Safer Baby Food

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I often get asked about “better” purees and baby cereals. Personally, I’m a big fan of skipping cereals and purees altogether and starting with Baby-Led Weaning. From a flavor, texture, nutritional, and even craniofacial development standpoint, it has a lot of benefits.

I know choking is one of the biggest concerns for parents considering BLW. But did you know that around 6 months, a baby’s gag reflex is actually much farther forward in the mouth than it will be later? This means that, when foods are prepared correctly, the risk of choking is lower, and it’s an ideal time for babies to start exploring food, learning to manage bite sizes, and practicing safe chewing.

Of course, whole, organic foods will always be the best option. That said, there will definitely be times when convenience wins (I’ve been there… pretty much every day, haha) or when kids have specific needs. That’s why it’s so important to feel confident reading labels: look for organic when possible, choose simple, real ingredients, and keep added sugars at zero or very low.

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Freezer snack bag

Fuel that Lasts

carbs + fat + protein

A carb heavy diet quickly turns into glucose, spiking blood sugar and causing a burst of energy, followed by a crash when levels drop.

Pairing carbs with protein, healthy fats, and fiber helps slow digestion, keeps blood sugar steady, and provides longer lasting energy.

Empower Yourself to Choose

It’s great to find trusted sources and recommendations, after all - it takes a village, right? However, I also encourage you to empower yourself to learn how to read labels and choose products yourself, that you personally feel comfortable serving. That’s going to look different for everyone. Or better yet, make your own!!!

Children Need to Chew

Kids need to chew. It’s one of the simplest yet most important parts of growing up. Chewing helps shape the face and skull, supporting proper jaw development. Modern diets, filled with soft, processed foods and purees, don’t provide the chewing challenges our bodies evolved for, and the baby food industry has turned this into a billion-dollar market.

In the early 1900s, Canadian dentist Dr. Weston A. Price traveled the world studying populations still eating traditional diets. He found that people eating whole, unprocessed foods had broader jaws, well-formed faces, and almost no cavities or gum disease. In contrast, those eating softer, Westernized diets had narrower jaws, dental problems, and less optimal facial growth. Dr. Price’s research, captured in thousands of photographs and slides and published in his 1939 book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, shows how crucial real, chewy foods are for healthy facial development, strong jaws, and long-term dental health.

Craniofacial Development Guide

Baby Lead Weaning

Baby led weaning allows for children to safely begin to work on their chew pattern while also working the muscles of the jaw to stimulate that optimal cranial and facial development. Safety should be taken into consideration to foods served, paying attention to which teeth have erupted.

The app Solids Starts is a great resource. You can easily search any food, and they will visually show you how to properly prepare it for baby's age. As children grow, crunchy, tough, and chewy foods such as carrot sticks, apple slices, and beef jerky are great examples of foods that encourage chewing. 

Why I Don't Stress About Heavy Metal Testing

There are plenty of accounts testing products for heavy metals and numerous class action lawsuits against baby food companies. While it’s important to research and hold companies accountable, don’t let fear take over. Lawsuits don’t always have merit, and test results can be complex. 

Many testers seem to find heavy metals everywhere, which can feel alarming. If a brand you trust shows a positive test, reach out directly; transparency and communication reveal more about a company than a single result. Testing raises many questions, and one test alone doesn’t tell the full story.

Test Don't Stress

If you are concerned about your child’s exposure to heavy metals, consider testing over stressing. You can test for numerous heavy metals through blood or urine sample through your pediatrician, and then make changes (if necessary) from those results.