Convenient but still Pricey (Heinz Baby Food)

Member Name: shroud

Product:	Heinz Baby Food
Date:	09/11/01 (160 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: convenient, wide variety

Disadvantages: overly bland, expensive compared to homecooked

As a parent of three children, I have to say that Heinz is a very good baby food. It comes in many forms for maximum convenience, and in a wide variety of flavours to appeal to a wide range of tastes. A jar or two in a nappy bag for emergencies can be a life saver. Like other processed baby foods, it is also extremely bland so if you have a child who likes really bland food, it may be for you. Fresh made food is not as bland. That is not to say bland is a bad thing when it comes to baby food!

Heinz baby food is available for all stages of weaning, from first foods such as rice cereal to toddler meals. Their first foods are pureed ultra smooth and their toddler meals are chunked just right. Heinz also carries pure mild juices as well that are appealing to young children. Even the most inexperienced carer can go to a supermarket and choose a stage apprpriate food merely by looking at the label. The labels on Heinz baby food clearly state which ages it is suitable for, as well as what is inside.

So if shopping for prepackaged baby foods, why choose Heinz over another brand? Other brands, including store brands may carry many of the same varieties, but why not pick one quality brand and stick to it? Well, there is the Heinz reputation for one thing. They are known to produce extremely high quality foodstuffs. There are no unlabelled additives found in Heinz baby food. Pureed fruit such as pears are just that, pears and water. No sugar or tapioca. Foods that do contain these sort of additives are clearly labelled and called desserts rather than masquerading as pure fruit. Another reason would be the broad range. You get a large selection without having to brand hop, and will therefore always know what is on the end of your child's spoon so to speak. Heinz also provides a number for parents to ring should they have any questions, and it is manned by real human beings. You can ring to ask a question about weaning, voice a concern, or just let them k
now what you think about their product. Not all brands have this available, and I personally find this reassuring.

Another reason I personally choose Heinz is their charity work. In countries such as the US and Canada where healthcare is not free, they make regular donations to children's hospitals for goods and services using a scheme whereby each collected Heinz baby food label is worth a set amount of cents. I like the fact that Heinz not only provides a good nutritious product, but is acting socially responsible.

Having said that, as an experienced parent, I do have to say that Heinz baby food, just like most prepackaged baby foods, is not good value for money. Any health visitor or even baby recipe books from the library can point the way to preparing simple baby foods at home that are age appropriate. There are even baby food recipe resources available on the internet. Just use a search engine to find them, or join a parents online group and swap recipes. For an example on cost, one can buy a very small jar of pureed carrot for about 45 pence or so. But take a walk down your fresh produce aisle and see just how many carrots that 45 pence would buy you there. A good simple scrubbing, dicing, steaming, and a puree with their milk and voila, homemade carrot baby food. So if you are on a tight budget like us, you may just consider not salting your food when cooking, and seperating out some of your food for infant consumption. Or do a pan full and freeze in ice cube trays. Simply defrost a cube for each feeding.

Also, just because a food is marketed as safe for a baby to eat, and may be traditional, does not mean it is a good nutritonal buy. Consider rusks for example. This is a traditional food served to tteething infants, but is considered such a no-no by health professionals due to its sugar content that the NHS has printed up anti-rusk posters. I recently spotted one in our local baby clinic room as a matter of fact. Sugar in rus
ks, and indeed in many foods marketed for babies and toddlers, contain sugar, which can lead to tooth decay even before their teeth erupt, so always read the label before purchasing. It is best to choose naturally sweet foods over added sugar. It is also wise to get your infant used to savoury foods early on, so whether purchasing prepackaged foods such as Heinz, or making your own, get a variety and avoid offering a lot of the dessert varieties. Sticking with pure fruit will help your child make better snack choices when older.

So, if you do wish to purchase a prepakaged baby food, Heinz is a good choice, but regardless of brand, educate yourself as to what is actually good as well as safe for your child's consumption as you cannot always rely on the manufacturer's guidelines. And don't forget to read the labels.

Summary: