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Nutrients in Homemade Baby Food vs. Nutrients in Commercial Baby Food
Myth: Commercial Baby Food is more Nutritious than Homemade Baby Food
Truth: We have complied a comparison of nutrients for Commercial Baby Food and Homemade Baby Food to show you that Homemade Baby Food is not nutritionally inferior to commercial baby food. To make these comparison of commercial baby food nutrients versus simple homemade baby food (sweet potato in this instance) we utilised the USDA Nutrient Database. Our Search Terms were:
(1) Sweet Potato - Commercial Baby food, vegetables, sweet potatoes strained - .14 per 100 grams = 14 grams
(2) Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt .14 per 100 grams = 14 grams
14 grams is approximately equal to 1 tablespoon when considering a liquid or fluid substance. Technically, tablespoons cannot be measured in grams as a measure of a tablespoon is for volume, not for weight. Most often the conversion of grams to tablespoons applies to dry goods.
Have a look for yourself.
The table below outlines the nutritional makeup of commercial strained Sweet Potato baby food
Commercial Strained Sweet Potato baby food - Baby food, vegetables, sweet potatoes strained
Refuse: 0%
Scientific Name:
NDB No: 03108 (Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion)
| Nutrient (1) | Units | 1.00 X 1 tbsp ------- 14g |
|---|---|---|
| Proximates | ||
| Water | g |
11.87 |
| Energy | kcal |
8 |
| Energy | kj |
33 |
| Protein | g |
0.15 |
| Total lipid (fat) | g |
0.01 |
| Ash | g |
0.11 |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | g |
1.85 |
| Fiber, total dietary | g |
0.2 |
| Sugars, total | g |
0.57 |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium, Ca | mg |
2 |
| Iron, Fe | mg |
0.05 |
| Magnesium, Mg | mg |
2 |
| Phosphorus, P | mg |
3 |
| Potassium, K | mg |
37 |
| Sodium, Na | mg |
3 |
| Zinc, Zn | mg |
0.03 |
| Copper, Cu | mg |
0.011 |
| Fluoride, F | mcg |
0.1 |
| Selenium, Se | mcg |
0.1 |
| Vitamins | ||
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | mg |
1.4 |
| Thiamin | mg |
0.004 |
| Riboflavin | mg |
0.005 |
| Niacin | mg |
0.050 |
| Pantothenic acid | mg |
0.055 |
| Vitamin B-6 | mg |
0.013 |
| Folate, total | mcg |
1 |
| Folic acid | mcg |
0 |
| Folate, food | mcg |
1 |
| Folate, DFE | mcg_DFE |
1 |
| Vitamin B-12 | mcg |
0.00 |
| Vitamin B-12, added | mcg |
0.00 |
| Vitamin A, IU | IU |
901 |
| Vitamin A, RAE | mcg_RAE |
45 |
| Retinol | mcg |
0 |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | mg |
0.07 |
| Vitamin E, added | mg |
0.00 |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | mcg |
0.2 |
The table below outlines the nutritional makeup of a
Homemade Baked Sweet Potato - without using the skin
Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt
Refuse: 22% (Skin)
Scientific Name:
NDB No: 11508 (Nutrient values and weights are for edible portion)
| Nutrient (2) | Units | Value per 14 grams |
Number of Data Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proximates | |||
| Water | g |
10.61 |
8 |
| Energy | kcal |
13 |
0 |
| Energy | kj |
53 |
0 |
| Protein | g |
0.28 |
4 |
| Total lipid (fat) | g |
0.02 |
5 |
| Ash | g |
0.19 |
4 |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | g |
2.90 |
0 |
| Fiber, total dietary | g |
0.5 |
4 |
| Sugars, total | g |
0.91 |
0 |
| Sucrose | g |
0.32 |
12 |
| Glucose (dextrose) | g |
0.08 |
12 |
| Fructose | g |
0.07 |
12 |
| Lactose | g |
0.00 |
4 |
| Maltose | g |
0.44 |
0 |
| Galactose | g |
0.00 |
0 |
| Starch | g |
0.99 |
4 |
| Minerals | |||
| Calcium, Ca | mg |
5 |
67 |
| Iron, Fe | mg |
0.10 |
68 |
| Magnesium, Mg | mg |
4 |
68 |
| Phosphorus, P | mg |
8 |
67 |
| Potassium, K | mg |
66 |
68 |
| Sodium, Na | mg |
5 |
68 |
| Zinc, Zn | mg |
0.04 |
68 |
| Copper, Cu | mg |
0.023 |
68 |
| Manganese, Mn | mg |
0.070 |
68 |
| Selenium, Se | mcg |
0.0 |
58 |
| Vitamins | |||
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | mg |
2.7 |
4 |
| Thiamin | mg |
0.015 |
3 |
| Riboflavin | mg |
0.015 |
4 |
| Niacin | mg |
0.208 |
4 |
| Pantothenic acid | mg |
0.124 |
4 |
| Vitamin B-6 | mg |
0.040 |
4 |
| Folate, total | mcg |
1 |
4 |
| Folic acid | mcg |
0 |
0 |
| Folate, food | mcg |
1 |
4 |
| Folate, DFE | mcg_DFE |
1 |
0 |
| Choline, total | mg |
1.8 |
0 |
| Betaine | mg |
4.8 |
2 |
| Vitamin B-12 | mcg |
0.00 |
0 |
| Vitamin B-12, added | mcg |
0.00 |
0 |
| Vitamin A, IU | IU |
2691 |
0 |
| Vitamin A, RAE | mcg_RAE |
135 |
0 |
| Retinol | mcg |
0 |
0 |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | mg |
0.10 |
3 |
| Vitamin E, added | mg |
0.00 |
0 |
| Tocopherol, beta | mg |
0.00 |
3 |
| Tocopherol, gamma | mg |
0.00 |
3 |
| Tocopherol, delta | mg |
0.00 |
3 |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | mcg |
0.3 |
3 |
Information complied from the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
Remember, always consult with your pediatrician regarding introducing solid foods to your baby and specifically discuss any foods that may pose allergy risks for your baby.
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