Homemade food for weaning on hols - too much hassle?

[kerfuffle]

6 mnth old Dd is now weaned having 3 meals/day. I have given her home prepared purees which I freeze. However, going to center parcs soon (first hol with dd), so tried her on some organic jars of baby food. She spits it out and pulls a face (what do they put in them, they stain her clothes like crazy?)Tried several different brands and flavours but no-go unfortunately. I am worried that preparing food fresh each day is going to be a bit of a hassle. Friends have said to just mush up what we are having but she tends to eat earlier than we like to and often what we have is not appropriate for her. Any ideas to give me a relaxing holiday and a happy baby?

[jenkel]

We went away with a 7 month old to Australia and coped fine with food, if we ate out I just made sure that one of us had something that she could eat, mashed potato, fish etc - something that I could easily mush down, yoghurts are a god send, banana is easy to prepare. We didnt find any problems at all and didnt use jars as my dd also wouldnt have them. We also went away with dd1 when she was 7 months old to Sardinia and she lived off of pasta and pizza. May not be the best diet in the world but wont hurt them for a week

[NotQuiteCockney]

I'd give mashed bananas? Oatmeal? Weetabix? That sort of thing. My DS2, who is 8 months now, eats almost entirely our food - he can cope with almost anything.

The other option would be taking frozen stuff, if your chalet will have a freezer?

[LIZS]

Are you planning on eating in or at restaurants ? You could mash up a little of what you have for dinner and keep it for the next day. Or do one cook up when you arrive, so that if there is a microwave you could take sweet potato, jacket potato, steam some veg etc very quickly and put in fridge to mix and match for her meals. Spread it out over the next few days (she won't mind having similar food for a few days), plus "instant" foods such as mashed fruit, cereal and yoghurt.

[bea]

when going on hold etc i have always just frozen up purees in portion size bowls... dated them for the time we're away and chucked them in a freezer bag and then into the freezer... easy peasy... esp when there's a microwave to defrost themm...

have a lovely holiday... very jealous!

[kerfuffle]

Thankyou .

[kerfuffle]

She does have mashed banana and weetabix for breakfast, and I give her fromage frais with fruit puree. I think either taking frozen pots in a freezer bag or putting a little of what we have in the fridge for the next day is the answer. I think you are right , it won't hurt her for a week, I think I am trying to be too ambitious with her meal combinations (first time mum syndrome - v. excited about giving her proper food)

[pixiefish]

also avocado is very quick meal.
papaya also good for a quick meal

[jenkel]

just to add to pixifish suggestion for avocado, both my dd's loved avocado mixed with cottage cheese

[CoveredInDribble]

Just to reassure you, all the restaurants at Center Parcs have microwaves so you could even make a batch of stuff before you go, or when you get there, and freeze some/put some in the fridge, then heat as you need it. Our villa had a microwave as well. HTH.

[franch]

Whatever you do, choose the option that is going to be easiest for you (without giving her junk, needless to say ). We went away with DD at that stage - she'd never tried a jar so I took avocado, banana and other fresh foods - of course had to sterilise fork, bowl etc etc for preparation and the whole thing was such a time-consuming hassle, it didn't make for a very relaxing break! Immediately made a mental note to invest in jars if we ever did that again. I know that doesn't look like being an option for you but like I say, do whatever it takes to keep life simple. As others have said, it won't do her any harm for such a short time and it'll make for a pleasanter break for all concerned.

Have fun

[janeybops]

have you tried the packets of dey=hydrated food. smell disgusting but ime babies seem to love them!?

[hunkermunker]

Absolutely no need to sterilise utensils for preparing or feeding food to a baby IMO - just make sure they're washed (which I'm sure you will!). After all, the banana/avocado isn't sterile.

[franch]

HM I'm sure you're right. I will no doubt do things entirely differently next time round

[HappyMumof2]

Message withdrawn

[kerfuffle]

Good point. I think I need to make a list of 'crucial supplies' so that I don't forget anything which may make things more difficult.

[koalabear]

went away with friends when our son was about this age - they also had baby same age - so on first day, we did a batch of cooking,puree,freezing, and the rest of the week was easy

have you tried hipp jars? they are the ones my DS likes best

[kerfuffle]

Yes, she doesn't like them. I have tried other organic brands too, but no-go unfortunately.

[tarantula]

We went camping when dd was 7mnth and I tried to give her a jar of food on the first evening but not a chance of her eating it so she ended up having what we had (mince and totties that evening which she loved). Also gave her lots of fruit and yogurts. Had no probs at all.