Children slurp bags of food; Is this a good trend?

Sales of baby food pouches – soft pouches with plastic spouts that make eating easier – have increased 900% since 2010 and are now overtaking jarred purees as the top choice for baby food.

Typically, parents give their babies purees by spoon for a few months when introducing solid foods, but pouches, particularly those marketed to parents of toddlers and older children, have expanded the use of pureed foods for years.

While occasional use of sachets is fine, doctors and nutritionists worry that excessive use of sachets could affect a child’s diet, their long-term dietary preferences, dental health and even speech and language development. Marketing bags can also confuse parents about what is actually inside.

“Bags are highly processed foods,” said Dr. Steven Abrams, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas at Austin, in a recent Los Angeles Times report. “They make a good quick snack, but shouldn’t make up too much of a toddler’s diet. Children need to learn to chew and eat whole foods such as meat, fruits and vegetables.”

The contents of the bags vary greatly. Some contain only fruit, while others contain vegetables, grains, yogurt or even meat. Many bags contain sweet fruits such as apples or pears as the main ingredient, in contrast to traditional jarred foods, which often contain individual ingredients such as peas or carrots.

A 2019 study found that pouches contained significantly more sugar per serving than other types of packaging.

Smooth, sweet texture

Although most children have no problems chewing, some children adapt, according to Dr. Mark Corkins, a pediatric gastroenterologist, is so fond of the smooth, sweet texture of pouches that they develop an aversion to regular fruits and vegetables. “We’re going to pay for it in the long run,” he said.

Bags are popular because they are practical. They don’t break like glasses and small children can eat from them without help.

However, Dr. Tanya Altmann, a pediatrician, pointed out in the Times article that not all bags are created equal. She emphasized that while pouches can be part of a family’s diet, they should not be the main source of food. Pouches with no added sugar or salt may be better than other processed snacks, but parents should focus on the contents.

Bag labels such as “all natural” or “organic” can mislead parents. A bag advertised as broccoli pear might be mostly pear puree, or a “turkey dinner” bag might be mostly applesauce with just a hint of turkey.

Parents of picky eaters are particularly vulnerable to this type of marketing because they want to ensure their children are getting proper nutrition. However, Martinez admits that the real appeal is the convenience. She imagines pouches similar to smoothies or yogurt, but in a simpler form.