6 Ways to Use Up Baby Food Purees {The First Years: Starting Solids}

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Is your baby all done with purees? Wait--don't throw out that baby food!


Here are 6 ways to use up baby food purees once your baby has moved on to more solid food: 


1. Offer it to a friend. I know of at least one of my readers who literally spends hours every week making baby food for her triplets. I bet almost any busy mom of babies would appreciate the help!


2. Donate it to a pregnancy resource center or food pantry. You cannot do this with homemade baby food, but if you have unopened store bought food, by all means, get it into the hands of someone who needs it!

3. Use frozen pureed fruit (or even veggie!) cubes in smoothies! This is one of my favorites! I make smoothies several times per week for breakfast--or just for a snack. I add frozen banana to almost every smoothie. If you have leftover banana cubes, just toss 2-4 into your smoothie instead of a half banana! You can also toss frozen spinach, kale or broccoli cubes in to make a green smoothie! (Green smoothies are my favorites!)


4. Use purees in any baked good recipe that calls for purees. This takes a lot of work out of the recipe for you! Of course, if you have frozen cubes, you will want to make sure they are thawed out before using them, but if you're using store bought food, it's as easy as opening up a jar and pouring it into the recipe!  I've used "baby food" purees when making allergen-free pumpkin spice donut holes and pumpkin-pear muffins. (Hint: You can almost always use sweet potato puree instead of pumpkin puree in pumpkin recipes...it barely changes the taste in baked goods!)


5. Make homemade smoothie "popsicles." Use frozen fruit cubes to make smoothies; then, pour the smoothies into popsicles molds for your kiddos!

6. Pop frozen fruit "ice" cubes into lemonade or orange juice. Use the pureed cubes instead of regular ice cubes for a refreshing treat!


What are some ways you use up baby food purees, once your baby has moved on to solids?


Check out the other posts in the "Starting Solids" series:

• Starting Solids
• The Best Foods to Feed Baby 
• Homemade Baby Food
• 5 Finger Foods for Baby

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