Are the vegetables organic?
When developing Nourishing Bubs’ range of products, significant thought and research was put into exploring the organic versus conventional vegetable route. Given the high quality of Australia’s non-organic practices, and the comparable nutritional quality of the conventional versus organic produce, it was decided that the significantly higher costs associated with organic was not justified.
We also discovered that much of the organic produce used in other baby food products is imported organic as opposed to Australian organic which is how other baby food companies are able to maintain competitive prices. At Nourishing Bubs we are committed to using 100% Australian produce, so, while that means choosing conventional over organic (at this stage), we think 100% Australian produce is far superior to overseas organic. It also means supporting our local farmers and economy, which is something we are extremely passionate about.
Some of the purees seem watery / separated. Why is this?
You may notice when the puree blocks defrost they appear watery and/or separated. This is completely normal and is due to the separation of natural juices which occurs because of their high water content (most vegetables are greater than 88% water). When the purees are reheated and stirred, they will coagulate back into a smooth puree.
There appears to be a variation in consistency between different products and between the same products but different batches. Why is this?
Moisture content of different vegetables varies, but most vegetables are composed of greater than 88% water. The moisture levels can also vary due to seasonality. As our purees contain no added water (or other ingredients), there can be some variation in water content from batch to batch which can affect the consistency. This is simply natural variation which cannot be avoided in a natural product.
How should I use Nourishing Bubs frozen puree blocks?
There is absolutely no reason why you cannot use the blocks frozen! Particularly when your bub is teething, the cooling sensation of the frozen blocks can provide some welcome relief. In saying that, the product is frozen as a means of preservation and to avoid the use of heat treatment which kills many of the nutrients. We suggest defrosting the block by placing it in a dish in the refrigerator an hour or so before it is required. You can then serve the defrosted block (s) straight from the fridge, or heat it for 10 seconds in the microwave / saucepan.
Is your packaging BPA free?
It sure is! We know how important BPA free packaging is to our customers and this was at the forefront of our mind when choosing the materials for our packaging.
What age are Nourishing Bubs products suitable for?
Nourishing Bubs products are suitable from the moment bub starts solids (usually between 4 and 6 months). Currently all Nourishing bubs products are a smooth texture designed for this early stage of solids introduction. As bubs reach the 8 or 9 month mark they need to progress to coarser textured food to ensure appropriate speech development. For this reason we encourage parents to use the follow on cubes to create other dishes and allow the cubes to provide the foundation or components of dishes rather than being the only solids provided. Our recipe section provides a number of ways the cubes can be incorporated into delicious nutritious meals for your developing bub.
How did you pick the vegetables included in the starter pack?
All Nourishing Bubs’ products have been developed by our founder and Accredited Practising Dietitian Olivia Bates. The vegetables were chosen to ensure bub is exposed to a wide range of tastes, colours and consequently nutrients (the different colours come from the nutritional compounds in the different vegetables). Evidence suggests early exposure to a range of tastes can encourage acceptance of a more diverse diet as children develop, ultimately laying the foundations for better eating habits in adulthood.
Why are your products frozen?
Freezing is a natural method of preserving food that has been around for centuries. Freezing slows down the decomposition of food by turning moisture our products are blast frozen involves freezing the product quickly to generate smaller ice crystals and maintains the cellular structure of the food being frozen. This method of preservation eliminates the need to pasteurise the product which has been shown to kill many of the beneficial nutrients.
How to heat kids meals if you do not have a microwave?
The best and easiest way to heat our Nourishing Kids meals, if you do not have a microwave is to empty the contents into a small saucepan over medium heat and add two tablespoons of water. Cover the saucepan with a lid. Heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Check temperature before serving to your little one!