Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
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Author:
Jennifer Anderson, MSPH, RDN
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Inside: Feeding babies doesn’t have to be expensive. Read to see tips about saving money on baby food, plus get suggestions for nutritious baby finger foods and cheap baby food ideas.
Learning about the different feeding methods and the best first foods can be overwhelming! Whether you’re fork-smashing, pureeing or serving finger foods soft-cooked, baby food doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated.
Here are some simple tips for saving money on baby food. Plus, learn about nutritious and budget-friendly finger foods for babies, why they’re beneficial and how to serve them safely.
How to save money on baby food
Every family is different, and no solution or strategy or tool is perfect for every family. But here are some ways you can save money while feeding your baby and the whole family.
When you buy anything pre-made, you pay for convenience. Sometimes, the convenience might be worth the extra cost for your family.
Other times, it may be best for your family’s budget to prepare your own foods. Preparing finger foods for babies can be quick and inexpensive.
Serve baby the same food as the rest of the family
Many nutritious and inexpensive foods can be easily mashed, pureed or grinded with a baby food grinder to make them safe for babies. Or, foods can be soft-cooked and then served to your baby as finger foods.
When serving a meal to your family, you can serve everyone the same food. Modify the foods to be safe for your baby. For instance, you may need to slice or dice foods to make them safe for your baby. (See more choking prevention tips below.)
If you are baking, roasting or sauteing, you may want to take your food out of the oven or pan earlier than your child’s food. You can cook your child’s food until it is softer.
If you can eat the same foods with your child, you can show your baby how to eat the foods you serve. Modeling eating the foods you want your baby to eat is one way to help prevent picky eating. (1)
5 cheap baby finger foods
Here are some great, cheap baby food ideas. These baby finger foods are inexpensive, nutritious and can be prepared for the whole family.
1. Sweet potatoes
Why we love sweet potato for babies: They’re rich in vitamin A.
How to serve sweet potatoes to babies: They can be served mashed or soft-cooked. When your baby has their pincer grasp, you can cut the sweet potatoes into soft, diced pieces so your baby can pick up the pieces.
Tip: Serve sweet potato with butter or oil to make sure the vitamin A can be absorbed.
Why we love tofu for babies: Tofu is great for iron, zinc and many vitamins and minerals. Plus, tofu is often fortified with calcium. It’s also a cheap way to get protein.
How to serve tofu to babies: Tofu is easy to prepare. It can be served mashed or cut into various shapes, with different flavors or spices added.
If your baby is working on their pincer grasp, serve tofu cut up into small cubes.
3. Broccoli
Why we love broccoli for babies: Broccoli is a great option for vitamin C (which helps to increase iron absorption), some iron, vitamin A and much more.
How to serve broccoli to babies: Serve broccoli mashed or soft-cooked and whole. Once your baby has developed their pincer grasp, serve broccoli soft-cooked and cut into small pieces for practice.
Tip: If you serve broccoli with butter or oil, your baby can also absorb vitamins A, E and K.
4. Chickpeas
Why we love chickpeas for babies: Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, are high in fiber, protein, iron, zinc, choline, vitamin C and copper.
Note: Chickpeas naturally contain vitamin C and vitamin A, two vitamins that can help your baby’s body increase its absorption of iron.
How to serve chickpeas to babies: Chickpeas can be served mashed or flattened with excess skin removed to help develop the pincer grasp. You can also make chickpeas into hummus.
Why we love sardines for babies: They are an excellent protein source, plus they are rich in choline, omega-3 fatty acids, and many more vitamins and minerals.
How to serve sardines to babies: Shred or puree sardines and mix with yogurt or avocado. Serve on a pre-loaded baby spoon or spread on toast.
More baby food ideas
See our pediatric dietitian’s list of the best first foods for babies for more healthy baby foods that might work for your family’s budget.
3 tips for feeding finger foods to baby
1. Serve baby meals that have fats
Add foods with fat to your baby’s meals. Butter, oils, meats, full-fat dairy, etc. all work.
Why is fat good for babies? Fat helps build their tiny brains and it also helps their bodies absorb several vitamins.
2. Work to prevent choking
Make sure all foods are easily squishable between your thumb and forefinger for safety. (2)
Only serve food to your baby while they are seated and secured in an appropriate chair (like a baby high chair with proper footrest) and you are supervising them.
If your baby isn’t interested in a particular meal, that’s OK. According to the Division of Responsibility in feeding, it is the parent’s job to decide what and when to eat, and the child’s job to decide whether or not to eat.
Created by experts, Kids Eat in Color is the leading resource for families seeking evidence-based information and strategies on child nutrition and feeding.
Jennifer Anderson is a registered dietitian and has a masters of science in public health from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. In 2019, she founded Kids Eat in Color®, a public health resource that improves child and family nutrition and mental health. Prior to starting Kids Eat in Color® she coordinated youth nutrition programs at a food bank, performed research in inner-city food deserts, and consulted for the USDA national office SNAP-Ed program. Her academic background is in public health nutrition, cultural anthropology, and economics.
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Inside: Feeding babies doesn’t have to be expensive. Read to see tips about saving money on baby food, plus get suggestions for nutritious baby finger foods and cheap baby food ideas.
From convenient store-bought baby foods to homemade purees to baby-led weaning, parents have many options when starting their babies on solid foods.
Learning about the different feeding methods and the best first foods can be overwhelming! Whether you’re fork-smashing, pureeing or serving finger foods soft-cooked, baby food doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated.
Here are some simple tips for saving money on baby food. Plus, learn about nutritious and budget-friendly finger foods for babies, why they’re beneficial and how to serve them safely.
How to save money on baby food
Every family is different, and no solution or strategy or tool is perfect for every family. But here are some ways you can save money while feeding your baby and the whole family.
Related: Check out our toddler fundamentals feeding course to learn all the basics of feeding children over age 1.
Make your own baby food to save money
When you buy anything pre-made, you pay for convenience. Sometimes, the convenience might be worth the extra cost for your family.
Other times, it may be best for your family’s budget to prepare your own foods. Preparing finger foods for babies can be quick and inexpensive.
Serve baby the same food as the rest of the family
Many nutritious and inexpensive foods can be easily mashed, pureed or grinded with a baby food grinder to make them safe for babies. Or, foods can be soft-cooked and then served to your baby as finger foods.
When serving a meal to your family, you can serve everyone the same food. Modify the foods to be safe for your baby. For instance, you may need to slice or dice foods to make them safe for your baby. (See more choking prevention tips below.)
If you are baking, roasting or sauteing, you may want to take your food out of the oven or pan earlier than your child’s food. You can cook your child’s food until it is softer.
If you can eat the same foods with your child, you can show your baby how to eat the foods you serve. Modeling eating the foods you want your baby to eat is one way to help prevent picky eating. (1)
5 cheap baby finger foods
Here are some great, cheap baby food ideas. These baby finger foods are inexpensive, nutritious and can be prepared for the whole family.
1. Sweet potatoes
Why we love sweet potato for babies: They’re rich in vitamin A.
How to serve sweet potatoes to babies: They can be served mashed or soft-cooked. When your baby has their pincer grasp, you can cut the sweet potatoes into soft, diced pieces so your baby can pick up the pieces.
Tip: Serve sweet potato with butter or oil to make sure the vitamin A can be absorbed.
Learn more about why we recommend sweet potato for babies.
2. Tofu
Why we love tofu for babies: Tofu is great for iron, zinc and many vitamins and minerals. Plus, tofu is often fortified with calcium. It’s also a cheap way to get protein.
How to serve tofu to babies: Tofu is easy to prepare. It can be served mashed or cut into various shapes, with different flavors or spices added.
If your baby is working on their pincer grasp, serve tofu cut up into small cubes.
3. Broccoli
Why we love broccoli for babies: Broccoli is a great option for vitamin C (which helps to increase iron absorption), some iron, vitamin A and much more.
How to serve broccoli to babies: Serve broccoli mashed or soft-cooked and whole. Once your baby has developed their pincer grasp, serve broccoli soft-cooked and cut into small pieces for practice.
Tip: If you serve broccoli with butter or oil, your baby can also absorb vitamins A, E and K.
4. Chickpeas
Why we love chickpeas for babies: Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, are high in fiber, protein, iron, zinc, choline, vitamin C and copper.
Note: Chickpeas naturally contain vitamin C and vitamin A, two vitamins that can help your baby’s body increase its absorption of iron.
How to serve chickpeas to babies: Chickpeas can be served mashed or flattened with excess skin removed to help develop the pincer grasp. You can also make chickpeas into hummus.
Find out even more benefits of chickpeas for babies.
5. Sardines
Why we love sardines for babies: They are an excellent protein source, plus they are rich in choline, omega-3 fatty acids, and many more vitamins and minerals.
How to serve sardines to babies: Shred or puree sardines and mix with yogurt or avocado. Serve on a pre-loaded baby spoon or spread on toast.
More baby food ideas
See our pediatric dietitian’s list of the best first foods for babies for more healthy baby foods that might work for your family’s budget.
3 tips for feeding finger foods to baby
1. Serve baby meals that have fats
Add foods with fat to your baby’s meals. Butter, oils, meats, full-fat dairy, etc. all work.
Why is fat good for babies? Fat helps build their tiny brains and it also helps their bodies absorb several vitamins.
2. Work to prevent choking
Make sure all foods are easily squishable between your thumb and forefinger for safety. (2)
Only serve food to your baby while they are seated and secured in an appropriate chair (like a baby high chair with proper footrest) and you are supervising them.
Learn the top choking hazards and how to prevent choking.
3. Keep it up!
If your baby isn’t interested in a particular meal, that’s OK. According to the Division of Responsibility in feeding, it is the parent’s job to decide what and when to eat, and the child’s job to decide whether or not to eat.
Don’t force your baby to eat and keep serving nutritious foods. Get more tips on feeding babies from 0-12 months old.
More expert info and advice on feeding babies
References