Whether you are making food at home, buying it from the store, or a combination of the two, making sure it’s safe for your baby to eat is top priority. Because of his smaller size and less developed immune system, your baby is more likely to be affected by chemicals and bacteria than you. That’s why it’s important to take extra care when buying and preparing food for your little one.
Buy from places you trust
As well as being a convenient option, readymade baby food can be highly nutritious, healthy, and safe to eat. This is because, in many countries, manufacturers are required to meet strict standards to reduce exposure to pesticides, food additives, and harmful bacteria.
Some manufactured foods are fortified with key nutrients such as iron, calcium, and zinc, which may be low in traditional foods. In addition, readymade baby food can provide many varieties of fruits and vegetables for your little one to learn to enjoy. In fact, scientific studies have found that eating manufactured baby food in certain countries can result in babies having more kinds of vegetables in their diets.
Sources
Mesch CM, Stimming M, Foterek K et al. Food variety in commercial and homemade complementary meals for infants in Germany. Market survey and dietary practice. Appetite 2014; 76:113-9.
Carstairs, SA, Craig, LC, Marias, D et al. A comparison of prepared commercial infant feeding meals with home-cooked recipes. Arch Dis Child 2016; 101(11):1037-42. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2015-310098.
