2: Preparing Food

Making Food at Home

Storing Baby Food

Baby-food Textures at Different Ages

Baby-foods at Stage 1

Baby-foods at Stage 2

Baby-foods at Stage 3

Foods Not Recommended in the First Year

Food Safety Risks

Food Safety Tips

Safe Heating and Cooling

Cooking Temperatures

Top 9 Allergens

Allergens on Food Labels

References and Resources

Making Food at Home

Meat and Seafood:

Make sure all surfaces are clean
Remove chewy tissues, skin, and bones from the protein source
Cook the food until it is the proper texture for the child's age/ tolerance needs
Cook protein until it is done; check temperature by using a thermometer, do not overcook
Grind up, puree, or mash food, especially any tough foods

Fruits and Vegetables:

Make sure all surfaces are clean
Wash, peel, remove seeds, and remove pits from the vegetables/fruits
Cook the vegetable/fruit (if applicable) until very tender
Rinse canned fruits and veggies
You can steam or microwave the vegetables to soften them
Fresh fruit or canned fruits in real juice can be pureed or mashed

More Tips for making baby-food at Home:

Do not need to add salt or seasonings to foods within the first year
Add breast milk, formula, or water to cereal or mashed-up cooked grains
Cook and blend whole grains (oats, rice, pasta)
Do not add cereal or other foods to a bottle
Only give smooth peanut/treenut butter and make sure to spread it thinly

Storing Baby Food

Serve or refrigerate the food right away
- - The food can be stored in the fridge for 1-2 days
You can freeze the food in small portions (like in an ice cube tray)
Once the food is frozen, transfer it to an air-tight container
The food can be stored in the freezer for 1-2 months
Do not reuse food that was served even if the child did not consume any of it

Baby-food Textures at Different Ages

Important note: textures associated with age ranges (months) are an estimate and can vary
4-5 months: spoonful of pureed and strained foods
6-7 months: mashed foods from a spoon
8-9 months: ground or finely chopped foods; eat with fingers and drink from a cup
10-12 months: chopped foods that are soft and cooked

St 1

Baby-foods at Stage 1

Stage 1: typical age group is 4-6 months
- - At stage 1 the baby can eat strained, pureed foods
  - Remember, these months are estimates and can vary. It is ultimately up to the baby's tolerance to textures.
The pureed food can be mixed with breast milk, formula, or water. As time goes on, less breast milk/formula is then added to give the food a lumpier consistency.
Small spoon with a shallow bowl should be used
Consider the temperature of the spoon if it is able to conduct heat

St 2

Baby-foods at Stage 2

Stage 2: typically ranges from 6 to 9 months of age
- - Stage 2 consists of very soft and lumpy foods
  - Strained, pureed, and mashed fruit/ vegetables can be consumed at this stage
  - Strained, pureed, and mashed protein-rich foods (such as poultry) can be consumed at this stage
The main source of energy should come from breast milk or formula during this time.

St 3

Baby-foods at Stage 3

Stage 3: typically ranges from 9 to 12 months of age
- - Stage 3 consists of soft foods that are ground, finely chopped, and/or diced. The pieces of food should not be larger than half an inch.
  - Baby can eat soft finger foods
  - Baby can use a spoon by themselves at around 10-12 months old

It is important that you continue to provide breastmilk or formula to your baby during stage 3.

Foods Not Recommended in the First Year

Food Safety Risks

Food-borne illness
- - Food-borne illness is when food is contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins
  - It is important to monitor the length of time that foods will be out of the refrigerator and its temperature. If food sits out on the table for a while, it increases the chances of the food reaching a temperature that is perfect for bacteria growth.

Things that contribute to food-borne illness:

- - - - poor cleaning and sanitizing
      - poor personal hygiene
      - cross-contamination
      - food that was bought from an unsafe source
      - time and temperatures

Infants are susceptible to getting food-borne illnesses, so it is very important to take precautions to ensure their safety.

Handwashing 101 Handout

Food Safety Tips

Safe Heating and Cooling

Thaw foods in an area that is 41°F or lower, like a refrigerator or cooler.
If food is thawed in a microwave cook it right away, DO NOT let it sit out
Ensure that you are cooking food to the correct temperatures
Once the food is cooked or prepared, make sure you keep the food warmer than 135°F or colder than 41°F
Once you are ready to store the food, cool the food as follows:
1. 1. 1. - Cool from 135°F to 70°F in 2 hours
      - Cool from 70°F to 41°F in 4 hours

Temperature Danger Zone Handout

Cooking Temperatures

165°F for < 1 second

Poultry, stuffed meat, seafood, and stuffing made with fish, meat, and poultry

155°F for 15 seconds

Ground beef, injected meat, and mechanically tenderized meat

Top 9 Allergens

Allergens on Food Labels

The top 9 food allergens are required to be present on a food label where they can easily be read.
Some labels will have a "contains" statement like the one seen in the picture to the left.
More food allergen labels will be discussed under the module Working with Risks.

References and Resources

Food and Nutrition Service a Guide for Use in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Infant Nutrition and Feeding United States Department of Agriculture. https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/document/infant-feeding-guide.pdf
Brown JE, Lechtenberg E, Murtaugh MA, et al. Nutrition through the Life Cycle. 7th ed. Cengage Leaning; 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Published December 3, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/when-to-introduce-solid-foods.html
Everything You Should Know About Food Allergies. WebstaurantStore. https://www.webstaurantstore.com/article/22/food-allergy-overview.html
USDA. Food Product Dating | Food Safety and Inspection Service. www.fsis.usda.gov. Published October 2, 2019. https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating
AskUSDA. Usda.gov. Published 2024. Accessed January 18, 2024. https://ask.usda.gov/s/article/Can-infant-formula-and-baby-food-be-used-after-the-date-expires#:~:text=No.
ServSafe Manager. National Restaurant Association Solutions, Llc; 2018.
Team PwlE. “Best if used by” Date. Prince William Living. Published October 19, 2021. Accessed April 18, 2024. https://princewilliamliving.com/best-if-used-by-date/#prettyPhoto

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