Gourmet Puree: Fine Dining for the Highchair Set

by Chef Jennifer Meier

From its very first spoonful of solid food, a new generation is being introduced to gourmet eating. Mashed bananas and whirled peas are taking a back seat as companies that provide fresh, flavorful baby food are sprouting up around the country. They are reinvigorating the baby aisle by giving busy parents alternatives to fast-food dining and preservative-laden packaged foods.

Bye Bye Blandness

It makes sense that parents who discover new foods and enjoy eating well would want their kids to do the same. In response to this new demand, manufacturers of baby food are branching out from standard baby fare like sweet potatoes and squash: Parents today can choose among foods made from red lentils, quinoa, leeks, mango, and kiwi. Sophisticated combinations of these gourmet ingredients are also starting to pop up. D’Anjou pears and spinach, red beets with raisins and Black Mission figs, and yams with roasted vegetables are also among these enticing new options.

Herbs and spices are making a debut in baby food as well. Bland fare, including stalwarts like peas and carrots, is becoming more complex with the addition of mint, cinnamon, and even coriander. While they add flavor, some herbs may even have health benefits. Mint, for example, has been known to sooth colicky tummies.

Tasty and Healthy

Many parents are eager to teach their children that healthy food can also be delicious. To help illustrate this point, gourmet baby foods avoid unnecessary starchy fillers that decrease the flavor and nutritional value of food. The difference is noticeable with a quick glance at the bright, vibrant colors many new baby foods possess, and confirmed by a small spoonful in your child’s mouth.

The appeal of upscale baby foods also goes beyond their effect on the palate. Many new products are made with locally grown produce, and almost all are organic—something many parents today consider a priority. Having locally grown, organic food for their baby reflects the eating habits of parents who shop at farmers markets and prioritize putting fresh products on their own plates.

Finicky Eaters

But is it really necessary to have baby food so tasty that parents might consider eating it themselves? When dealing with the notoriously particular palates of babies, it seems that food with a gourmet flare may not be something all babies really want or need.

Most companies, however, are going to great lengths to ensure their products will delight young palates. They employ trained chefs, nutritionists, and pint-sized tasting panels, and they focus on flavors and textures that will please most children as they grow from infant to toddler. One company even has a tasting room where parents can give samples of food to their baby before buying. Founded by dissatisfied parents and chefs who have realized there is a demand for the high quality food they feed their own kids, these companies work hard to make children as happy with the new baby foods food as their parents are.

Pureed Food Has Never Tasted So Good

Many parents start out with the intention of making homemade food for their infants, but they quickly discover they don’t have enough time to prepare meals themselves. With the increasing number of flavorful and healthy options, buying mass-produced baby food is no longer something to feel guilty about. Parents who appreciate good food can now pass their passion on to their kids, creating a whole new generation of foodies in the process.