Stage 2 food for 6 months and above

Taste: Sweet and creamy goodness

Beech Nut’s Apples and Bananas is a tasty treat to your beginner eater. It has a smooth creamy texture thanks to bananas and a touch of sourness to give a different feel to your baby’s taste buds. Not only it is yummy to eat, it is healthy as well. Let’s review the health and other benefits of this baby food.

Smooth texture is very important for babies without teeth! Imagine having to chew some hard bits and pieces only with your gums. Also babies at that age are not quite there yet when it comes to mincing the food in their mouths. Some babies spit out their food if they feel any “crumbs”, which is a natural protective response. Smooth texture of BeechNut pureed apples and bananas is therefore ideal for a 6 month old whose teeth are just about to see the daylight.

When it comes to nutritional value, BeechNut’s Apples and Bananas is a good nutritious fruit puree. Apples are a healthy choice for all. According to website NutritionData, apples have vitamins, like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin B6 as well as Riboflavin, Folate and Thiamin. They also contain a lot of necessary minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Fiber is another reason why your baby should eat apples on a regular basis. Fresh apples are the best, but when it comes to infants, smooth apple puree prepared from the best ingredients is an easily digestible and nutritious snack.

Banana is an excellent source of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is essential for good health because it is involved in multiple metabolic functions and acts like a co-enzyme to many other enzymes in the body. Banana also has some amounts of vitamin C, potassium and manganese. Ripe bananas also help with constipation because bananas are high in fiber.

A combination of these two fruit in a form of a smooth puree is a good introductory food treat for your baby, especially if your baby has issues with constipation. It contains high amount of vitamin C!

Ingredients

apples, bananas, water, ascorbic acid (vitamin c), citric acid.

Nutritional Information

Serving Size 1 jar
Trans Fat 0g
Calories 70
Total fat 0 g
Sodium 5mg
Potassium 110mg
Total Carbohydrate 17g
Fiber 1g
Sugar 13g

% of Daily Values:

Protein  0%
Vitamin A   0%
Vitamin C   45%
Calcium 0%
Iron 2%

Stage 4 food for 12 months and above

Taste: Sweet and sour with a spice of cinnamon

Beech Nut’s Fruities Fruit Cups snack for toddlers is an old-fashioned and mother approved snack of pureed apples with a dash of cinnamon. It is a snack that babies love, especially those who have a passion for sourish food. This delightful snack food for toddlers have all the health benefits of apples. According to website NutritionData, apples have vitamins, like vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and vitamin B6 as well as Riboflavin, Folate and Thiamin. They also contain a lot of necessary minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Fiber is another reason why your toddler should eat apples on a regular basis. Fresh apples are the best, but when it comes to infants, smooth apple puree prepared from the best ingredients is an easily digestible and nutritious snack.

Cinnamon is best known as a spice enhancing food flavors. However, not many of us know that cinnamon is also beneficial for health. The research done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists revealed that pholyphenols found in cinnamon may decrease the risk for insulin resistance, heart disease, and cancer. A dash of cinnamon in your toddler’s snack might have long term health benefits.

Ingredients

diced apples, apple puree concentrate, water, cinnamon, ascorbic acid (vitamin c).

Nutritional Information

Serving Size 1 tub
Trans Fat 0g
Calories 100
Sodium 5mg
Potassium 220mg
Total Carbohydrate 25g
Fiber 2g
Sugar 18g

% of Daily Values:

Protein  3%
Vitamin A   8%
Vitamin C   45%
Calcium 2%
Iron 2%

Stage 1 food for 4 months and above

Taste: Earthly! Earthly green beans.

Gerber Nature Select Green Beans is a healthy first food for your baby. In this review we will discuss the health benefits of the green beans as well as the taste factor.

Gerber makes its green beans puree from farm grown highest quality green beans without added sugar, artificial colors, starch or salt.  Some water is used to in the process of pureeing. Gerber is always striving to produce wholesome and nutritious quality baby food and the green beans puree is just one of its safe to eat for a baby products. Gerber does insist, though, that after opening the product should be refrigerated and used within 2 or 3 days. It is always best to serve your infant with a fresh newly opened pureed vegetable.

The taste of green beans might appear to be somewhat earthly and  robust.

Green Beans is one of the most nutritious and healthiest vegetables that you can feed your baby. A green bean is loaded with vitamins and minerals that are very important to your baby’s growth. Green beans are rich in vitamins C and K.  Vitamin C together with carotenoids, which are also present in green beans, help strengthen your baby’s immune system.  Vitamin K is a fat-soluble substance which helps with the blood-clotting process. Foliate, dietary fiber, potassium and manganese that are also found in green beans  are very important for your baby’s growing body. Green beans is  a source of a few carotenoids, which is a form of vitamin A found in fruits and vegetables. They act as antioxidants and we all know the benefits of cancer preventing antioxidants. The bottom line is that green beans are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are important for your baby’s growth and development.

Ingredients:

Green beans, water.

Nutritional Information:

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size : 1 Pack

Calories 25
Total Fat:    0g
Trans Fat:    0g
Sodium:    5mg
Potassium:    150mg
Fiber:    2g
Sugar:    2g
Total Carbohydrates:    6g
Protein:    1g

% Daily value

Protein:      3%
Vitamin A:    10%
Vitamin C:     0%
Calcium:     4%
Iron:     2%
Zinc:     4%

Where to buy online : iHerb, drugstore.com, diapers.com.

Stage 1 food for 4 months and above

Taste: Creamy! Creamy buttery squash.

Gerber Nature Select Squash is a wonderful snack food for your baby. Here we will review its nutritional qualities and its taste appeal.  This treat for your baby is  made from squash with a dash of water. Gerber is proud of its tradition  - producing wholesome and nutritious quality baby food. Thus you may serve this creamy squash to your baby without any questions about the quality of food.

The taste of squash is buttery and creamy, nothing too sour or sweet, and is perfect for introducing your baby to solid foods.

If you are wondering whether squash is a good vegetable to serve your little one, think again! Squash is high in vitamin A from beta carotene. Vitamin A is a good antioxidant and a very useful vitamin for your baby’s developing vision. Squash is also a good source of potassium, vitamin E and a range of other vitamins and minerals that are perfect for your growing “pumpkin”! If you have any doubts, check out these squash nutrition facts on the Nutritional Data website. You will be surprised how nutritious squashes are. Gerber Nature Select 1st foods squash also does not have added sugar or artificial coloring.  If you are looking for an easily digestible and yet nutritious snack, Gerber Nature Select 1st Food squash is exactly what you are looking for.

Ingredients:

Squash, water.

Nutritional Information:

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size : 1 Pack

Calories 25
Total Fat:    0g
Trans Fat:    0g
Sodium:    5mg
Potassium:    190mg
Fiber:    1g
Sugar:    3g
Total Carbohydrates:    6g
Protein:    <1g

% Daily value

Protein:      Not a significant source of protein
Vitamin A:     80% (100% from beta carotene)
Vitamin C:     0%
Calcium:     2%
Iron:     0%
Zinc:     2%

Where to buy online : Gerber, Toysrus, Walgreens.

Stage 2 food for 7 months and above

Taste:Nice! Tangy and sweet.

In this Gerber baby food review you will learn about the nutritious and delicious Gerber Nature Select 2nd foods Apple Blueberry.

While choosing a snack for your baby you probably search for something high in vitamins and fiber. Who haven’t heard about the benefits of blueberries? Especially organic wild blueberries are rich in vitamins, minerals and contain anthocyanins, other antioxidant pigments and phytochemicals that might be beneficial for health, reducing inflammation and risk for certain cancers. In a year or so your baby might be telling you “An apple a day keep doctor away!” And so Gerber, a good old reliable giant in baby food production, paired up both healthy elements to produce a delightful and healthy snack for your baby.

This snack  will tickle your baby’s taste buds. It has a sweet tartness of an apple and a tangy sourness of a blueberry. It is nice and blue in color which might seem like an interesting color to your little one and it comes in a convenient parent friendly packaging. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

Apples, blueberries, water, ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

Nutritional Information:

Serving Size 1 pack
Servings Per Container 2 packs
Amount Per Serving
Calories 50
Total Fat:    0g
Trans Fat:    0g
Sodium:    0mg
Potassium:    80mg
Total Carbohydrates:    13g
Fiber:    1g
Sugar:    10g
Protein:    0g

%Daily Value
Protein:    Not a significant source of protein
Vitamin A:    2%
Vitamin C:    45%
Calcium:    0%
Iron:    0%
Zinc:    0%

“My baby is six months old and ready to start solids. Now what? My pediatrician suggested I start from the easily digestible rice cereal, but which one to chose? Gerber or Earth’s Best? I heard good stuff about BeechNut cereals as well…”

I guess this is a dilemma that each mom goes through when their baby reaches six months or so. A lot of our readers asked us for our expert advice on rice cereal choices. We heard you and we researched baby cereal market in order to provide you with a list of the best baby rice cereals. So here is our baby rice cereal review. You will notice that we selected only whole grain cereals. Whole grain cereals have natural vitamins and minerals which are very necessary for your baby’s health. Instead of starchy white cereals with added vitamins you might chose whole grain cereals, naturally nutritious with added vitamins, minerals and iron.

1.Earth’s Best Organic Whole Grain Rice Cereal

Why it is good:

Ingredients: Organic brown rice, organic rice bran extract, tocopherols (vitamin E), alpha-amylase (enzyme) and electrolytic iron.

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 4 Tablespoons
Servings per Container: 16

Amount Per Serving
Calories 50
Total Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Sodium 0 mg
Total Carbohydrate 11 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 1 g

% Daily Value

Protein4%
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0%
Iron 45%
Vitamin E 15%
Thiamin 8%
Riboflavin 2%
Niacin 8%
Vitamin B6 0 8%
Phosphorus 8%
Zinc 4%

Can be found in: in most supermarkets and online in amazon.com, walmart.com, diapers.com and many other online stores.

2.Sprout Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice Cereal

Why it is good:

Ingredients: Brown Rice Flour (Organic), Sunflower Lecithin, Electrolytic Iron

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1/4 Cup
Servings Per Container: 12

Amount per Serving
Calories Total 60
Total Carbohydrate 13 g
Protein 1 g
% Daily Value
Vitamin E IU 2
Thiamin (B1) mg 6
Riboflavin (B2) mg 2
Niacin (B3) mg 10
Vitamin B6 mg 8
Iron mg 40
Phosphorus mg 8
Zinc mg 6

Can be found in: in most supermarkets and online in amazon.com, drugstore.com, alice.com, diapers.com and many other online stores.

3. Gerber Organic Brown Rice Natural Whole Grain Cereal for Baby

Why it is good:

Ingredients: Organic whole grain brown rice flour, less than 2% of:tri and dicalcium phosphate, soy lecithin, choline bitartrate, mixed tocopherols (for freshness), electrolytic iron, zinc sulfate, niacinamide, alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), riboflavin (vitamin B2), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), folic acid, vitamin D3, vitamin B12.

Nutrition Facts
Serv. Size 1/4 cup (15g)
Servings Per Container About 15

Amount Per Serving
Calories 60
Total Fat:0.5g
Trans Fat:0g
Sodium:0mg
Potassium:45mg
Total Carbohydrates:12g
Dietary Fiber: <1g
Sugar:1g
Protein:1g

%Daily Value
Infants 0-1

Protein:3%
Vitamin A:0%
Vitamin C:0%
Vitamin D:10%
Calcium:15%
Iron: 45%
Vitamin E: 25%
Thiamin:25%
Niacin: 25%
Vitamin B6:25%
Folate:25%
Vitamin B12:25%
Phosphorous:10%
Zinc: 20%

Can be found in: in most supermarkets and online in amazon.com, buy.com, gerber.com, and many other online stores.

4.Plum Organics Organic Brown Rice Cereal

Why it is good:

Ingredients: organic whole grain cereal (organic brown rice flour, sunflower lecithin), vitamins and minerals [dicalcium phosphate, reduced iron, folic acid, niacin (vitamin b3), dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e), zinc oxide, cyanocobalamin (vitamin b12), riboflavin (vitamin b2), thiamin mononitrate (vitamin b1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin b6)], prebiotics [fructooligosaccharides (fos)], probiotics (lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacteroum lactis, lactobacillus salvarius, lactobacillus plantarum).

Nutritional Facts
Serving size ¼ cup (16g)
Servings per container about 12

Amount per serving
Calories 60
Total Fat 0g
Trans fat 0g
Sodium 0mg
Potassium 50mg
Total Carbohydrate 13g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Sugars 0g
Protein 1g

% Daily Value
Protein 7%
VitaminC 0%
Iron 90%
Thiamin 15%
Niacin 10%
Folate 10%
Phosphorus 10%
Vitamin A 0%
Calcium 10%
Vitamin E 10%
Riboflavin 20%
Vitamin B6 20%
Vitamin B 12 20%
Zinc 10%

Can be found in: Whole Foods Supermarket, Target, ToysRUs and many online stores like amazon.com, diapers.com, walgreens.com, luckyvitamin.com.

5.Healthy Times Organic Whole Grain Brown Rice Cereal

Why it is good:

Ingredients: organic whole grain brown rice flour, tricalcium phosphate, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), electrolytic iron, zinc sulfate, d-alpha tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), niacinamide, mixed tocopherols, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), vitamin B12 and folic acid.

Nutritional Facts

Serving Size: 8 Tbsp
Servings Per Container: 12
Amount Per Serving
Calories 60
Total Fat 0 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Saturated Fat 0 g
Sodium 0 mg
Potassium 15 mg
Total Carbohydrate 12 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 1 g

% Daily Value

Protein 4%
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 25%
Calcium 25%
Iron 45%
Vitamin E 25%
Thiamin 25%
Riboflavin 25%
Niacin 25%
Vitamin B6 25%
Folate 25%
Vitamin B12 25%
Pantothenic Acid 25%
Zinc 25%

Can be found in: online stores like vitacost.com, sears.com, iherb.com.