Since I have been starting to feed my baby solids I have entered this new world of research, experience and information. As a first-time mother, I had to self-educate myself on the pros and cons of foods as well as the best strategies for introducing food to infants, but oh boy did I just stumble across the funniest set of articles and get the surprise of my life. Have you ever heard of the Baby Food Diet? I know! As soon as I saw articles discussing this fad article, I was in shock and wanted to know more. So apparently around 2010, a ‘baby food’ fad diet became really popular as it was rumoured that lots of celebrities were only eating baby food or replacing their usual adult meals with baby food or pureed foods to lose weight and to lose it fast. Now let me quickly interject and start off by saying that this sort of diet is not healthy but I do understand the concept.
Okay so let’s take a step back and start with my personal rule of thumb, I will only feed my baby something I am comfortable with tasting myself; as a parent you should always test the foods your baby will be consuming. This continues on to only feeding my baby foods that I make home. To be honest it is not that hard but it is time-consuming so I do have a few backup commercial options ready in my kitchen cabinet in case of emergencies where I run out or when I am in a hurry and unable to defrost my homemade mixtures.
Now let’s talk about the difference between babies and adults… Babies are still developing and so are their digestive systems, therefore, you cannot expect a baby to easily digest certain foods that we as adults are able to but might even have trouble digesting. That is why we have to be extra careful with the foods we prepare and give to our baby. This is also why it is highly recommended to introduce only one food item at a time as to see if your baby has any unwanted reactions. Most importantly, this is why baby foods are not fully nutritious as you do not get all the nutrients you as an adult need, including the very important piece of your health equation, fibre!
Taking matters into your hands is always the best policy, especially when it comes to your food. I always push people to make their own food and to take responsibility for their food intake, but when it comes to your baby I firmly believe your baby should come first, even before you. That’s why I want to push you to start creating foods that are good for you and your baby! Yes, you read right, you and your baby can enjoy the same foods but of course these snacks will not be the bulk of your diet as it is not enough. Do not fall for the fad diet and think it is healthy for you to eat only baby food. So what am I talking about? If you had or have a baby then you know that the most common foods to give your six-month old is pureed fruits and vegetables and then you can work up to pureed meats, eggs and yogurt among other options. This is where I found it was easier for me to make food for both of us without neglecting my health. Please take notice of the abundance and significance of fruits and veggies in a baby’s diet. Also, do not forget to value the fact that they also need carbs, protein and dairy to cover all their needs as we adults do, so honestly, it is not a bad idea to get your food basics from a baby’s diet. Anyways, I started to continuously steam veggies and then pureeing them for her as baby food with no added flavourings but preparing me some puree with the addition of salt, pepper and herbs, turning her veggie puree into my veggie soup. I also started doing the same for fruit, by pureeing her favourite fruits and having the same but adding my superfood powders and turning her fruit puree into my smoothie bowl. So far I have been able to eat her morning fruit snacks with her, even oatmeal. I make oatmeal by boiling oats, water and salt and she shares my plate. I’m planning on trying boiled eggs with her as well as Greek yogurt smoothies too! It’s amazing to see how aligning your diets does wonders for you as a parent as well as role modelling. She sees me eating the same foods as she does and that further encourages her to enjoy her solids just like her Mama. I am also able to keep ready to eat meals for myself in the fridge and continuously making fresh foods for us consistently because that’s how easy it is.
In conclusion, yes, you can eat baby food but not as the core of your diet. You should find the middle ground where you can both enjoy your food together and hopefully develop their taste buds in the right direction, along with yours if they aren’t already.


*The author is a wellness advocate and influencer @keys2balance.