You will likely want to provide your baby with fresh, healthy, and delicious food each day. Yet, you might believe you don’t have the finances available to do so.
Thankfully, there is no reason to choose between your cash flow and providing your young son or daughter with nutritious, tasty dishes.
If you’re moving your little one onto solids soon, read these top tips on how to make baby food on a budget.
Batch Cook Meals
Set time aside on weekends to batch cook dishes for your baby to enjoy throughout the week. For example, you could batch cook a variety of fruit and vegetable purees, which are ideal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
For example, you could add the following into ice cube trays or plastic pots:
- Sweet potato
- Parsnips
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Berries
- Banana
Pureeing the above ingredients in big batches and then freezing will provide many meals for your baby, which can save you money while reducing waste. The above products can, however, lead to more than a little mess at mealtimes, which is why you should buy weaning bibs with sleeves. They will not only stop mess, but they will prevent stains from forming on your baby’s clothing.
Use Your Leftovers
Rather than throwing your leftovers in the trash, use them to create delicious dishes for your baby. For example, you could add leftover vegetables into a frittata, which will require little effort or money. You could even add fruit into healthy muffins, instead of allowing them to rot in a fruit bowl.
Buy Frozen Fruit and Vegetables
Frozen fruit and vegetables are another way to take the pressure off your finances without compromising on your baby’s health. Frozen fruit, such as berries and banana, can taste great when added into yoghurt, or you could incorporate vegetables into scrumptious pasta sauces your baby will love. You also don’t need to worry about losing essential nutrients during the freezing process, as the produce could be just as nutritious and fresh.
Shop Smart
Don’t be lured into tactical shelf-stacking, which is when expensive food products are placed at a customer’s eye level. Instead, browse prices for different products and avoid making impulse purchases, if possible. Also, you should visit different stores to find the best possible price for fruit, vegetables, meat, and formula. It could help you to save a substantial amount of money throughout the year.
Create Many Meals from One Ingredient
Save yourself money each week by making many different meals from one ingredient. For instance, make a homemade tomato sauce that you can add to pasta, healthy pizzas, and Bolognese. Chicken can also be used with vegetables, in shepherd’s pie, or to create a tasty mild curry. It will allow your baby to try different flavors and textures without damaging your bank balance.
So, if you want to save money while providing high-quality, nutritious, and delicious meals for your baby, follow the above tips. Not only can they improve your finances, but they could save you much time — which is priceless for many new parents.