What Grace Ate: 5-6 Months

This post includes links to my favorite baby food making supplies. They are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. 

Gracie girl is just like her momma. She sure loves her some good eats. Sometimes I am not sure that she ever wants to stop eating. That makes it fun to introduce new foods to her. I am excited to start her food journey with her.

Every baby is different, but Grace was ready to eat solids at 5 month. I started her with some organic oatmeal cereal. I soon realized that Gracie likes her food to be really smooth. So I made sure to add plenty of liquid to it. The first few times I fed her I used breast milk, but that got old quick, having to pump just to mix it with food. So, I switched it up and used boiled water as the liquid mixer. I boiled the water to make sure there is no bacteria in it. Since oatmeal was such a hit, I moved on to a few more yummy baby starter foods.

I know Baby Led Weaning is a big thing now. I do use it, but I also still like using the baby purées too. Grace loves eating by herself as well as having me spoon feed her, so it all works out. Since I am home, I like to make my purées fresh daily or every few days if I make a small batch of something. I use the NutriBullet (affiliate link) to purée my baby food. The NurtiBullet makes nice smooth baby food in seconds and BONUS, it is easy to clean. Just make sure to rinse it and clean the blades right away before the food gets crusted on to it. And if you forget, just soak it for a few minutes and use a brush to scrub it clean.

Grace Love Love Loves avocado. At first, I tried giving it to her in small chucks. She really liked picking the avocado up herself. She has an awesome pincer grasp, and she even got it into her mouth. But, she had trouble “chewing” it up and most if it wound up coming right back out, which really wasn’t a problem for me. But for her…. it was a travesty. When baby girl is hungry, baby girl wants food and she wants it now! It was like a food tease for her and she wasn’t having it. So, I decided to purée it for her. Sure enough, she ate 1/2 an avocado. Girl can eat!

My little food hound also loves sweet potatoes. As with the avocado, she likes it puréed smooth. I am always shocked at how much she eats. She usually puts away a 1/2 of small sweet potato as well. She downs a full banana like it’s nothing. I usually  give her a few small chunks of banana dusted with baby oatmeal. I dust them to make them less slippery for her to pick up. Then I purée the rest of the banana to feed her. She gobbles it all down no problem.

Grace also likes green beans. These are fun for her to eat as chunks as well as puréed. I am so happy I have an Instant Pot (affiliate link) now. I didn’t have on with my first two and man I was missing out. Steaming veggies to prepare for Baby Led Weaning has never been easier. Seriously 5/6 minutes and they are ready to go. I usually feed Grace a few beans cut into about 2 inch lengths. She loves to gnaw on them, but I always have to have my purée backup for when she’s had enough and needs to food to make it down to her belly.

While I’m cooking dinner or making Gracie’s baby food, I like to give her teething crackers, WHICH SHE LOVES. She can manipulate them and eat them like a champ. I usually buy mine at Aldi, but I have also use these organic ones as well Happy Baby Teething Wafers (affiliate link). They are a great tool to keep her busy while I need both hands free.

Puree Recipes

These recipes are loose. I don’t really ever measure. I just pour and mix. If the consistency is too runny I add some more veggie or oatmeal to it to thicken it up and if it’s too thick I add more liquid.

Avocado Purée

Cut avocado in 1/2 and scoop our the avocado meat. Put it into your NutriBullet add about 1/2 cup boiled water (or breast milk). Blend until smooth. I save the second half of the avocado with the stone still in it in an air tight container, usually a small glass jar, and use it the next day. We eat A LOT of avocado.

Sweet Potato Purée

Cook the sweet potato however you wish. I often just pop it in the microwave for 6/7 minutes and it turns out perfect for baby food. You could also wrap it in foil and bake or grill it at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes. Or use your Instant Pot and cook it on high pressure for 15 minutes letting the pressure naturally release, which may take about 10 additional minutes. Once the sweet potato is cooked, cut it in 1/2 and peel the half you plan to use. Stick it into your NutriBullet with about 1/2 cup boiled water (or breast milk). Blend until smooth. I also save the second half of the sweet potato to eat the next day.

Banana Purée

Peal the banana. Stick it into your NutriBullet add about 1/4 cup boiled water (or breast milk). Blend until smooth.

Green Bean Purée

Prepare your beans to steam in your instant pot. I wash them and cut off the ends. Add 1 cup of water to the base of the Instant Pot. Then place the beans in your steamer basket and place the basket into the pot. Close the lid and secure. Then set the Instant Pot to high pressure with a 5 to 6 minute cook time. Let the pressure release naturally. Once the beans are cooked put a handful into your NutriBullet and add about 1/4 cup of the water reserved from the Instant Pot. Blend until smooth.

Apple or Pear Purée

Wash your fruit well. I usually do 5-6 apples or pears at a time to make a batch. I choose to use organic fruit for this as I purée it with the skin on. Core and cut your fruit into medium size slices and place them into your Instant Pot steam basket. Fill your Instant Pot with 1 cup of water and place the steam basket into the pot. Set the Instant Pot to high pressure with a 6 to 7 minute cook time. You can manually let the pressure release if you are in a hurry, but I prefer to let it release naturally. I always find adding water to the blending of apples or pears to be tricky, as they are already quite watery. So I start out minimal about 1/4 cup (I use the water reserved from the Instant Pot). I then blend until smooth adding water as needed. As Grace gets older, I will start to add cinnamon to this recipe, but for now I keep it simple with no spices.

I usually make a fresh purée daily, but when I was working, I would make a large batch at a time and freeze them. I used these small 4 oz Ball Mason Jars with plastic lids (affiliate link) to store them in. They were perfect to take to daycare and on the go. Now with three kiddos, I also use organic baby food pouches for when we are on the go. They are so much easier when I am trying to feed three kids!