Baby Nutritional Foods

Parenthood, more than anything else, is a matter of pride. However, concern is not far behind. New parents are forever concerned about their baby's health and nutrition and do not leave any stone un-turned to seek the best for their infant. Baby food is any food, other than breast milk or infant formula that is given specifically to infants, roughly between the ages of four months to two years. The food comes in multiple varieties and tastes, can be produced by many manufacturers, or may be table food that the rest of the family is eating, mashed up. A common trait of the many different baby foods is that they are designed for ease of eating; either a soft, liquidy paste or an easily chewed food. This is because infants lack teeth and experience in eating.

Baby food is available in dry, ready-to-feed and frozen forms, which are prepared by the caregiver or parent in small batches and fed to the child. Dry baby foods, such as rice or oatmeal cereals, are mixed with a liquid until reconstituted. Frozen baby food is a form of heat processed baby food that enables lower cooking temperatures by finalizing the product in a frozen, rather than the more traditional jarred, form. Cooking, pureeing and freezing fresh fruits and vegetables make frozen baby food.

The variety available in type of baby foods is mind-boggling. Companies offer large choice of baby food that includes packets, jars, rusks, cereals, and vitamin supplements. These are available in a variety of flavours - flavours like dry barley and with whole milk, dry brown rice, egg yolks and bacon, apple and orange flavours, honey flavours, rice, wheat, cookies etc. Baby food, today, not only caters to the growing nutritional need of children but also serves to pleasure their taste buds.