Mindy Kaling’s DIY baby food is so delish, parents can enjoy it too

Mindy Kaling is the first to admit she was never someone who meal-prepped before having a kid. But now her daughter has officially added solid foods to the rotation (they grow up so fast!), the actress’ Sundays have changed. Now she DIYs batches of baby food that are so tasty, she’d be silly not to sneak some bites here and there, too.

In a recent Instagram story, Kaling shared her routine, which involves preparing her baby’s weekly meals from scratch using healthy, “fresh 2 death” ingredients straight from the local farmers’ market. This week, that menu includes sweet potatoes, string beans, and poached salmon, as well as fresh mangoes that Kaling’s dad, who may or may not be campaigning for Grandfather of the Year, snagged from an Indian store.

“I like making [baby food] on the weekends because it makes me feel like I’m part of my daughter’s life.” —Mindy Kaling

Sure, store shelves are chock-full of quality baby-food options, but Kaling likes DIYing her own for one important reason: providing something homemade is a simple way for the busy mama to connect with her little one. “I know there are so many good organic prepared baby foods out there that you can buy, but because I work, I like making them on the weekends because it makes me feel like I’m part of my daughter’s life,” she says.

And, FYI to other new moms: Meal prep doesn’t have to be a complicated time suck for you, either. Just pick up some vitamin-packed fruit, veggies, and healthy protein to feed your little ones—and yourself too!—and cook everything to be soft and in small pieces. Once you get the routine down, you can assemble a full fridge of easy-to-make food, straight from the heart, in record time.

Here’s the secret to stocking your fridge that makes meal prepping a cinch. Or, find out how you can use Instant Pot’s new features to make meal prepping easier and fancier.