Ioannis Alexandridis
Clinical Nutritionist-Dietitian, MmedSc
It is scientifically proven that the nutrition of a child in the early stages of life and especially until the age of 2 lays the foundations for its future health. The science of nutrition in recent years has made leaps and bounds. Food technology has given us solutions that we could not have thought of a few years ago and has contributed to improving the nutrition of children and their health especially in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.
The first and best food for the infant is clearly breast milk and exclusively for the first 6 months according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization. After this period, other foods are introduced into the child’s diet until we gradually reach a normal diet similar to that of adults. In the meantime, the role of specially designed foods such as infant cereal creams and jars of fruits and vegetables is important.
Cereals are one of the most important food groups. They form the basis of our diet. Their main component is starch, a complex carbohydrate that is slowly absorbed and broken down giving energy.
Infant cereals available on the market have varied nutritional characteristics. What every parent should look at is the percentage of cereals in each product. It is not the same products with 10% cereals, with others containing over 50% cereals in their composition.
Infant cereals are also an excellent source of nutrients that infants need for their development. They are enriched with iron, vitamin D, two very important elements that according to research in Greece, seem to be lacking in infants, and other nutrients such as polyunsaturated fatty acids that help in the development of the brain and vision. Some infant cereals are also enriched with probiotic strains (Bifidus BL) to strengthen the gastrointestinal tract which also contributes to the good defense of the organism. There are different options of cereal creams, some enriched and others not, organic or not, with milk or without to cover all the needs of children but also to give parents the opportunity to give their child the appropriate product in the appropriate case and need in collaboration always with their pediatrician.
Many parents also ask about the role of foods (fruits or ready meals) in jars. They believe that their nutritional value is inferior to what we make at home. Here we should answer based on science and not arbitrary theories. The options here are many. We trust a reputable company that we know the quality of the raw materials is uncompromised. The jars contain premium quality ingredients for the child to discover new tastes with absolute safety. They are cooked in steam, only with natural ingredients and without preservatives. We carefully read food labels and choose those with natural ingredients, without preservatives or added salt and sugar.
The fruits, vegetables or meat contained in each jar are produced under the strictest controls and under strict European standards, ensuring a stable and high quality. The packaging in jars is done airtight, in a sterilized environment with a lack of oxygen and therefore they are kept out of the refrigerator at room temperature without the need for preservatives. Just like the jam jars we make at home. When we open them making the characteristic “click” on the packaging then it gets oxygen and starts to spoil. Therefore, they must be consumed immediately or kept in the refrigerator for a short period. They are an equally nutritious solution as the one we would make at home with our own ingredients. The choice is ours depending on the conditions, time or our habits. Let’s not demonize anything that is packaged. We read food labels, we get informed from valid sources and not from forums or google search. We choose the best for our children. Let’s look ahead, trusting in the science of nutrition for a better and healthier future for all of us.
Find infant nutrition products Nestle HERE.
