Baby Food Question

I know that my sister-in-law use to put baby food into her waffle and pancake mix. The kids loved the colorful pancakes and waffles and they were getting their vegetables. I am trying it with mine now because I am getting a picky veggie eater! Hope this helps!

I have added a jar of bananas or apple w/ a little "spice" to pancake batter to mix it up a little and make banana pancakes or apple cinnomon pancakes.

Hi K. I had that problem with my son who is now 21 months. I guess I got "shopping happy" and bought way too much baby food and he all of a sudden wanted what the rest of the family had on our plates. Easy solution: Just mix in the baby foods with everyday dinner food. Example, if I made mac and cheese I would put some baby food carrots (whatever veggie you have) in with it and maybe some real veggies if your child is starting that. Use the baby foods as a "sauce" in some adult dinner dishes. I made pot roast and veggies inthe crockpot and used baby food green beans to make the texture easier for my son to eat when he was younger. Whatever babyfoods you have just use them to liven up regular foods, use them as mixers, sauces etc. Make some casseroles with your favorite recipies and put some babyfood in just his. This helps him get enough veggies and fruits too if you have a regular dinner that might be short on those ingredients. (my meatloaf and mashed potatoes was healthier for him mixed up with babyfood veggies). Good luck!

First off, you can still give it her til its gone. There's nothing wrong with that. Let her feed herself. It's messy but good practice and then give her real food with it. If she's still eating oatmeal (or other hot cereals) you can mix the fruit up in it. For veggies you can mix it in mashed potatoes or put one in a full batch of tomato sauces. You can't really taste it and get the added benefit of more veggies in the meal.

I would donate it to a food pantry, or if you have a family planning center in your area (IN my area of Medina county its called the Oaks) they often take donations of diapers, baby food, formula and clothing for babies and small kids. Or, there are cook books that show how to hide fruits and veggies in everyday foods and desserts (Deceptively Delicious is just one of many). Good luck!!!

K.,

If it is in sealed containers, I'm sure a foodbank would take the baby food that isn't expired.

You could use it for your 15 mo. Put the veggy/meat mixtures over pasta or in casseroles. Add fruit mixtures to pancake recipes or mix it with oatmeal. I do that for my 16 mo who can't eat many prepackaged foods because of allergies.

Good luck.

I understand your dilema. My son just turned 1 but already he has lost interest in baby food. He's been on stage 3 for a while and toddler food as well. But I keep buying some stage 2 because I want him to have the nutrition. Beechnut's website has recipes that you can work that left over stage 2 into regular food for the extra nutrition. The stuff is actually good enough that the whole family can eat it. I was surprised. Tried a couple of them, not all. What I've been doing with the stage 2 food right now is mostly using it as "dessert" for him. He eats one of those toddler meal bowls (looks like the microwave Chef Boyardee containers) and then has a container of fruit or vegetables as a side dish of sorts. This way he is happy and I am certain he is getting all the nutrition he needs. As far as freezing it, don't know what the shelf life of that would be. Hope this helps. Happy Easter!

She's definitely "too old" to need those (has been since 7 or 8 months really). But, you can always:
~use them as snacks on the go
~mix them with other things
~keep them around for when she's sick and not eating much
~pour fruits in with plain yogurt for flavor (much better than buying "children's" sugared yogurt)
~mix vegies with pasta sauce for extra nutrition
~mix fruits with plain oatmeal (again, better than sugared instant oatmeal)

I'm not sure about freezing because they might expand and break the jar...never tried, maybe it's ok?

You can usually substitute pureed sweet potatoes or carrots for oil in brownies, muffins or quick breads, regardless of flavor. It changes the texture slightly but the result is usually a very moist cake wit lots of added nutrition.

Hi K.,
Try mixing it in to regular food like spaghetti sauce.

We had a bunch left over too. At first I would put it in rice cereal and my son loved it. Then once he passed rice cereal we added it to oatmeal until it was gone, which he absolutely loved!! I would be afraid to freeze it because of their sensitive little tummies.
Good luck!!

If you feed her oatmeal, try flavoring the oatmeal with the baby food. I don't think you can freeze it but i'm sure someone somewhere has written about that on the internet.

Good luck!

You can donate it to a local food pantry - they are always short on baby food.

If it's fruit or veggies, you can add it to many things you cook and you can't tell. It's a good way to sneak veggies and fruit into kids if they are picky. :-) Try adding a jar to things like oatmeal, quick breads, brownies, muffins, pasta sauce, casseroles, etc. If you make chicken nuggets/tenders, dip the chicken into the pureed veggies before breadcrumbs (instead of using egg).

Provided the baby food is not expired I would say donate it to a food bank at one of your local churches. I am sure some desperate Mom would appreciate it.

K.,
By all means find your local food bank and give it to them. They really need it right now.
Sue

Don't know what kind you have or the expirations dates. I'd start first by calling the manufacturer and ask them. If not, I'd be giving it to a local food pantry. I'm sure there are plenty of moms who would welcome it!

My suggestion would be to give the leftover jars of food to your local food pantry. It probably woud freeze okay, but not in a glass jar ( that might break) and if you freeze it it would probably be good for about a year.
In these tough times I'm sure some young mom could use the help
L.

There are aolt of struggling moms who would love to have it. ask around at women's shelters, or here in Cleveland there is a crisis nursery. Some where like that would be a wonderful place to donate it.