3 Real Food Baby Snacks

This post may contain affiliate links which give me a small commission at no extra charge to you.

 

What are Real Food Baby Snacks?

When your baby is ready for finger food, it’s important to introduce real food into his diet. Real food refers to food in its natural state that has not been processed (or very minimally processed.) Look for real food baby snacks that are grain-free and soy-free for starters. Many moms serve Cheerios or other highly-processed cereals. Grain-based snacks, such as crackers and “baby puff” snacks are also very popular baby snack foods. I don’t recommend them.  Read this post to find out why.

It’s hard to find baby snacks in pre-packaged form that are actually healthy. In fact, most pre-packaged baby snacks are highly processed using a method called extrusion. This process of heating grains with extremely high temperatures destroys vital nutrients in food and completely denatures the proteins in grains. Even organic baby snacks are guilty of this high processing. (source)

Most likely, you will need to make your own real food baby snacks periodically and store in the refrigerator or freezer for that “grab n’ go” convenience.  Here are a 3 very easy real food recipes to make your own grain-free baby snacks for convenient, mess-free snacks on-the-go. Make an extra batch for the freezer, for when time is short! These recipes are super quick, easy, and baby-approved!

 1. Oven-Roasted Sweet Potato Bites for Baby

 

 

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Wash and peel one organic sweet potato.

Cube into baby-bite-sized pieces small enough for baby.

Place the sweet potato cubes into a bowl and toss with a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil until shiny. (Add more oil if your sweet potato was large.)

Line a cookie sheet with non-toxic parchment paper and then toss your oil-coated sweet potatoes onto the parchment paper. Spread them out so they are a single layer on the pan.  Bake for about 15 minutes or until sweet potatoes are soft and tender. Cool. These keep for up to one week in the fridge and can be tossed into a snack cup for an easy mess-free baby/toddler snack. You can also substitute butternut squash for the sweet potato if you wish. Both are very easy to digest for baby.

2. Easy Grain-Free Baby Bites.

Mix together 3 tablespoons organic coconut flour.

2 tablespoons cold, pasture-raised butter  or organic coconut oil  

1 tablespoon pure maple syrup.  I Like this brand 

A pinch of sea salt if desired. –

I am including a link for my absolute favorite super healthy sea salt here. I like it because it has the highest mineral count of all sea salts! Our bodies need healthy real salt and this one is the best! 

Mix up the dough well and then roll these up into little pea-sized balls and place on parchment paper. You may also press them slightly, if desired, or leave as little balls. Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes until light golden edges. Watch carefully since they don’t take long! Allow to cool completely before removing from pan or they will crumble! These can be refrigerated or frozen for later use. They make a great no mess, on-the-go snack for your baby or toddler to enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Grain-Free Pumpkin Pancakes

 Okay, there’s one more recipe I’d like to share with you!  This is a grain-free mini pancake that has a soft, spongy texture that babies love!  Make them mini-size or simply break up a larger one for baby. Because of their texture, they are very easy for baby to pick up and eat. The best part…for a “to-go” snack… no mess!  Here is a great post with a recipe for you. Enjoy!

 

Please share your ideas for “real food” snacks that are grain-free and no-mess for mamas and babies on-the-go!