Dietician warns that late introduction of textures can cause challenges for children
A THIRD OF PARENTS CONFESS TO RARELY TASTING THEIR BABY’S FOOD DUE TO TASTE AND TEXTURE AVERSION
- 34% of parents are reluctant to try their children’s food, citing taste and texture concerns
- Over half of parents (53%) are unaware that texture should increase gradually as a baby gets older
- Hollyoaks star and mother, Jessica Fox, and Mummy Nutrition Founder & Dietician, Nichola Ludlam-Raine, are inviting parents to embark on a tasting texture challenge with their little ones
Organix, the UK’s leading children’s food brand has unveiled new research* revealing over a third (34%) of parents admit to almost never trying their baby’s food, with texture emerging as a common theme.
Texture aversion stands out as a key factor behind this reluctance, with 58% of parents admitting their personal aversions to certain textures influence their food choices for their baby. What’s more, a staggering 1 in 3 (34%) parents confirm both texture and taste of baby food are reasons they avoid trying it altogether. Among younger parents aged 18-24, this figure rises to almost half (42%).
Exploring the research further, the report emphasises that of those who do sample their baby's food, 37% are motivated by anxieties about the nutritional value, while half (50%) are driven by a curiosity to experience the flavour and quality of the food.
Sharing her insights into parenting and weaning, Hollyoaks star, Jessica Fox, and mother to 11-month-old River, admits: I am one of the many parents that has found feeding my baby to be a daunting responsibility. There is so much pressure placed on ensuring that as parents, we are making the right choice for our child's nutrition.
“I can see why some people might be a bit hesitant to try baby food - the texture can be quite off-putting for adults. But I think it’s so important to taste the food we are giving the most precious beings in our lives!”
Jessica and Nichola have partnered with Organix to embark on the ‘Taste the Texture Challenge’ themselves. Their mission is to inspire a fun and interactive approach to introducing diverse textures and flavours to babies, encouraging fellow parents to sample the texture rich, veggie packed Organix baby meal pots, alongside their little ones. After all, if you wouldn’t eat it, why should they?
Organix’s research highlights the importance of parents engaging in the act of trying their babies’ food, as an overwhelming 84% of children mimic their parents when eating. Delving into these insights, it becomes evident that actively engaging in this shared experience not only sets a positive example for the child’s developing eating habits, but also fosters a deeper connection between parents and their little ones.
Concerningly, the research highlights that a fifth of parents do not feel confident when it comes to what they should be feeding their babies at each stage of weaning, and a further 1 in 5 misbelieve relaxing texture progression will not cause feeding challenges later for babies and children.
Despite the NHS weaning guidelines recommending a gradual and timely introduction to increasing texture, from smooth puree to lumpier puree from around 6 to 7 months, more than half (56%) of parents surveyed believe that their babies prefer smooth textures when transitioning to solid foods whilst over half of parents (53%) are unaware that texture should increase gradually as a baby gets older. This misconception, while well-intentioned, may inadvertently hinder the weaning process.
Dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine has been a fan and ambassador for Organix whilst raising her two young children (now age 5 & 2). Known as ‘Mummy Nutrition’ on Instagram, Nichola adds: "Exposure to new tastes and texture is important for the initial acceptance, as well as the longer-term development of eating behaviours associated with food intake. I’d always encourage to use a wide spectrum of textures to promote oral motor skill development and adaption to foods with more complex textures. It’s important to remember no two weaning journeys are the same and it can vary for every baby. However, the consensus and guidelines highlight the importance of introducing textures gradually for optimal development progress.”
Organix award-winning range of baby meal pots, starting from 7 months, ensure that little ones enjoy healthy and nutritious meals packed full of veggies and pulses, championing real organic food, and introducing a wide variety of tastes, textures, and flavours for every development stage. They follow planetary health principles with over 55% vegetables and pulses and at least one of your littles ones five a day. They also come in a unique pot which allows for greater texture with pieces of vegetables and pulses you can visibly see and taste and what’s more the pots are 100% recyclable which means they are kind to little one’s tummies and the planet. For more information and Nichola’s top tips on introducing texture during the weaning process, visit www.organix.com.
Help your baby to explore new tastes and textures by taking the ‘Taste the Texture Challenge’. Share your experiences with us on social by tagging @organixfood and using #tastethetexture
