When your little one is ready to start on solid foods, a whole new world opens up for them (and you). And sweet potatoes are a perfect first food for your baby to try. They’re inexpensive, easy to cook, and mash up well. They’re on the sweeter side, so most babies take a liking to sweet potatoes more than some other veggies. More importantly, sweet potatoes are filled with Vitamin C, potassium, beta-carotene, and fiber your baby needs as they grow and develop.
But if you’re making your own homemade baby food, there’s no reason to stick to plain sweet potato puree only. Combine sweet potato puree with a range of other foods for additional benefits to your child’s diet and a wider range of taste options. We have nine ways to bring plain sweet potatoes to life that your baby will love.
How to make sweet potato baby food
It’s easy to make your own sweet potato baby food so you know exactly what’s going in your little one’s tummy. Use as many or as few sweet potatoes as you want. You could always toss extras into an ice cube tray and freeze them for later to save time for the next meal.
Take the sweet potatoes, peeled and diced, and add them to a pot of water. Boil the water on the stove until the sweet potatoes are soft enough that they begin to break apart when you stab them with a fork or knife. This should only take about half an hour.
When the sweet potatoes are finished cooking, transfer them to a blender and puree until smooth. You could always get an arm workout in and use a masher if you don’t have a food processor or blender.
If needed, add a little of your cooking water to the mix until you reach your desired consistency. Allow the mixture to cool and you’re done! It’s that simple. Now let’s check out plenty of ways to keep your tot loving sweet potatoes and maybe find a combination or two that you like, too.
9 ways to switch up sweet potato baby food
Mix in any of these fruits and vegetables to make sure your baby’s sweet potatoes go in their mouth and aren’t fed to the family pooch. Once you get the hang of it, go crazy and do three ingredient combinations and see how things taste.
Carrots
For an even greater hit of that beta-carotene, add chopped carrots to the boiling water as you cook your sweet potatoes. Puree it all together for a delicious mixture that’s even healthier than plain sweet potatoes.
Banana
You want to limit the amount of natural sugar your child is consuming, but if you find they’re not taking to the sweet potatoes on their own, add a banana to make the mixture more tempting.
Mango
Just like with the banana, if you want your sweet potato mixture to be just a touch sweeter, add in mango. The great thing about mango is you don’t need to cook it beforehand because of its naturally softer texture. Just peel and dice before adding it to your cooked sweet potato before you blend.
Apple
For a flavorful mash that you’ll like yourself, add a peeled and chopped apple to your boiling water as you cook your sweet potatoes. No apples on hand? Swap the chopped apples for applesauce.
Take the flavor up a notch and add a pinch of cinnamon. Really, we wouldn’t be surprised if you gave this one a try and your child loves it! Serve it warm for a delicious autumn treat.
Pears
Similar to the apple, just peel and chop the pear and then add it to the boiling water during the cooking process. This one would also be great with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled in.
Chicken
Does your baby need a little more protein in their diet? If you’ve already introduced them to boiled chicken, add some of it to the sweet potato puree for a more savory option. Just make sure the chicken is fully cooked and blended properly.
Beans
Another savory way to go is to add cooked beans to the cooked sweet potato before pureeing. You can use a variety of beans for this, including black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans.
Spinach
If you’re struggling to get some greens into your kiddo’s diet, hide them in the sweet potatoes. During the last 5 minutes of boiling, toss in the spinach with your sweet potatoes, and then puree it all until smooth.
Peas
Want to get more vitamins A, B1, B6, C, and K in your little one? Mix peas with the sweet potato puree. Either cook fresh peas with the potatoes or use precooked peas and add them to the blender when you puree.
Baby food shouldn’t be boring
Like with your own meals, make it fun. Once your mini monster is six months old, safely play with various spices and seasonings. Experiment with turmeric, nutmeg, thyme, dill, and mild curry. Start with small amounts and see how that tiny tummy handles the spices before adding more.
Raising children who love to explore with their taste buds starts as soon as you begin feeding your infant solid food. Sweet potatoes are an excellent way to introduce them to a variety of new and exciting food combinations. With our nine ways to jazz up plain sweet potatoes, you’ll be sure to find at least a few ways your little nugget (and you) will enjoy them.
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