About this episode
Send us a text In this episode I share the truth about Fruit & Vegetable Pouches. I cannot speak how eating/chewing and speech development are connected without sharing the truth on pouches… we’ve been duped! Babies and toddlers MUST experience a variety of food tastes, textures and consistencies in order to build a healthy relationship with real food - as well as exercise their oral-motor skills, LITERALLY. Chewing and speech go hand-in-hand. I cover the TOP 3 reasons these abundant food pouches are NOT IN YOUR FAVOR and actually WORKING AGAINST your little guy's development. Listen with an open mindset. NO EXPERIENCE with real food - it's all pureed together! How do you learn the differences between: broccoli, carrots, chicken, ham, berries, or apples? - no touching, smelling, tasting, or looking at different foods - no chewing which starts the digestion process and helps sense when you're satiated or full - no opportunity to learn how to feed themselves (fists, fingers, spoon) - just suck??? - no texture means NO actual chewing (which stimulates teeth eruption and strengthens jaws - which helps with tongue placement ... leading to better speech sounds!) Yikes, it's all connected. 2. MISLEADINGLY SWEET - everything is blended with cheaper and sweeter foods (apples/pears), so the “spinach” or “quinoa” are masked with sugar! How do they develop a taste between foods such as broccoli and beef? 3. NO REAL FIBER - do we really wonder why kids have gut/digestion/poop issues? For example (on average): 1 pouch has 12-15 grams of sugar and 1 gram of fiber 1 cup of sliced apples has 11 grams of sugar and 3 grams of fiber 1 pouch has 1 tablespoon of sugar!!!! Chewing an actual apple gives your child fiber, chewing experience (lips/jaw/tongue workout) and satisfaction! Even when parents / consumers pushed-backed against the amount of sugar … the companies diluted the “recipe” with water to decrease the percentage of sugar per pouch… interesting strategy, right? Bottom line: real food = real development & real learning! Happy listening! Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love learning from Erin on Talking Toddlers." <--- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- move from questions and self-doubt, to clarity and confidence. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Any questions you'd like me to cover? Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast. I'm adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed and, if you're not following , there's a good chance you'll miss out. Follow now! www.HyerLearning.com @erin.hyer