How do I know your food is safe?
The food is cooked, packaged and frozen in a commercial kitchen owned by Anna Gare (www.deluxecatering.com.au) which is subject to the usual Health Department checks.
Samples of food have been tested by Pathwest Laboratory Medicine WA and meet Food Safe Australia and New Zealand's standards for the following:
- Standard plate count;
- E coli count;
- Coagulase Positive Staphylococci (Staph aureus) count;
- Clostridium perfringens count;
- Salmonella;
- Listeria monocytogens; and
- Bacillus cereus.
When should I feed my baby solid food?
Please see attached article by Naturopath Natalie Pickering on advice on when to start feeding your baby solid food.
Also refer to Natalie's chart for information for babies from 6 months to 24 months.
When can I feed my baby Wholesome Baby food?
In her article above, Naturopath Natalie Pickering recommends that when introducing food to your baby "each (new) food should be given separately for 3-5 days before starting the next food, carefully watching for any signs of reaction or intolerance." Therefore once you have introduced all the vegetables in a particular product to your baby and have discerned no reaction, you are able to give them that Wholesome Baby product.
Why steam the vegetables?
- Steaming maintains a higher retention level of nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
- Food is not immersed in water into which nutrients can be lost. Except for Toddler Meals where the cooking water (and therefore nutrients) is retained in the final product.
- Steamed food is more nutritious, healthier, tastier and lower in fat as additional cooking fats and oils are not required.
- Steaming keeps the food moist and tender.
- You don't pay for added water, rather you get 100% produce.
Why age-appropriate?
"Young babies have a natural tongue thrust reflex, which causes the tongue to push out a spoonful of food. By about six months, babies start to lose this tongue thrust reflex, making it easier for them to swallow food. Giving baby solids earlier than six months does not mean giving the baby a better start. A young baby's digestive system can't cope well with foreign fats and proteins that are found in other milks, eggs, meat, vegetables and cereals. A baby's kidneys cannot easily process food containing too large an amount of salt. Babies who start solids later have less chance of being allergic or intolerant to foods as their systems are more developed and are ready to take the variety of food.
Young babies do not need the extra kilojoules which solid foods may give them. There does seem to be a connection between children who are overweight in infancy and those who later have problems with obesity."
Source: Australian Breastfeeding Association website, by Yvette O'Dowd, ABA counselor,
http://breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/justbm.html
Our ingredients are age-appropriate (for example no dairy or wheat before 12 months) but naturally parents can order from any age-band, depending on what stage their child is at.
Why direct from orchard ingredients?
Our vegetables are supplied by O2H (Orchard to Home) www.o2h.com.au. Their produce comes from local farms. The fruit and vegetables you find in the supermarkets may have been lying around for some time before being purchased, losing nutrients. The produce we use not only taste better, because they are fresh, but are better for you!
Do you use West Australian ingredients?
All our vegetables are sourced from local farms around Perth. These are supplied by O2H. Where possible our grains, rice, pulses and pasta are Australian. As a West Australian owned and operated business, we are very keen to support our local industry.
Why not just use jar food?
Jar food may be cooked at high temperatures; this is to kill bacteria and also to extend its shelf life (that's why they don't have to be frozen or can be kept in the fridge for longer than 48 hours). However, this high temperature means that vitamins and nutrients are also depleted. Jar food can taste bland and often can contain preservatives, additives and/or sugar. Companies can also use relatively large amounts of water as filler, making it cheaper for them to produce, but also reducing the nutritional value and taste. This watery product means babies may have to be fed more food to satisfy their appetite.
Why don't you add sugar or salt to your products?
We believe that the sooner babies are introduced to salt/sugar the more difficult it is to get them to eat unsalted/unsweetened food. Babies introduced to salt/sugar early tend to become fussy eaters who prefer processed foods (due to their high salt/sugar content) to natural foods. The flavour in our products comes either from the herbs we use or from the naturally flavoursome orchard-grown ingredients.
What is millet?
Wikipedia defines millet as a grain which has a high protein level (about 11%). "Millets are rich in B vitamins, especially niacin, B6, folic acid, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and zinc. Millets contain no gluten."
What is quinoa?
Wikipedia defines quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) as having a high protein level (12%-18%). "Quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete food. It is a good source of dietary fibre and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten free and considered easy to digest."
What is amaranth?
Wikipedia specifies that amaranth (and quinoa) "both contain exceptionally complete protein for plant sources. Besides protein, amaranth grain provides a good source of dietary fiber and dietary minerals such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper and especially maganese."
