spring vegetable risotto for babies and toddlers, heat the oil in a deep non-stick pan, add the onions and garlic paste and cook for 1 minute over medium heat.
- Cook on a medium flame for 4 to 5 minutes, or until the rice is cooked, after adding the rice and 3/4 cup of water.
- Mix in the carrots, broccoli, french beans, spring onion whites, and 12 cups water, then cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until the veggies are tender.
- Add the salt and vegan cheese, stir well and cook for 1 minute more or until the cheese has melted. Using a potato masher, lightly mash it.
- For babies and toddlers, serve the spring vegetable risotto at room temperature.
7. Coconut Rice Pudding Baby Food
Rice pudding is a hit with babies, and it's easy to see why. It's soft, creamy, and delicious!
However, the ready-made versions you buy may include hidden sugar. Thanks to the coconut milk, this dish is sugar-free and creamy.
Prep time: 2 minutes | Cook time: 30 minutes | Total time: 32 minutes | Servings: 4
Ingredients
- Pudding rice: ½ cup
- Coconut milk: 100 ml
- Desiccated coconut: ½ tablespoon
- Vanilla extract: ½ teaspoon
- Plant-based milk: 15 fl oz
- Optional toppings: sugar-free jam, fruit compote or chopped fruit
Method
- In a heavy-bottomed pot, combine all of the ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Cover with a lid and cook for 30 minutes until all of the milk has been absorbed and the rice is mushy, stirring occasionally.
- Serve with fruit compote, sugar-free jam, chopped fruit, or other toppings as desired.
8. Apple & Banana Oat Bites
Mini bites are prepared with four simple, chewy ingredients, making them ideal for baby-led weaning and toddlers.
Prep time: 5 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total time: 20 minutes | Servings: 20
Ingredients
- Dry quinoa: 175 g, cooked
- Small apple: 1
- Rolled oats: 40 g
- Medium banana: 1
Method
- Preheat the oven to 356°F (180° Celsius) and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Combine the quinoa and oats in a large mixing basin.
- On a cutting board, mash the banana and add it to the bowl, then grate in the apple.
- Combine all ingredients with a spoon and roll into approximately 20 balls. Place them on the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until the edges begin to brown.
- Allow for thorough cooling before eating. Refrigerate for 2-3 days in an airtight jar.
9. Vegan Zucchini Meatballs
Vegan Zucchini Meatballs require less than ten ingredients and 20 minutes to prepare for a nutritious and tasty plant-based supper.
Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 25 minutes | Total time: 45 minutes | Servings: 12 balls
Ingredients
- Chickpeas: 15 oz, drained and rinsed
- Whole grain pasta: 8 oz
- Nutritional yeast: 2 tablespoons
- Garlic: 3 cloves
- Rolled oats: ½ cup
- Dried basil: 1 teaspoon
- Salt ½ teaspoon
- Dried oregano: 1 teaspoon
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Shredded zucchini: 1 cup
- Vegan marinara sauce: 32 oz
Method
- Combine the drained and rinsed chickpeas, garlic cloves, and rolled oats in a food processor bowl. Pulse for 5-10 seconds or until the mixture is finely chopped.
- When you press the mixture between your fingertips, it should stay together. Add the dry herbs, salt, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, and shredded zucchini to a large mixing bowl.
- Use no more than 1 cup of zucchini shredded. Stir everything together until it's completely blended. Add a little flour or nutritional yeast to help absorb extra moisture if the mixture is too wet to manage.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (191 C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Scoop out one heaping tablespoon of the zucchini mixture at a time with your hands and roll it into 12 separate balls.
- Arrange a few inches apart on the baking sheet, then bake for 25 minutes. In the meantime, cook the pasta according to the package recommendations.
- Remove the zucchini balls from the oven when they are light golden brown and set them aside. Serve heated with marinara sauce over cooked spaghetti. Enjoy with fresh basil as a garnish!
10. Tofu Fish Fingers Homemade Baby Food
Do you recall that old favourite from your childhood? You can prepare a plant-based alternative with this delectable vegan tofu fish fingers recipe.
The Fish Fingers Homemade Vegan Baby Food Recipes is for 12-month kids.
Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 15 minutes | Total time: 25 minutes | Servings: 4
Ingredients for the Tofu Fish
- Vegan breadcrumbs: ½ – ¾ cup
- Firm tofu: 230 g, cut into strips
- Vegan fish sauce: 1 tablespoon
- Aquafaba (chickpea brine): ½ cup
- All-purpose flour: ½ cup
- Lemon wedges to serve
Ingredients for the homemade tartare sauce
- Pickles: 1 tablespoon, finely chopped
- Vegan mayonnaise: 3 tablespoons
- Fresh dill finely chopped: 1 teaspoon
- Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon
- Generous pinch of salt and black pepper
Method
- To make the tofu fish, slice the tofu into ½ cm thick strips. Then, to make fish finger shapes, cut them in half lengthwise.
- Combine the vegan fish sauce and aquafaba in a mixing bowl.
- Then coat each finger in flour first, then in the aquafaba mixture, and last in breadcrumbs. Cook for about 15 minutes in the air fryer or until golden brown. You can also bake or fry them in a shallow fryer.
- Serve with homemade tartare sauce and a wedge of lemon or lime.
- To make the Homemade Tartare Sauce, whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl and serve alongside the Tofu Fish Fingers.
11. Carrot Fries
This dish for baked carrot fries is healthy, tasty, and entertaining. These carrot fries are a quick and easy snack with only a few simple ingredients!
Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Total time: 35 minutes | Servings: 3
Ingredients
- Carrots: 1 pound
- Black pepper: ½ teaspoons
- Tapioca flour: 2 tablespoons
- Olive oil: 2 tablespoons
- Sea salt: 1 teaspoon
- Garlic powder: ½ teaspoon
- Thyme: ½ teaspoon
- Onion powder: ½ teaspoon
Method
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Begin by washing and peeling the carrots. Carrots should be cut into even sticks about 4 inches long and ½ inch thick.
- Place the chopped carrots in a bowl with the tapioca flour and spices. Mix until all carrot sticks are coated in the spice and flour combination.
- Pour the olive oil over the carrots and toss to coat evenly.
- Place the carrots on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Ensure the carrots are not stacked on each other and are fairly distributed.
- Bake the carrots for 20-30 minutes, checking halfway through to move them about or turn them on the baking pan to ensure even roasting.
- The carrots are done when they can easily be pierced with a fork and have a small browning/crisping on the edges. Allow them to cool for a few minutes after removing them from the oven.
Foods To Stay Away From For Babies
Even if your kid is ready to consume solid foods, that doesn't imply they can eat everything you eat.
Avoid specific foods in your vegan recipes to keep your baby as healthy as possible.
- Honey should never be given to a child since it contains bacteria that might harm their intestines. But, in any case, this isn't vegan food.
- You should wait until your child is about 4 or 5 before adding nuts to their diet because nuts might cause choking.
- Cooking low-fat, low-calorie, or high-fibre dishes for your infant is not a good idea because babies require a lot of energy.
- You should also minimize salt in your baby's diet because their kidneys can't handle it. Check labels to ensure your baby isn't getting more than 1 gram of salt per day or cooking your food.
- Sugar should be avoided in the same way. Anything with extra sugar should be avoided, and fruit drinks should be diluted. Imagine how wild a sugar rush may make an adult's blood sugar; now imagine a baby's blood sugar!
- Corn, soy, oats, and sugar are all GMO crops. Therefore, avoid them. These can be purchased from organic farms, but finding them is difficult!
Conclusion
In closing, these delectable homemade vegan baby food recipes begin a flavourful and nutritious journey for your little one.
Crafting these culinary baby food delights guarantees delightful taste and delivers vital nutrients for your baby's growth and well-being.
It's important to remember that each baby is as unique as their taste buds, and their preferences may evolve as they grow.
Don't be discouraged if a certain recipe doesn't immediately strike their fancy. The key is to embrace experimentation, offering an array of tastes and textures to cultivate a diverse palate.
As you embark on this exciting vegan baby food adventure, always prioritize your baby's health.
Should you have any queries or concerns regarding their nutrition, seeking advice from a pediatrician or registered dietitian is a prudent step.
With love, patience, and these homemade vegan baby food recipes, you're nourishing your child's body and laying the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy eating habits.
So, let's raise a toast to cooking with care and nurturing a happy, healthy vegan baby!
I trust you enjoyed this article on the 11 Delicious Homemade Vegan Baby Food Recipes. Please stay tuned for more blog posts to come shortly. Take care!
JeannetteZ
>>>Please click here to read my Vegan Travel Guides To World Destinations<<<
>>>Want To Learn How To Create Your Own Delicious, Healthy AND 100% Vegan Meals For You And Your Family? Click here for My #1 Recommendation<<<
Your Opinion Is Important To Me
Do you have thoughts, ideas, or questions? I would love to hear from you. Please leave me your questions, experiences, and remarks about this article on the 11 Delicious Homemade Vegan Baby Food Recipes in the comments section below. You can also reach me by email at Jeannette@LivingTheVeganLifestyle.org.
Here are links to some of my favourite articles:
11 Most Delicious Seed Cracker Recipes For Vegan Kids
9 Tasty Vegan Snacks For Breastfeeding Moms
33 Best Vegan Restaurants In Geneve, Switzerland
37 Best Vegan Restaurants In Aarau, Switzerland
How A Vegan Pregnancy Meal Plan Can Ease Your Pain