For some parents, the option of making your own baby food is attractive not only for the money-saving benefits but also so you know exactly what your child is eating in these important first few months of life. With this in mind, here are some easy recipes for baby food that you can make right in your kitchen with a minimum of effort and supplies. As your baby develops preferences for certain vegetables or fruits, these can be pureed and added to many of the meal options presented below.

Whole grain rice

For this recipe you will need 2 ounces of rice powder. You can sometimes find this in a store, but more often than not you will have to grind this yourself. You can do so in a blender or food processor, or a mortar and pestle if you're feeling froggy.

You will also need eight ounces of water, and a small amount of formula.

1. Boil the water.
2. Add rice powder, stirring as you mix the powder in.
3. Let this mix simmer for about ten minutes, then add enough formula to get a good consistancy. This requires a bit of intuition in how thick your baby likes his or her food.

Fruit Puree

Your baby will begin to form preferences for it's foods early on, so when giving them fruit, stick with what they have shown they enjoy. Sometimes you can sneak in a small amount of a fruit they haven't tried yet or may not have liked, and over time they will begin to enjoy the new addition when presented on it's own.

When thickened with formula or breast milk, simply liquifying fresh fruit and thickening it can create a tasty breakfast treat. Use six to eight ounces of fruit and a little water to create the puree, then thicken to taste.

Veggie Puree

Fix your baby some wholesome veggies in pretty much the same manner you would fruits. Please remember when blending any produce to remove rinds, pits, stems and leaves from these foods.

Meat

It is recommended that you introduce meat into your baby's diet starting at about seven months. Until that point you should focus on watching for allergic reactions to the things you've already given your baby. When your child is ready to move on to meat, here are a couple of recipes to get you started that can be modified for your own baby, of course.

Chicken and Peach

4 ounces boneless chopped chicken

2 ounces cooked rice powder (hint: recipe above!)

1 peach, chopped -- remove the pit!

formula to taste

Chop all this together in a food processor until it has achieved the consistancy your child prefers.

You can substitute in beef, and can also use any kind of fruit or veggie your baby likes. The trick is to thicken the mix up with formula or breast milk, and to pay keen attention to the likes and dislikes of your baby.

Always consult your doctor if your baby experiences any ill effects from foods you make for them at home!