An Eye-Opener: Why I Moved From Processed Baby Foods To Home-Cooked Nutrition

The first child is usually a guinea pig. My maternity leave ended just when my first child began having solid foods. Life was hectic both at workplace and home as my husband, too, was busy and we did not have our extended family staying with us. Then, I discovered these ready-made baby foods, attractively packed and sold with high promises in the supermarkets.

I was happy as my baby was having everything, right from fruit juices, puréed vegetables to cooked food picked up from the stores. What's more, he was gaining weight too. But then I did not realize he was gaining weight for all the wrong reasons.

Before we realized, our son had turned obese. It was painful to see him develop a low self-esteem as he began attending the play school.

We go by the information given on the labels of processed food. And if the brand is well-known or is from a big corporation, we do not mind paying extra for their products, with the belief that they will do good to our children.

But is it really so? Think about it: would any company on this earth accept that their product is unsafe for consumption? Would any manufacturer tell its customers that its products have been made with ingredients that are not edible?

Every baby food manufacturer claims that they have found a way to pack your baby's food with nutrition. There is always some new formula or ingredient that is supposed to be the secret to your kids' health and happiness. Nevertheless, this is untrue in most cases.

We make ourselves believe these tall claims because it suits us, it falls in place with our busy schedules. And we do not want to make that extra effort to cook at home for our babies.

A UK study found that processed foods matched the calorie count of a similar quantity of breast milk. But, they were not as nutrient rich, meaning the baby got lesser nutrition than breast milk or homemade foods. The study says that regular home cooked food is more nutritious and nourishing than processed food.

It's all about profits vs. your baby's health!

The global baby food industry is worth $6 billion annually. Large corporations are focused more on the bottom line than delivering the best quality products to consumers. This results in foods being diluted to make them meet weight and texture requirements. It is common for them to use water and thickening ingredients to help improve texture.

This not only means that you are spending money on less worthy foods but also exposing your baby to various potential illnesses. The next time you're at the supermarket, check the ingredients list to see for yourself.

Here are processed baby food ingredients and their ill-effects on health:

1- Corn and wheat have been found to cause allergic reactions in children. However, most food jars state that they are suitable for children between 4 and 6 months old and sometimes even younger.

2- To appeal to a baby's developing taste buds, these processed foods are usually mild with a sweet after-taste. This involves the use of a lot of sugar and salt, both of which could harm your little one.

3- Most kids' foods come in vibrant colors. These artificial colors are full of chemicals and could be toxic.

4- Even flavored yogurt, which is a favorite among many parents as they make the switch from liquid to solid foods, is not without its disadvantages. Most yogurt products contain corn starch and three times the recommended daily sugar intake. Certain ingredients may also cause intestinal irritation.

5- Breakfast cereals are some of the most commonly used baby foods in the world. Big brands sell them with different flavors that appeal to young children. These products contain significant amounts of sugar, corn and trans fats.

6- Hydrogenated vegetable oils are considered one of the unhealthiest kinds of fats available and are best avoided at all costs.

Babies adapt to food based on their parent's tastes. Cooking food may take a little more effort but your baby gets the best nutrition possible.

This realization dawned on me only after experimenting with my son (call him my guinea pig, if you please). But thankfully, I could understand this when I still had time to correct my mistakes. My son is back to shape now, thanks to my efforts in the kitchen. And yes, I never had to commit the same mistakes with my second child -- a charming and naughty daughter!

Aradhana is a writer from India. Her areas of knowledge include parenting, children with special needs, health and lifestyle. She loves being outdoors and her hobbies include cycling and hiking. She has a special interest in children with special needs and parenting and shares her experiences through her other passion -- that is writing. She writes to share her knowledge so that it may help others. Her posts on these subjects have been published in more than 250+ various reputable sites. Aradhana writes to inspire and motivate people to adopt healthy habits and live a stress-free lifestyle.

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