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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.

1.  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!

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