An expert says what you should know about baby food bags
Baby food bags are durable, portable and a ratio of mental health when they are on the go with a hungry, weaning baby. Or simply cannot be confronted with cooking and mixing another meal, just so that it ends up on the floor.
Although they were previously considered healthy – after all, many are packed with protein and vegetables – that may not be the case.
A BBC panorama examination examined them together with the sugar content for some baby and toddler snacks and found many of the leading brands of important nutrients.
The NHS deducting council was then updated, including advice from the parents not to introduce bags until a child is six months old – even if instructions for packaging recommend that they are suitable from four months.
However, bags are necessary for many parents. Life is busy and sometimes comfort gains. But you don’t have to avoid it completely, says Charlotte Stirling-Reed, the Nuthitionist from Baby & Child. Instead, be sure how, when and which you should use so that your baby still gets nutrition and food experiences it needs.
The following says Stirling-Reed that you should pay attention to before stocking up.
Bag: a sometimes snack
Bags do not give your baby enough textures and lumps to taste and try. (Getty Images)
While they are occasionally okay, they are not ideal every day.
“They don’t go away. They are there,” says Stirling-Reed about Yahoo UK. “Really what we need are closer regulations and better marketing strategies to ensure that parents understand what these products are and that they could contribute to their child’s diet, but they should not only be specified as a nutrition and energy intake for small children.”
Their main concern is the balance. “They do not contain the right vitamins and minerals, and often they contain a large amount of energy and fats and not much more. And the same applies to sugar.”
Learn what to eat
But it’s not just about nutrition.
“Babies develop patterns of the food at a young age … When we encourage babies to like food made from a business and bought, they do not really teach them to eat and enjoy a variety of food.”
Different texture is the key
The NHS leadership also emphasizes the meaning of the texture. From around six months, babies need more than ultra -free puree.
If the little ones only get very smooth foods, they can resist lump later. Homemade foods can help because aromas and textures naturally vary.
How much sugar are there in bag bags?
The sugar content of the bags is a big problem.
A study by the University of Leeds, financed by that! Fund, viewed 632 British commercial baby food products and covered widespread sugar values all line.
It turned out that 41% of the main dishes marketed for children had too high sugar levels and 21% of the fruit products, grain and meals were too watery and did not provide sufficient diet.
“Almost nine out of ten fruit products (89%) of all products are so high that, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), they need a front of the pack sugar warneticet,” said the authors of research.
How to understand baby bag designations
Charlotte advises to use snacks like fruit next to baby bags when they are on the go. (Getty Images)
Stirling-Reed says it is worth being selectively-and that starts checking the label.
Ignore the front
“Look at the back of the pack and not on the front, because there will be a lot of messages to encourage you to buy you – things like ‘Perfect Finger Food’ or ‘Organic’. These messages can be misleading.”
This is supported by the study of the University of Leeds, in which claims such as “Experts” or “No parts” have often misleaded parents and create unrealistic expectations about how suitable these products are really.
Check the list of ingredients
If fruit puree is listed first, it is probably the main ingredient that can mean a higher sugar content.
Go for vegetarian mixtures
“Choose more options on a vegetable base, especially to choose the bags instead of choosing sweeter food. This helps babies to accept vegetables in their diet,” she adds.
Take a look at the age group
When your baby is finished, choose bags that are directed towards older age so that it is not completely smooth. “Babies have to learn to eat and lumps in their food are really important,” says Stirling-Reed.
More intelligent opportunities to use bags
If he offers a baby a bag of other solid foods, if he is ready, offers variety. (Getty Images)
The NHS advises that babies should not suck the food from the bag – instead press the content into a bowl and use a spoon.
Stirling-Reed recommends going one step further and combining them with other foods.
She suggests:
Combination with other foods. “In addition to some soft, cooked vegetables and some hummus dip, offer a baby crispy -add many nutrients and fiber and teach them that other foods are available.”
Mix it. “Maybe you have done some baby porridge or muesli – you could spray part of the bag on her muesli or distribute it on a piece of toast, so that you are not only dependent on package foods, but also get what we call family foods.”
When babies get older, the approach should shift:
After the toddlers, bags are best kept as one -off snacks and not as booklings.
Read more baby and toddler advice: