Sweet Puree Ideas for Babies

Introducing solids to a baby is an exciting milestone, and making your own baby purees can be a rewarding experience as a parent. But with so many different food combinations, it can be overwhelming to come up with specific ideas. Importantly, it is recommended that iron-rich foods should be introduced first. After which, there are no other recommendations on the order of foods to introduce.

Here, we explore some delicious and nutritious baby sweet puree recipes to try. These recipes can complement iron-rich foods such as iron-fortified cereal or pureed meat, chicken fish or legumes. It’s helpful to vary your fruit and vegetable purees to ensure adequate energy and nutrient supply. It’s time to make mealtimes more interesting while introducing your growing baby to new tastes and textures.

What Constitutes a Puree?

A puree is a food that has been blended or mashed to a smooth, consistent texture. For baby food specifically, a puree usually means a mixture of fruits, vegetables or meats that have been pureed to a smooth consistency, suitable for babies who are just starting out with solids.

Baby purees should be easy to swallow, digest and packed with essential nutrients for your little one’s growth and development. The good news is that many purees can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for later use, ensuring your little one has nutritious food options readily available.

Why Purees?

Purees are an excellent option for introducing solid foods to your baby. They are smooth and easy-to-swallow in texture, which is perfect for babies who are just starting to eat solid foods. Purees can be made from a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and meats, but most importantly they allow you to control the ingredients that go into your baby’s food. By gradually introducing different puree combinations for babies, you can help them develop their taste buds and learn to enjoy a diversity of delicious, healthy foods.

What Age is Appropriate for Purees?

The best age to start introducing purees to babies is at around six months of age, but not before four months. At this age, babies are typically ready to start eating solid foods, and purees have an easy-to-swallow texture that’s helpful for their developing digestive system.

Single Ingredient Purees vs. Multi Ingredient Puree

You have the option of using single-ingredient or multi-ingredient purees. It might be helpful to start with single-ingredient purees initially to rule out any potential food allergies. Once you’ve established that your baby does not have an allergy to a particular food, you can mix different ingredients to make more creative purees.
It’s important to wait three to five days between introducing new foods to monitor any potential allergic reactions. Even when making multi-ingredient purees, it’s essential that you first expose your baby to the individual ingredients to ensure they are not sensitive to any of them.

Nutritious and Delicious Purees for Babies

Banana and Apple Puree

Nutrition

Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and vitamin B6, while apples are a good source of fiber and vitamin C. When combined, they create a naturally sweet and creamy puree that your baby will love. Banana puree is also easy to make and can be frozen for later use. Freezing banana puree can help to preserve its nutrients, and it’s a convenient option for busy parents. The sweetness of banana and apple puree also makes it an excellent option for babies who are transitioning to solid foods and learning to enjoy new tastes and textures.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 ripe banana
• 1 sweet apple (such as Gala or Fuji)

Instructions

1. Wash and peel the apple, removing the core and seeds.
2. Cut the apple into small pieces and place them in a steamer basket or pot of boiling water.
3. Steam or boil the apple for 8-10 minutes, or until it is tender.
4. Peel the banana and cut it into small pieces.
5. Combine the steamed apple and banana in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
6. If needed, add a little water, breastmilk or prepared formula to thin out the puree to your desired consistency.
7. Serve the puree immediately or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

Variations

You can always swap out one of the ingredients for another fruit such as pear or peach. Also consider mixing things up with very small amounts of spices like cinnamon, or adding a spoonful of yoghurt for a creamier texture and added protein.

Strawberry Mango Puree

Nutrition

Strawberries are full of vitamin C, while mangoes are rich in vitamin A and fibre. A puree of these two fruits creates a smooth and juicy texture that will intrigue your baby. The natural sweetness of both fruits makes this puree a tasty treat, and both the mango and strawberry puree can be frozen for later use.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• 1 ripe mango, peeled and diced

Instructions

1. Wash, hull and slice the strawberries.
2. Peel and dice the mango.
3. Place the strawberries and mango in a blender or food processor.
4. Puree until smooth.
5. If needed, add a little water, breastmilk or prepared formula to thin out the puree to your desired consistency.
6. Serve immediately or store the puree in an airtight container in your fridge for up to three days. You can also freeze this puree for later use – simply pour it into an ice cube tray, freeze and then transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe container.

Variations

Some variations to the strawberry or mango include using banana or peach, or using coconut milk instead of water, breastmilk or prepared formula.

Pear and Prune Puree

Nutrition

You’ll find plenty of fibre, vitamin C and antioxidants in pear, which can help with digestion and boost the immune system. Prunes, on the other hand, are a natural laxative and can help regulate your baby’s bowel movements. Both pears and prunes have a naturally soft texture, especially after cooking them, making this puree a great option for babies who are starting to eat solids.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 ripe pears, peeled, cored and chopped
• 3–4 pitted prunes

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan, add the chopped pears and pitted prunes.
2. Add enough water to just cover the fruit.
3. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat.
4. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 10–15 minutes, or until the pears and prunes are soft and tender.
5. Using a food processor or blender, puree the mixture until smooth.
6. Add water, breastmilk or prepared formula as necessary to reach the desired consistency.
7. Serve the puree immediately or store it in an airtight container in your fridge for up to three days.

Variations

Add a very small pinch of cinnamon for flavour, use apples instead of pears, include a tablespoon of plain yoghurt for creaminess, or add a small amount of pureed cooked quinoa for added nutrition.

Peach and Banana Puree

Nutrition

Peaches are a good source of vitamins A and C, potassium and fibre, while bananas are high in potassium and provide a natural sweetness to the puree. Pureeing peaches makes them easier for babies to swallow and then digest, thanks to the soft and smooth texture.

Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 ripe peaches, peeled and pitted
• 1 ripe banana

Instructions

1. Wash, peel and pit the peaches, then cut them into small pieces.
2. Put the peach pieces into a steamer basket and steam for 10–15 minutes, or until soft. Alternatively, place them in a small saucepan with enough water to cover the fruit and simmer until soft.
3. Peel the banana and slice it into small pieces.
4. Puree both fruits in a blender or food processor until smooth, adding water, breastmilk or formula as necessary to reach the desired consistency.
5. Serve immediately or store puree in an airtight container in your fridge for up to three days.

Variations

You can use nectarines instead of peaches, add a tablespoon of plain yoghurt to make the meal more ‘filling’, or add a small amount of cooked rolled oats for added nutrition.

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