Hey, isn't baby food supposed to be bland?
No - this is a myth. The tradition of bland baby food is a cultural phenomenon. There is no medical evidence suggesting food flavored with spices and interesting ingredients is harmful to babies. Further, babies from around the world enjoy a far great range of foods in their first years of life compared with those in the USA.
How much spice goes into your baby food?
Our recipes are flavorful without being overwhelming. The goal is to provide distinct flavors that both engage the senses and provide for enjoyable meals.
Do babies like it?
Yes! We have many happy customers (visit our testimonials). More importantly, you teach your babies to accept and enjoy healthy foods.
What is "taste development"?
Studies show that children form dietary preferences by age two. Some of these kids become "picky eaters" while others eat just about anything. How does this occur? Is it nature, or nurture? Are there things parents can do to help guide their children toward better dietary habits? Should we even worry about this?
The answer to these questions form the basis of our key message: that infancy is a crucial time of taste development when children learn dietary habits that affect them throughout their life. A baby's diet experience at age 9 months may affect their risk for obesity later in life. Therefore, parents can actively teach their babies how to eat more healthy by offering them a dynamic range of flavorful foods early on.
The answer to these questions form the basis of our key message: that infancy is a crucial time of taste development when children learn dietary habits that affect them throughout their life. A baby's diet experience at age 9 months may affect their risk for obesity later in life. Therefore, parents can actively teach their babies how to eat more healthy by offering them a dynamic range of flavorful foods early on.
Why is conventional baby food bland?
Conventional baby food is a product of the industrial age. In order to manufacture mass amounts profitably, baby food needed to meet the needs of industry. Baby food became homogenous, diluted with water, thickened with starch fillers, and bereft of flavor. From the 1950's on, the powerful marketing of large corporations convinced a generation of parents to buy into its concept of industrial baby food - and quality was traded for cheapness, blandness, and false security.
Babies? They really couldn't complain.
Babies? They really couldn't complain.
What does "nutritional balance" mean?
Nutritional Balance means that a recipe contains a blend of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and nutrients appropriate for metabolic needs. If you take a look at the baby foods on the market, most often you'll find merely one or two ingredients in each - and seldom do you find rich protein sources.
While Dr. Susanna's applies the idea of "nutritional balance" to its line of baby foods to offer contrast between it and other products - we desire also to encourage parents to view this as an important factor in all their nutritional choices.
While Dr. Susanna's applies the idea of "nutritional balance" to its line of baby foods to offer contrast between it and other products - we desire also to encourage parents to view this as an important factor in all their nutritional choices.
What do you mean by "diet teaching"?
Humans have a natural inclination toward starchy and sweet foods. In the remote past, scarce food supplies rendered this inclination harmless, as people couldn't satisfy this impulse easily. But in our world of plentiful food and calories, this impulse is easily satisfied - and poorly controlled. The result is an epidemic of pediatric obesity never before seen.
Simply feeding babies with the goal to nourish and satisfy hunger is not enough. Feeding should incorporate ongoing education in new foods and flavors. When a baby resists, the parent can view this as a "learning moment". Studies show that initial refusal by infants often becomes acceptance when a new food is offered repeatedly. This might mean more work in feeding for the parent, but the effort will be richly rewarded by the development of healthier eating habits.
One other aspect of diet teaching is the role of parent modeling. It's important for the parent to incorporate healthy eating patterns within the family tradition. If mommy likes Brussels sprouts, then baby may grow up liking them too. Finally, every parent should be aware of their own diet habit shortcomings. A parent may not like beets, but why pass on this dislike to the child, when the child might benefit from more flexible vegetable menu?
Simply feeding babies with the goal to nourish and satisfy hunger is not enough. Feeding should incorporate ongoing education in new foods and flavors. When a baby resists, the parent can view this as a "learning moment". Studies show that initial refusal by infants often becomes acceptance when a new food is offered repeatedly. This might mean more work in feeding for the parent, but the effort will be richly rewarded by the development of healthier eating habits.
One other aspect of diet teaching is the role of parent modeling. It's important for the parent to incorporate healthy eating patterns within the family tradition. If mommy likes Brussels sprouts, then baby may grow up liking them too. Finally, every parent should be aware of their own diet habit shortcomings. A parent may not like beets, but why pass on this dislike to the child, when the child might benefit from more flexible vegetable menu?
What do I do when my baby is a picky eater?
Few things are as core to a parent as their desire to nurture and feed their child. So it comes as no surprise that many parents tend toward foods that their child happily eats, and avoids other foods that seem to cause a fuss. This can result in a menu dictated by the child. If your child loathes vegetables, this could be a problem.
Studies show that repeated exposure to foods leads to acceptance. An early and active approach like this can promote wider acceptance of foods - and prevent "picky eating" from developing in the first place.
Many parents have resigned themselves to the picky eating habits of their children. Often, they may resort to "sneak tactics", such as concealing healthy ingredients in junky foods. While this concept has achieved some popularity, Dr. Susanna's views this as a failure to acquire healthy dietary habits early on. It may provide good nutrition in the short term, but it neglects the long term goal of helping growing children make healthy diet choices for themselves.
Studies show that repeated exposure to foods leads to acceptance. An early and active approach like this can promote wider acceptance of foods - and prevent "picky eating" from developing in the first place.
Many parents have resigned themselves to the picky eating habits of their children. Often, they may resort to "sneak tactics", such as concealing healthy ingredients in junky foods. While this concept has achieved some popularity, Dr. Susanna's views this as a failure to acquire healthy dietary habits early on. It may provide good nutrition in the short term, but it neglects the long term goal of helping growing children make healthy diet choices for themselves.
Organic baby food? Is that the answer?
The vast majority of organic baby food in the market is simply organic versions of the conventional old recipes established during the Gerber heyday. Hence, the market is full or organic food that's still bland, simple, lacking nutritional balance, and lacking in developmental benefits. Organic alone doth not make healthy.
Unfortunately, parents can be lulled into false-security by that "organic" label. Organic is merely one of a number of qualities that a parent can consider when judging the value of a baby food.
Unfortunately, parents can be lulled into false-security by that "organic" label. Organic is merely one of a number of qualities that a parent can consider when judging the value of a baby food.
What are the questions I should ask when thinking about a baby food?
Here are some questions that can help you choose the best quality food for your baby.
Is this food organic? If so, is it cooked safely?
Is this food nutritionally balanced?
Does this food help me teach eating skills to my baby?
Does this food promote development of the sense of taste?
Does this food provide any other beneficial experiences?
Would I eat this?
Is this food organic? If so, is it cooked safely?
Is this food nutritionally balanced?
Does this food help me teach eating skills to my baby?
Does this food promote development of the sense of taste?
Does this food provide any other beneficial experiences?
Would I eat this?
Why does Dr. Susanna's focus on multicultural recipes?
We chose a multicultural theme because it allows us to develop a fun and tasty line of baby foods that fulfills our mission to educate children how to eat. In addition, cuisine is a great way to experience culture. When a baby tastes curry, for example, they just experienced a profound aspect of Indian tradition.
The children of today, raised on the foods of the world, will become the world citizens of tomorrow.
The children of today, raised on the foods of the world, will become the world citizens of tomorrow.
How did you get this idea?
Our idea of "multicultural baby food" and "taste development" stems from our experience as physicians who have lived extensively in other cultures. Children from around the world enjoy a diverse and flavorful diet - and don't suffer the rates of obesity seen here. We began to understand a relationship between dietary experience during infancy and future eating habits. As physicians, this provided a creative insight: that we could reduce risks of pediatric obesity by making healthy food taste better. The result? Dr. Susanna's multicultural organic World Baby Foods.
Dr. Susanna's World Baby Foods has two missions: to promote a healthier approach toward infant development and nutrition, and two provide a line of baby foods that reflects this approach.
Key concepts in understanding this approach are the following:
The concepts will be explored in the following FAQ section. You may also view "Dr. Susanna's Blog" for further discussion of these concepts.
We welcome you to contribute questions.
Key concepts in understanding this approach are the following:
- Taste Development
- Diet Teaching
- Nutritional Balance
The concepts will be explored in the following FAQ section. You may also view "Dr. Susanna's Blog" for further discussion of these concepts.
We welcome you to contribute questions.
