Why overusing baby food pouches could be bad for kids
Popular, go-to snacks might have some big downsides
Popular, go-to snacks might have some big downsides
Popular, go-to snacks might have some big downsides
Compared to chips and cookies, pre-pureed fruits and veggies sound like a slam dunk for parents looking to feed their kids more produce. However, as a 2018 report has brought to light, the convenient squeeze pouches found in everyone's diaper bags might also teach children unhealthy food habits when they're used as a crutch instead of a treat.
Baby food pouches make up 25% of the U.S. baby food market, according Nielsen's Total Food View as reported by . The popular snacks often feature ingredients such as Greek yogurt and kale and can effectively fool picky eaters into getting much-needed vitamins and nutrients.
However, they're not a replacement for regular fruits and veggies, according to , a pediatrician at NYU Langone Pediatric Associates at Irving Place, part of Hassenfeld Children바카라 게임 웹사이트s Hospital.
"Developmentally, kids aren't learning how to eat different textures and how to chew foods," she told GoodHousekeeping.com. "Instead of them eating peas and carrots, it바카라 게임 웹사이트s all mushed up in the pouch and they바카라 게임 웹사이트re just sucking it up. They don바카라 게임 웹사이트t learn to eat a diet. They learn to drink a diet."
The convenience of passing out pouches contributes to another problem, too: Jacobson says they can easily become a way to soothe kids, even when children don't really feel hungry and could probably use some one-on-one time instead.
One of the pouches' main benefits 바카라 게임 웹사이트 the ability to get squash and broccoli past finicky toddlers 바카라 게임 웹사이트 isn't ultimately doing you any favors in the long run, either.
"You're hiding vegetables that some kids this age won바카라 게임 웹사이트t eat, so they바카라 게임 웹사이트re getting nutrients without even realizing it, but the bad thing is that they바카라 게임 웹사이트re not acquiring the taste of kale or ," Jacobson explained. "Their palates themselves are not diverse and they aren't able to know what foods they like or don바카라 게임 웹사이트t like."
That's to say that while your kids might get a few peas in each pouch now, when you serve them up actual peas at dinner, they're not any more likely to want to eat them.
, the Good Housekeeping Institute nutrition director, agrees that the predominantly sweet taste of pouches primes kids for trouble eating plain veggies later on.
"Pouches are better as more of an 'in case of emergency' snack, but as an everyday thing 바카라 게임 웹사이트 the predominant way they바카라 게임 웹사이트re used 바카라 게임 웹사이트 the utility isn바카라 게임 웹사이트t there," she said. Her main concern is that almost all pouches list "fruit juice concentrate" or "fruit puree" as the first ingredient.
"Fruit juice purees are a , which aren바카라 게임 웹사이트t harmful for you, but the taste that they evoke in infants and toddlers is sweeter than a blended version of the fruit itself," she explained. "It바카라 게임 웹사이트s also used as a sweetening agent despite the fact that it doesn바카라 게임 웹사이트t fall under the FDA definition of '.'"
Besides developing a kid's sweet tooth, pureeing the produce also reduces the amount of fiber they're getting compared to eating fruits and veggies whole or even blending or mashing at home.
"It바카라 게임 웹사이트s not providing the same immune-protecting, gut-health benefiting attributes that a real, whole fruit or veggie would," London added.
So, what's a busy parent to do?
We know going totally pouch-less isn't realistic for a lot of parents, and no one is saying to give them up completely. But if you think your kids would benefit from a break, try to stick to no more than one a day, Jacobson advises. Try using them only during the busiest times of your routine, and maybe even empty the pouch into a bowl with a spoon.
Also, try establishing a regular family meal time, where children who are old enough can eat exactly what you're eating, just in smaller pieces. This way, they can get used to different textures and tastes.
Check the and consult with your pediatrician for more advice on feeding kids.
The Bottom Line: While baby food pouches undoubtedly beat out other unhealthier snack options, throwing an apple in your kid's backpack instead of an applesauce pouch wins out almost every time. Whole fruit and veggies supply more fiber and less concentrated sugar. Plus they get kids used to eating new foods and flavors. However, if you're in a jam, stick to one pouch a day 바카라 게임 웹사이트 tops.