We talk about this a lot: kids have a flavor window between the ages of 6 and 18 months where we can most easily influence the way they eat forever. This is THE time to “open the flavor window” and feed them various ingredients, textures, spices and flavors to set them up for better, more adventurous eating for life.
Our in-house, board-certified pediatrician has been preaching this to the baby-sized choir since she started practicing medicine: “As a pediatrician and mom, I have been waiting for something like Globowl; encouraging the early introduction of allergens, as well as visually and texturally varied food is the recipe we want for adventurous eaters,” says Payal Adhikari, MD.
Eating a diverse, varied and balanced diet when babies are exploring solids for the first time supports healthy growth and development while also encouraging a broader palate. During the first few years of life, the brain undergoes rapid growth and development with nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron and other various vitamins playing an essential role in supporting cognitive function and neural connections. Additionally, including texture (vs. mushy purees that don’t require chewing or active swallowing) in their food contributes to the development of sensory skills and oral motor coordination.
How’s this? Give yourself a goal early on in your baby’s feeding journey of how many different, unique foods you want to give your child before their first birthday. Consider the spectrum: veggies like sweet potato, carrots, bell pepper and eggplant; fruits like avocado, blackberries, apricot and cherries; protein like beans, tuna, beef and bone broth; whole grains like quinoa, oatmeal, barley and rice. And in terms of seasoning: there are no limits (well, except salt). Sprinkle away with all things cinnamon, garlic, ginger, rosemary, nutmeg and curry.
We make it easy for you at Globowl through our nutrient-dense, internationally-inspired meals that contain a huge chunk of the recommended ingredients listed above. A special shout out to our Tikka Masala that has quickly become a fan favorite: chock full of coconut, cauliflower, lime, carrots, tamarind, cilantro, garlic, ginger, turmeric and cumin.
Parents and docs agree – if we’re encouraging trial of new ingredients, flavors and textures from the get-go, might as well do it while introducing babies to the world through food. Global eaters = global thinkers.
