Baby Food Recipe :: Sweet Potato Puree

Sweet Potato Puree

Sweet potatoes are an AWESOME first food for your baby (4 months and older).  The sweet and mushy nature of them often makes them a certified baby pleaser in terms of their budding palate. For mommies they are a great vegetable to use for your first try at making baby food and later serve as the go-to-vegetable of choice.

The bright orange color serves as assurance that they are high in beta-carotene.  They also are full of vitamin A and potassium and are a good source for vitamin E, folate and calcium. 

I recommend baking the sweet potatoes to retain the nutrients while also bringing out their natural sweetness.  

Ingredients:

1 medium sweet potato

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees
2. Wash the sweet potato under cold water
3. Wrap the sweet potato in aluminum foil 
4. Place the potato in the oven and cook for 40-60 minutes
5. Check the potato with a fork (the potato is done when you can drive the prongs of the fork easily through the potato)
6. Let the potato cool for about a half hour
7. Peel the potato (on a well cooked potato the skin should peel easily)
8. Place the potato in a blender/food processor/hand mixer bowl and blend (for older babies 8+ months mash the potato with a fork to provide a chunkier texture)
9. Add water/breast milk/formula to reach desired consistency

**As a first food make the potatoes more on the soupy side **

Storage:

Option 1: Store the sweet potato puree in air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days

Option 2: Place the sweet potato puree in ice cube trays and freeze overnight, then empty frozen cubes into a freezer safe air-tight container/bag and save for 3 months (each ice cube equals 1 ounce)