Albeit convenient, commercial baby foods are often chock-full of excess salt, sugars, and thickening agents.

Instead of buying the pre-packaged slop, spend a bit more time in the produce section for a cost -- and earth-saving solution, which will fill your baby with something better than modified food starch. Here's how:

1. Boil water for diced organic vegetables, or bake organic fruit of your choice in a 350 degree oven. (Carrots, frozen or fresh peas, yams, apples, and pears are good and can be combined together or with mashed bananas or avocados for various flavor profiles.)
2. When the fruit/vegetables are boiled through, strain most of the water out, and allow the fruit/vegetables to cool if you're feeding immediately after.
3. Use a regular or hand blender to puree them. Strain the puree to remove any seeds or peels.
4. To store, spoon the puree into ice cube trays, and allow to freeze.
5. When frozen, move the food cubes into respective labeled and dated ziplock bags. When you're ready, just take your desired cubes and defrost them to the appropriate temperature.

For additional recipes, Super Baby Food and The Petit Appetit Cookbook are the baby bibles, and if you're still too strapped for time to pull off the puree, there are some companies that are closer to DIY-products than mainstream brands.