Baby food refers to forms of food that contribute to the nutrition of babies and young children. This refers to porridges, cookies, dairy products, and juices and other beverages specifically for babies and children.
Here’s what you should know about baby food
Baby foods are porridges, cookies, dairy products, as well as juices especially for babies. A baby is defined as a child between the ages of 0 and 1, after which it is considered a toddler. Therefore, the term “baby food” is very broad, as it is still used to feed all or part of most infants. If one follows the definition of a baby, the most important ingredient of baby food is milk. The mother’s milk is not counted to the baby food, since this term means mostly industrially or even at home produced food, to which the mother’s milk is not counted. Rather, it refers to breast milk substitutes, ranging from PRE milk for newborns to infant milk for toddlers. Already babies can be interested in solid food, which is offered to them in the form of baby porridge, as they are not yet able to chew at this age. Later, cookies or nibbles made of puffed rice especially for babies and toddlers are added, which are not very tasty. The typical fennel tea and other teas and drinks that are accepted and well digested by the baby and toddler also still count as baby food.
Importance for health
Baby food is not even necessary in the first few months for fully breastfed babies, as they can live on breast milk alone. During this time, it is more important for the mother to have a healthy diet. However, baby food becomes vital for babies who cannot be breastfed – or if the woman does not want to breastfeed her child for various reasons. For these cases, there are special PRE foods that mimic breast milk and are freshly prepared from boiled water and powder with each feeding. While it does not contain any defenses that breast milk could give the baby, it does contain vital vitamins, minerals and fats. The later baby food attaches great importance to preserving the nutrients naturally contained in the individual ingredients. Vitamins and minerals are best preserved by gentle preparation such as cooking or steaming. As a result, high-quality baby porridges provide an optimal basis for supplying the baby with all the vital substances it needs for its development.
Ingredients and nutritional values
The specific ingredients of baby food are based on the composition of breast milk in the case of dairy products and are made up by the individual ingredients in the case of baby porridges. In substitutes for breast milk, a lot of vital vitamins and minerals are contained, in similar concentrations as in natural breast milk. While breast milk contains defenses from the mother’s body that are just right for the baby, an industrially produced substitute product naturally cannot provide that. This ingredient is missing. Milk for older babies and toddlers also contains starch, which is not found in breast milk. It saturates the child and ensures that it gets hungry less often. Baby porridges are usually made from a few individual ingredients or only one ingredient. These are prepared so gently that all vital substances are preserved as far as possible. They then resemble raw vegetables.
Intolerances and allergies
Against a Ersaztprodukt for breast milk, hardly any baby will develop an allergy, but intolerances of the product can crystallize. A look at the ingredients and nutritional values will show that these vary only minimally from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, these small differences can already mean a big change for babies and mean that one dairy product is perfectly tolerated, while the other leads to colic. This does not mean that the product is bad, but that this baby food is simply not suitable for the baby. The metabolism is still very sensitive, and this should be taken into account. However, real intolerances usually only become apparent with solid baby food, which also means baby porridge. Only now does the baby come into contact with fruit and vegetables and it can become apparent whether intolerances or allergies exist. Redness in the diaper area, rashes and other typical signs that are also known from adults indicate that the baby does not tolerate an ingredient of the baby food well.This does not have to remain so for a lifetime and can already look completely different next month, but for the moment the metabolism should be spared from the ingredient.
Shopping and kitchen tips
One of the most sensitive representatives of baby food is the milk powder for the preparation of milk. Whether it is initial milk or infant milk for a toddler, it does not matter: any powdered milk can spoil. Therefore, it must be stored in a dark and dry place, and it is best to transfer it to an appropriate container immediately after purchase. If the powder clumps or the baby refuses the bottle without being sick or having any other apparent reason, this should be taken seriously. Spoiled powdered milk is unfortunately difficult to detect at first glance, nor does it necessarily smell spoiled right away. The baby is the first person who might notice that something is wrong. Therefore, great importance should be attached to the expiration date. You don’t have to be so careful with baby food, which is packed in airtight jars. How long they can be stored is written on the jar. Once opened, they should be placed in the refrigerator and usually kept for no longer than a day, otherwise germs could creep in. This wouldn’t be a problem for an adult, but even more so for the baby’s immature metabolism. Homemade baby food made from fresh vegetables should be served immediately – storage is recommended only in a sealed container in the freezer.
Preparation tips
One of the most sensitive representatives of baby food is the milk powder for the preparation of milk. Whether it is initial milk or infant milk for a toddler, it does not matter: any powdered milk can spoil. Therefore, it must be stored in a dark and dry place, and it is best to transfer it to an appropriate container immediately after purchase. If the powder clumps or the baby refuses the bottle without being sick or having any other apparent reason, this should be taken seriously. Spoiled powdered milk is unfortunately difficult to detect at first glance, nor does it necessarily smell spoiled right away. The baby is the first person who might notice that something is wrong. Therefore, great importance should be attached to the expiration date. You don’t have to be so careful with baby food, which is packed in airtight jars. How long they can be stored is written on the jar. Once opened, they should be placed in the refrigerator and usually kept for no longer than a day, otherwise germs could creep in. This wouldn’t be a problem for an adult, but even more so for the baby’s immature metabolism. Homemade baby food made from fresh vegetables should be served immediately – storage is recommended only in a sealed container in the freezer.
