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Homemade Baby Food to Go
How to plan your baby’s meals for days when you’re on the move
by: Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers
Baby Food to Go
- Purée fresh fruit and veggies and freeze them in ice cube trays for ready-made meals you can take anywhere.
- Vegetable and fruit purées will keep in the freezer for four to six months.
- Frozen food cubes take three to four hours to thaw in the refrigerator and one to two hours to thaw at room temperature.
- An insulated lunch bag and a set of plastic containers with lids make baby takeout a breeze.
- Most convenience stores and/or truck stops have a microwave and airlines will usually give you a bag of hot water to warm baby food with.
hese days, families are always on the move. Whether you’re planning a casual day trip or an exotic vacation, here are some ways to prepare for your baby’s meals in motion.
Homemade purées
For easy homemade fruit and veggie purées, simply cook fruit and veggies in a little water until soft, transfer to a food processor or blender, and process for one to two minutes until smooth. Filling clean ice cube trays with portion-sized purée will give you healthy, ready-made meals you can take anywhere. (Vegetable and fruit purées will keep in the freezer for four to six months.)
Baby takeout
A travel tote bag is an essential item for any family on the go. Buy an insulated lunch bag and a set of plastic containers with lids that will fit nicely into the bag. The best type of lunch bag is a sturdy canvas tote that comes with a reusable ice pack–the type you can place in the freezer overnight. Also consider the size of the tote so it will fit easily into your diaper bag.
There are six golden rules for serving fresh baby food away from home:
1. Frozen food cubes take three to four hours to thaw in the refrigerator and one to two hours to thaw at room temperature.
2. Frozen food cubes stay cold in an insulated bag with a freezer pack for about eight to 12 hours.
3. To thaw frozen food cubes, microwave for 30 to 40 seconds.
4. To warm thawed food cubes, microwave for five to15 seconds.
5. Never store frozen food cubes without refrigeration for more than four hours.
6. Always stir and test the temperature of warmed food on your skin before serving to your baby.
Planes, trains and automobiles
Planning to get away for a day or going further afield on a plane, train or bus? You can pack healthy, homemade meals for your baby no matter how you’re getting to your destination. Just before you’re ready to leave, select the food cubes for your baby’s meal(s) and place them in the plastic containers of your travel tote. If you pack more than one meal or snack, label the lids of the containers (snack, lunch, etc.) with a permanent marker or a piece of paper and scotch tape.
Pack them all into the travel tote with a freezer pack to keep them cold. The frozen food cubes will slowly defrost inside the tote and will stay cold for eight to 12 hours, plenty of time to reach your destination. Most convenient stores and/or truck stops have a microwave and airlines will usually give you a bag of hot water to warm baby food with.
Meet our experts:
Cheryl Tallman and Joan Ahlers are sisters, mothers of five children and founders of Fresh Baby, www.FreshBaby.com. They are the creators of the award-winning So Easy Baby Food Kit and Good Clean Fun Placemats.
