Homemade Baby Food Stage 1: Squash Puree

If you are new to making baby food take a look at Homemade Baby Food: How to Get Started.

Squash is a wonderful Stage 1 vegetable. Winter squash, like acorn or butternut, is high in vitamin A and calcium. There is a great resource here on the nutritional content.

Introduction Age: 4-6 month *Check with your pediatrician about when to start your baby on solid foods

Squash Puree:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds.
3. Put squash in baking pan face down. Add approximately 1 inch of water to pan.
4. Cook for 45-60 minutes or until you can easily pierce "meat" with a fork.
5. Cool squash and retain cooking liquid for thinning puree.
6. Scoop "meat" out of squash shell.
7. Puree in your choice of appliance*. Add reserved cooking liquid to make it the desired consistency (thin, but not runny).

To Freeze:

1. Spoon puree into ice cube trays.
2. Cover ice cube trays with plastic wrap and freeze overnight or until solid.
3. Pop out cubes and store in freezer safe plastic bags.

To Thaw:

Remove cube from freezer and place in container in refrigerator for 12-24 hours. Heat if desired and serve. Use thawed cubes within 24 hours or thawing. You may also thaw in microwave if you choose.

*I use my Food Network 3-Cup Mini Food Processor . Since I like to use my mini food processor for the convenience of easy cleaning, I puree one half at a time.

Remember to use the 4 day wait rule when introducing new foods. Feed your child only 1 new food for a 4 day period to wait for any possible reaction.
Food Combinations:

Once your child has been introduced to several foods using the 4 day wait rule, you may begin trying different food combinations. Here are some foods that pair well with squash:

• Rice
• Apples
• Peaches
• Pears
• Carrots
• Meat (Beef, Chicken, Pork)

Remember to check with your pediatrician regarding your baby's readiness to begin solid foods and discuss any foods that may have an allergy risk for your child.

Some of the links on this website are "affiliate links." This means that if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive a commission