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Real Baby Food: Easy, All-Natural Recipes for Your Baby and Toddler
Simple recipes made with all-natural foods for a wholesome start for your baby or toddler.
"The first food your baby enjoys can leave an imprint for the variety of foods they will love for a lifetime. Real Baby Food is a must for new parents looking for easy-to-prepare recipes, tips, and ideas for making your child an excited, adventurous eater for years to come!" —Catherine McCord, founder of Weelicious.com and author of One Family. One Meal
Nothing compares with making your own baby It's fresh and unprocessed, you choose what goes into it, and it is a delicious way to introduce your child to a world of flavors. In Real Baby Food, Jenna Helwig helps you fit this loving act into a busy day's routine by making the process easy, fast, and flexible with one hundred meals to begin a lifetime of healthy eating—from the moment your baby takes her first bite of solid food through her toddler years when she's happily ensconced in a booster seat at the family table.
Real Baby Food is your guide to these important first years of eating. Find the building blocks of starting your child on solid foods, how to recognize food allergies, and easy ways to cook in bulk. Recipes progress from single-ingredient purées to multi-flavor blends like Salmon, Kale, and Sweet Potato Smash; then move on to finger foods—Turkey Meatloaf Bites, Maple Graham Animals—and finally toddler meals and snacks. Most can be made ahead and frozen, many are easily adapted for grown-up tastes, and all include full nutritional information.
"The first food your baby enjoys can leave an imprint for the variety of foods they will love for a lifetime. Real Baby Food is a must for new parents looking for easy-to-prepare recipes, tips, and ideas for making your child an excited, adventurous eater for years to come!" —Catherine McCord, founder of Weelicious.com and author of One Family. One Meal
Nothing compares with making your own baby It's fresh and unprocessed, you choose what goes into it, and it is a delicious way to introduce your child to a world of flavors. In Real Baby Food, Jenna Helwig helps you fit this loving act into a busy day's routine by making the process easy, fast, and flexible with one hundred meals to begin a lifetime of healthy eating—from the moment your baby takes her first bite of solid food through her toddler years when she's happily ensconced in a booster seat at the family table.
Real Baby Food is your guide to these important first years of eating. Find the building blocks of starting your child on solid foods, how to recognize food allergies, and easy ways to cook in bulk. Recipes progress from single-ingredient purées to multi-flavor blends like Salmon, Kale, and Sweet Potato Smash; then move on to finger foods—Turkey Meatloaf Bites, Maple Graham Animals—and finally toddler meals and snacks. Most can be made ahead and frozen, many are easily adapted for grown-up tastes, and all include full nutritional information.
435 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2015
About the author
Jenna Helwig
9 books28 followersI'm the author of the upcoming mystery novel The Foreign Correspondent's Wife. Set in post-War Paris, the wife of an American foreign correspondent stumbles on the body of her murdered classmate at culinary school and becomes tangled in a web that stretches from the halls of diplomacy to the city’s underworld.
I'm also the food director at Real Simple magazine and the author of five cookbooks including the bestselling Baby-Led Feeding and the time-saving, stress-reducing Bare Minimum
I love to cook, bake, and eat, and am a giant cookbook fan. (Check out my newsletter Cookbookery Collective on Substack!) I also love to read fiction and am a particular fan of literary fiction and mystery novels. I live in Brooklyn, New York with my family.
I'm also the food director at Real Simple magazine and the author of five cookbooks including the bestselling Baby-Led Feeding and the time-saving, stress-reducing Bare Minimum
I love to cook, bake, and eat, and am a giant cookbook fan. (Check out my newsletter Cookbookery Collective on Substack!) I also love to read fiction and am a particular fan of literary fiction and mystery novels. I live in Brooklyn, New York with my family.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 2, 2022
I cannot accurately rate this book since the majority of it is, at its heart, a cook book and I have yet to make any of the recipes. That said I am pretty confident my rating would only go up after putting some of them to the test.
This cook book offers insight into starting solids, how to plan for it, the nutrition to consider, and how not to lose your mind doing it all in easy to digest bits while seeming to be well supported by medical experts. It has helped me feel confident to move forward in this huge chapter of my loved one's life and know that I have the ability to nourish their body in a way best for them while building a healthy and happy relationship with food.
This cook book offers insight into starting solids, how to plan for it, the nutrition to consider, and how not to lose your mind doing it all in easy to digest bits while seeming to be well supported by medical experts. It has helped me feel confident to move forward in this huge chapter of my loved one's life and know that I have the ability to nourish their body in a way best for them while building a healthy and happy relationship with food.
May 9, 2016
Will update once I've tried at least a few of the recipes, but...
I think this book contains lots of good information and great ideas. I wish I had thought to look for a book like this when I was starting to feed my baby purees!
UPDATE: Just tried a few recipes so far, are they were ok. I'm returning the book to the library, and I probably won't buy the book. It's possible I'd check it out again in the future, if we have another baby, but I hope to find a book I like better.
I think this book contains lots of good information and great ideas. I wish I had thought to look for a book like this when I was starting to feed my baby purees!
UPDATE: Just tried a few recipes so far, are they were ok. I'm returning the book to the library, and I probably won't buy the book. It's possible I'd check it out again in the future, if we have another baby, but I hope to find a book I like better.
July 29, 2021
From purees and finger foods to full meals for toddlerhood and beyond, there are so many simple, healthy recipes and ideas--not just for baby, but the whole family as well! This book makes me hungry. 🥑🥔🍓🍐🍌
September 17, 2026
★★★★★
*Real Baby Food* is a practical and approachable cookbook for parents who want to make simple, homemade meals for their little ones. I really enjoyed how the recipes focus on wholesome ingredients while keeping preparation realistic for busy families.
The variety is especially helpful, with plenty of ideas for introducing different flavors, textures, and ingredients as babies and toddlers grow. The recipes feel manageable rather than complicated, which makes the idea of preparing homemade baby food much less intimidating.
I also appreciated the emphasis on making food from scratch. It is encouraging to have a collection that inspires parents to explore fresh ingredients and create meals at home without requiring elaborate equipment or hours in the kitchen.
The book is easy to browse and offers useful inspiration for different stages of early eating. It feels like the kind of resource that can stay within reach in the kitchen and be revisited as a child’s tastes and needs change.
Overall, *Real Baby Food* is a thoughtful, accessible, and useful addition to a family cookbook collection. It makes homemade baby and toddler food feel approachable and enjoyable, while offering plenty of ideas for creating nutritious meals at home. A well-deserved five-star read for parents looking for fresh inspiration.
*Real Baby Food* is a practical and approachable cookbook for parents who want to make simple, homemade meals for their little ones. I really enjoyed how the recipes focus on wholesome ingredients while keeping preparation realistic for busy families.
The variety is especially helpful, with plenty of ideas for introducing different flavors, textures, and ingredients as babies and toddlers grow. The recipes feel manageable rather than complicated, which makes the idea of preparing homemade baby food much less intimidating.
I also appreciated the emphasis on making food from scratch. It is encouraging to have a collection that inspires parents to explore fresh ingredients and create meals at home without requiring elaborate equipment or hours in the kitchen.
The book is easy to browse and offers useful inspiration for different stages of early eating. It feels like the kind of resource that can stay within reach in the kitchen and be revisited as a child’s tastes and needs change.
Overall, *Real Baby Food* is a thoughtful, accessible, and useful addition to a family cookbook collection. It makes homemade baby and toddler food feel approachable and enjoyable, while offering plenty of ideas for creating nutritious meals at home. A well-deserved five-star read for parents looking for fresh inspiration.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2026
★★★★★
**A Wonderful Guide for Homemade Baby and Toddler Meals**
*Real Baby Food* is a practical and encouraging cookbook for parents who want to prepare simple, wholesome meals for their little ones. I really enjoyed how approachable the recipes are, with an emphasis on natural ingredients and straightforward preparation.
The recipes offer plenty of variety for babies and toddlers, making it easier to introduce different flavors, textures, fruits, vegetables, and nutritious ingredients. The book feels especially useful for busy parents because the recipes are uncomplicated and don't require elaborate cooking skills or hard-to-find ingredients.
What I appreciated most is the focus on homemade food. Preparing meals for a baby can sometimes feel overwhelming, but this book makes the process feel much more manageable and enjoyable. The recipes provide great inspiration for everyday meals and snacks while encouraging healthy eating habits from an early age.
Overall, *Real Baby Food* is a helpful addition to any parent's kitchen. It's simple, practical, and full of ideas for creating nourishing homemade food for babies and toddlers. I would definitely recommend it to parents looking for an easy way to make fresh baby food at home.
**A Wonderful Guide for Homemade Baby and Toddler Meals**
*Real Baby Food* is a practical and encouraging cookbook for parents who want to prepare simple, wholesome meals for their little ones. I really enjoyed how approachable the recipes are, with an emphasis on natural ingredients and straightforward preparation.
The recipes offer plenty of variety for babies and toddlers, making it easier to introduce different flavors, textures, fruits, vegetables, and nutritious ingredients. The book feels especially useful for busy parents because the recipes are uncomplicated and don't require elaborate cooking skills or hard-to-find ingredients.
What I appreciated most is the focus on homemade food. Preparing meals for a baby can sometimes feel overwhelming, but this book makes the process feel much more manageable and enjoyable. The recipes provide great inspiration for everyday meals and snacks while encouraging healthy eating habits from an early age.
Overall, *Real Baby Food* is a helpful addition to any parent's kitchen. It's simple, practical, and full of ideas for creating nourishing homemade food for babies and toddlers. I would definitely recommend it to parents looking for an easy way to make fresh baby food at home.
November 14, 2020
Good info and tips on starting solids. Lots of recipes, both classic stands-by’s and many that are not your typical run of the mill fare, will definitely encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and try some new things when my baby is ready. Nice, colorful photos included as well. Borrowed from library and would definitely consider purchasing, either way, I will definitely be taking a look at this one again in the future.
March 30, 2019
A wonderful way to introduce baby to eating solid foods. This cookbook works well when using a combination of spoon feeding and baby-led weaning. From purées to finger-foods, the recipes are easy, tasty, and quite varied in flavors and nutrients. My baby has enjoyed several of the recipes-and I enjoyed making them!
July 12, 2019
Purees, smashes and more... Simplified, useful information. Smartly organized by baby digestion stages with easy to follow charts and photographs of each recipe. A must for anyone wanting to make baby food.
October 15, 2019
This book should just be called “Food for literally anyone ages 0-100” because these recipes would please every single person in my family from 6 months to grandpa. For real, if you want one single book to last from baby to childhood, this is the one!
March 14, 2021
Good info mediocre recipes
Though the information on feeding infants and toddlers was good. I learned many tips and tricks the recipes seem to be too much for daily meals in our house.
Though the information on feeding infants and toddlers was good. I learned many tips and tricks the recipes seem to be too much for daily meals in our house.
August 10, 2023
I’ve read a lot of parenting cookbooks, but this was a standout. Great recipes, fun ideas, and a lot of helpful nuggets of wisdom throughout. I checked this out from my library, but will absolutely be buying a copy from our local bookstore.
July 5, 2025
I love food & I can’t wait for Silas to love food too. This book is a helpful resource when it comes to introducing textures & nutrients. The recipes for 6-12M+ are easy & approachable. I’m looking forward to referencing this book often!
May 8, 2017
This is a really great resource and I highly recommend it!
February 17, 2018
FANTASTIC. Great culmination of recipes for all ages and helpful charts as well.
August 1, 2018
Love! The feeding schedules are so helpful. This really helped me develop a picture of how switching from breast to spoon would be.
January 8, 2019
Good ideas for making food for the babe.
May 7, 2019
Some good recipes to make and know what your baby is eating and the source of the food!
May 21, 2019
Easy to follow tips and instructions on how to make age appropriate baby food.
July 25, 2019
Good book, but lots of stuff with eggs
June 16, 2021
A great go to for baby food inspiration when stuck for ideas, that are eaily adaptable for all the family. I enjoy some the veggie purees as soups!
June 16, 2023
Lots of really great recipes for baby's & toddlers!!
September 18, 2026
Offers easy, all-natural recipes that transition seamlessly from baby to toddler, ensuring wholesome nutrition without processed ingredients for peace of mind at every single mealtime.
February 19, 2025
I can't say enough good things about this book!! As a first time mom I wanted some guidance on making my own baby food. My daughter is currently 3 months but I wanted to have time to read this before actually getting started. This book is easy to read, great pictures and charts, and all the information you need from what products you'll need to cook them, to portion sizes per age, to recipes all the way through the toddler years. I absolutely love it and it has made me excited to make my own baby food!!
Read
October 7, 2016Might buy this one
September 19, 2017
This is a GREAT recipe book. I recommend it wholeheartedly. It gave me so many ideas for what and how to feed my baby that I wouldn't have thought of myself.
August 23, 2019
This book has a nice introduction about food safety and storage, how/when to start feeding baby, supplies you need to make your own baby food, and other helpful tips throughout. The majority of the book consists of recipes broken up into stages based on baby's age. There are a lot of easy recipes to try! This is a great book to get you started if you're looking to make your own baby food.
September 28, 2015
Pretty good recipes that come with an extra heap of mom-shaming if you don't make freshly prepared, organic meals for your child for every single meal. Would have liked the book better without all the judgment.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews