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Health & Fitness

The Importance of Variety in Your Baby's Diet

Somehow throughout the last century in American culture, it has become common practice to feed babies bland, simple food. As babies become toddlers and preschoolers, their food choices in most restaurants are macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets, which are usually heavily processed, nutrient poor and lacking flavor. I grew up eating this diet, and my own father was shocked when he saw my 11 month-old daughter happily eating a mildly spicy vegetable curry. The tradition of feeding babies bland food devoid of spices, textures and complex flavors has no scientific basis and may actually discourage your child from eating a wide variety of foods later in life.

If you breastfeed, you may be surprised to learn that your baby tastes the flavors of the foods you eat through your breast milk. Enjoy a lot of chicken tikka masala while nursing? Chances are your baby will enjoy those similar Indian spices in their food because they are already familiar with the flavor. If you make your own baby food, try Incorporating different spices and add textures. Adding fresh herbs can truly liven up the taste of a puree for baby. At Mommy Made Goodness, we offer a rich variety of blends that highlight different spices and herbs. Our most popular purees are those with complex flavors like curry, rosemary, cumin and basil.

In addition to offering your child a variety of flavors, it is important to introduce many different types of nutrient rich foods (such as fruits, vegetables, meats, whole grains, legumes and seeds). Different foods contain different types nutrients. Offering various types of foods and a rainbow of fruits and vegetables are great ways to ensure your little one is getting all the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.

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How we feed our babies may set a foundation for many of the eating habits they will have as older children and someday, as adults. As parents, our plates are always full and preparing homemade baby food or foods with such variety is not always possible. And while jars and pouches are convenient and there are many organic options available today, they often lack complex flavors, textures and essential nutrients (such as proteins and essential fatty acids). These are the reasons we started Mommy Made Goodness. We are dedicated to providing your baby a wide variety of foods to help foster adventurous eaters with life-long healthy eating habits. We accomplish this by changing our menu weekly and offering over 10 unique blends each week. In addition to a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables, we incorporate many other essential nutrients such as proteins and essential fatty acids from ingredients such as coconut oil and milk, meat, poultry, beans, lentils, chia seeds and flax seeds.

For more information, visit www.mommymadegoodness.com or send us an email at info@mommymadegoodness.com.

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