Nutricious Rumbletums

Linda Brown, Nutritionist and Naturopath
Bsc Complementary Medicine; Adv Dip Naturopathy; Dip Nutrition; Dip Herbalism; Grad Dip Psychology; NAET Allergy Desensitisation practitioner

Providing optimal nutrition for infant’s development in this day and age can be challenge. In an ideal world, we would understand the specifics of infant dietary requirements, and be able to provide balanced meals every time. However, up-to-date, holistic, evidence based nutritional information regarding the introduction of solid food to babies is lacking.

Rumbletums Organic Baby Foods have taken the work out of feeding your baby by creating research based, nutritionally balanced infant diets in the convenience of a ready-to-eat package.

Infants are recommended to consume breast milk (or equivalent formula) exclusively until around 6 months of age. At this time, human stores of iron and zinc begin to drop, and solid food is required to meet our needs for growth and development.

This is also a time when food becomes a sensory stimulus for physical, cognitive and social development. Providing foods with a variety of natural colours, tastes and textures can entice children to explore a range of nutritious foods.

Developing infants require foods that are both nutrient and energy dense, easy to digest, and low in allergens and toxins.

Ideally this means their food is:

• Organic, (on average 25% more nutrient dense, and reduces toxic pesticide burden)

• Free from common allergens such as gluten, wheat, cow’s milk, soy, yeast, egg and nuts

• Free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives

• Pureed for better digestion and absorption

• Rich in vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients

And provides:

• Adequate, complete protein for growth and development

• Low glycemic carbohydrate for energy levels

• Healthy fats

Children younger than 2 years of age have underdeveloped digestive and immune systems, making it a crucial time to optimise immunity and prevent allergies forming.

Approximately 80% of a child’s immunity exists within the gut wall lymphatic tissue. Low allergy proteins, fruits and vegetables are friendly to the developing gut wall and assist survival of friendly bacteria in the gut. This boosts immunity and reduces the risk of allergy and intolerance.

Infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition. Common deficiencies seen in clinical practice are protein, iron, zinc and calcium.

Most children over six months of age require in excess of 15g protein daily, or approximately 5-8g per main meal (depending on whether they are still being breastfed) for growth, muscle development, balanced brain chemistry, and immune function. Good sources of protein include organic meat; chicken and legumes. These are also great sources of B complex vitamins, iron and zinc.

Vegetables and fruit provide vitamin C that is essential to the absorption of iron and zinc. Vegetables are a wonderful source of complex carbohydrate, fibre (for regular bowel function), vitamins, minerals (particularly non-dairy calcium in green vegetables) and phytonutrients. They also provide antioxidants that boost immunity and assist detoxification.

Healthy fats for infants include cold pressed vegetable oils (such as olive and macadamia oil), coconut oil, flaxseed oil and fish oil. These provide essential omega 3 and 6 fatty acids for the developing nervous system. Fish oil is often recommended in supplement form for complete nutrition, and is not included in low allergy foods, to prevent allergic reactions in those who are sensitive.

In my experience, Rumbletums are of the first infant solid food products to completely meet such stringent and nutritional criteria. As a practitioner who specialises in allergy treatment and prevention, I feel totally confident recommending Rumbletums products to parents of growing children. Providing infants with such quality food can reap health benefits for a lifetime.

Disclaimer: This nutritional information is a guideline only and is not designed to replace the professional advice of your medical or integrated health care practitioner.