What Is The Worst Food For Babies?

It is important to pay special attention to infant nutrition because habits that will determine future eating behavior are established during the first years of life. For this reason, we must make a conscious effort to take care of our young children. But it is not enough to introduce good habits in childhood. We must also ensure an optimal supply of nutrients to avoid problems related to children’s growth and health. In this article, we will show you what is the worst food for babies and why we recommend avoiding them whenever possible.

The worst food for babies

Soft drinks and juices

Soft drinks and juices have lots of carbohydrates with a high glycemic index inside, usually fructose and glucose.

According to research in the journal Nutrients , the consumption of these elements contributes to the development of metabolic syndrome. And this in turn leads to obesity and diabetes.

It is important to remember that the intake of simple sugars dissolved in a liquid medium is much worse than consuming them through solid foods. This is because there is always some fiber in them when they are in their solid form which modulates the absorption process.

When supplied by beverages, on the other hand, the absorption of sugar is almost complete and the blood sugar peak becomes much higher.

Breakfast cereals

Most breakfast cereals we find in supermarkets have added simple sugars, among other additives. They are also products of very low quality that do not provide many long-acting carbohydrates.

Their labels claim mineral and vitamin content, but this does not compensate for their other deficiencies.

For this reason, when choosing cereals to offer children, the best choice is always oatmeal. This food has plenty of fiber, which is necessary to promote the growth of the bacteria that make up a healthy intestinal flora. It is also effective in preventing and treating constipation.

Powdered chocolate

Cocoa as such is a food of vegetable origin with a large number of benefits for the body. For example, it contains beneficial antioxidants, such as flavonoids.

However, powdered chocolate preparations are characterized by their low concentration of this ingredient and their high content of simple sugars.

If you want to offer cocoa to children, make sure it is free of added carbohydrates. This type of cocoa has a bitter taste. So if you want to sweeten it, the best option is to add chopped fruit, and maybe a spoonful of honey that comes with other useful nutrients.

Ready-made foods

A healthy diet is characterized by being varied, but also by consuming fresh foods. This is the opposite of the consumption of industrial ultra-processed foods.

Prepared foods are part of this group and have several additives, trans fats and large amounts of salt. For this reason, we recommend that you avoid them and always choose homemade food.

Pastries

Pastries are characterized by their high content of simple sugars and trans fats. Intake of the latter may increase the risk of developing chronic and preventable diseases in the long term. This is especially due to their inflammatory potential. A study published in the journal Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome shows this.

Not even homemade pastries are a good choice. These also contain refined flour and large amounts of sugar, which are not at all beneficial for metabolic health.

To add carbohydrates to your child’s diet, it is better to choose root vegetables and legumes rather than flour.

Avoid the worst foods for babies

The foods we have mentioned above are the worst foods for babies, so we suggest that you limit them in your and your children’s diet.

The best choice is to choose homemade food and consumption of fresh foods, always prioritizing vegetables and fish. This will ensure an optimal nutritional intake to cover daily needs and ensure proper growth.

Avoiding exposure to ultra-processed products and overly sweet foods will also positively improve your baby’s diet. By not accustoming them to these unhealthy foods when they are young, they will be less likely to crave them later.