Baby food safety has always been a top concern for parents. Is the variety of foods on the market under the banner of "children's special" really healthy and safe? Is it really good for your baby's healthy growth?
In fact, many foods on the market with the label of "children's special" are just sales gimmicks, and once the parents are unknown, it is inevitable to fall into the pit.
So what should we do to choose foods that are truly healthy and good for our baby? In fact, it is very simple, just need to look at the "nutrition label" on the food packaging, you can naturally understand whether these so-called "children-specific" are really healthy, or gimmicks.
What does the "nutrition label" look like?
1. Look at the nutrition facts list
The national food safety department stipulates that the energy content and the content of the four nutrients of protein, fat, carbohydrate and sodium, and the percentage of each nutrient component in the reference intake of nutrients must be mandatorily marked on the label of food packaging. Other nutritional elements such as calcium, iron, vitamins, etc., enterprises can choose whether to label or not.
2. Look at the ingredient list
According to national regulations, the ingredient list should be listed in order from more to less, and the ingredients with the highest content usually rank first. And all additives must also be listed in the ingredient list.
When we choose food for our baby, we need to find out the order of the ingredient list and the content of each additive. Priority is given to foods with natural raw materials (such as milk, eggs, fruits, water, etc.) in the front, and the lower the condiments and additives (such as sugar, salt, flavors), the less the variety, the better.
It is particularly important to note that when choosing food for your baby, follow a simple principle: the simpler the ingredient list, the better, and the complex and varied ingredient list can be directly eliminated.
Having learned how to look at the "nutrition label", let's take a look at whether several common children's foods on the market are really designed for children.
1. Children's noodles
Looking at the nutrition facts table, it is not difficult to see that the main difference between children's noodles and ordinary noodles is the difference in sodium content. The sodium content of children's noodles is much lower than that of ordinary noodles, but if you add some sauce after cooking the noodles, this advantage is completely negligible.
It can be seen that the advantages of children's noodles are not so obvious, and they are not as exaggerated as advertised.
In daily life, we can buy high-quality wheat flour and make noodles and noodles for our babies to eat. You can also add a variety of vegetables according to your baby's preferences, and the noodles made are no worse than the so-called big-name foods, or even healthier and more suitable for your baby's taste.
2. Children's milk
Many parents have fallen into the pit of "children's milk", in fact, "children's milk" is not more nutritious, healthier, and may even damage children's health.
Some "children's milk" adds a lot of sweet substances such as sugar or honey in order to cater to children's tastes, and some even add flavors.
And from the classification of dairy products, there is no "children's milk", it can only be regarded as a modulated milk product. Although the protein content of the modulated milk is not low, there are too many additives inside.
In daily life, we can choose raw beef (sheep) milk as the main raw material for children, protein content is not less than 2.3g/100g, no or very little seasoning, liquid milk made of sterilization or sterilization process.
In addition, we must pay attention to the distinction, such as AD calcium milk, nutrition express and other products, can only be regarded as milk-containing beverages, not milk at all.
3. Children's soy sauce
Many children's soy sauces are under the banner of "low salt" and "low sodium", but looking at its nutritional composition list, it is not so.
National standards stipulate:
Sodium or no sodium (salt): ≤ 5mg/100ml or 100g;
Very low sodium (salt): ≤ 40mg/100ml or 100g;
Low sodium (salt): ≤ 120mg/100ml or 100g;
It is not difficult to see that these children's soy sauces, designed for children, are not as "low salt" and "low sodium" as the manufacturers boast. Its sodium content far exceeds the national standard, and I don't know how to make a big fuss about it under the banner of "low salt" and "low sodium".
Also, the National Nutrition Association stipulates that babies under 1 year old do not need salt or soy sauce! Adding salt or soy sauce too early increases the risk of high blood pressure in adulthood.
It is no exaggeration to say that children's soy sauce is completely a gimmick of hype, which is harmful to children's health and not beneficial.
4. Children's cheese
With the exception of very few fresh cheeses, most cheeses on the market are high in salt, and no matter how tempting the advertising may be, this fact cannot be hidden.
So the products that say "children's cheese" are not necessarily designed for babies, but more carefully designed for parents in the name.
When we choose cheese for our baby, we need to pay attention to the fact that babies under 1 year old are not suitable for consumption. Choose a natural cheese with a simple ingredient list, the higher the calcium content and the lower the sodium content in the nutrient content, the better. It should also be noted that unpasteurized cheese is not recommended for babies.
It is not difficult to see that most of the well-designed "children's food" on the market is not much different from ordinary food, but more of a sales strategy. Therefore, we must master the skill of looking at the "nutrition label" and choose healthy foods that are suitable for the baby.