The word "homemade" may conjure up images of an old-world Italian grandmother, fussing for hours over dozens of bubbling kettles while mixing mysterious concoctions in large bowls set on flour-covered counters. This is not the scenario with homemade baby food. Making baby food is more like the old commercial for Rice Krispies Treats, where the mom whips up a batch of goodies, then sits at the kitchen table reading a book, occasionally clanking a pan so her family thinks she's working. When she finishes her book, she tosses some flour on her face, grabs her pan of treats and emerges as a hero with a homemade dessert for her family.

The same hero's welcome greets the mom who makes her child's baby food. For minimal effort, you and your baby will glean maximum benefits.

The first and most important benefit is enhanced nutrition. "Homemade baby food is very healthy and nutritious because it omits the added sugar and modified starch found in commercial baby foods," says Dr. Denise Salerno, assistant professor of pediatrics at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. And although these additives are not dangerous to your baby, they take the place of the healthier ingredients.

Another major benefit for parents who make their own baby food is cost. "The high price of baby food was the primary reason I decided to make my own baby food," says Heather O'Neil of Chesterville, Ontario, Canada. The average family spends more than $300 on commercial baby food during their baby's first year of life, a high amount considering this food isn't recommended until your baby is 4 to 6 months old. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, baby foods are greatly overpriced compared to similar regular foods.

Most parents who make their own baby food also enjoy the control they have over what goes into their baby's body. Yvette De Luca, a mom in Phoenix, Ariz., was interested in her baby's nutrition, but also concerned about what else might creep into prepackaged baby food. "Shortly before my oldest daughter was born, one of the big name baby food companies reportedly had to recall baby food because there was glass in it," she says. "I was really worried about people tampering with baby food, so I decided to make my own."

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